22 miles from Burley-in-Wharfedale, West Yorkshire via Rombolds Moor.
Proceeds to fund for a footbridge over the river Wharfe at Burley.
We felt like heroes! The local newspaper carried a pre-event article describing us as intrepid walkers setting off on a marathon hike over rugged terrain, up hill and down dale...to help raise funds for a new footbridge over the River Wharfe at Burley to supplement the existing stepping stones. The article was further evidence I suspect of John Sparshatt's meticulous planning, and no doubt contributed to the popularity of the event.
On the day, the weather seemed perfect. 320 people set of en masse at 8am under a blue sky and the rising sun, ignoring for the moment the ominous looking clouds accumulating on the horizon. Rombolds Moor is criss-crossed by numerous paths of varying quality, and soon each walker seemed to be taking a slightly different route – some climbing high to drop down to White Wells whilst others opted for some of the better paths lower down. A few people looked as though they wished they were on any sort of path as they leapt and thrashed their way through the bracken. Everyone converged though at the checkpoint at Windgate Nick before dropping down into Airedale, passing some very bemused but friendly golfers on the way.
The first shower came after 2 hours. I was just starting the 3 mile section along the Leeds & Liverpool canal which was quite sheltered and much more scenic than the map had suggested so I wasn't too bothered by the sudden hailstorm. The route description told us that the next checkpoint was at canal bridge number 199 but failed to warn us that the bridge after 198 was .... 198A. You know that feeling when you think you have arrived at a checkpoint only to find that it is a mile up the road? The good news was that it was sunny once again and the checkpoint had delicious cakes, & butties with homemade plum jam.
Thus fortified it was time to tackle the Moor once again with the promise of passing close to Ashlar Chair, Lanshaw Lad and the Twelve Apostles. My companion explained that Ashlar was associated with the craft of masonry dressing. The second shower of the day looked more threatening so we donned waterproofs, gloves & hats to cross the Moor only to take them off again a few minutes later, as we seemed to escape the worst of the storm.
Arrival at Lanshaw Lad checkpoint brought with it the knowledge that we were now at 370 metres and the finish at Burley was at 80 metres. It would be downhill all the way!
Ann Whilding