A day trip to Wharncliff Crags. Who fancies it?
- Thread starter spamel
- Start date
We were out for about four hours, and that seemed just about right. It wasn't all tramping around the crags though, we stopped for Birch bark, a brew and sarnies, a bit of exploring and going back to get my kuksa after I realised I had dropped it! 
Of course, on the day it may depend on the weather, it was sunny yet windy yesterday. If it is tipping it down, people may not be up for running through large patches of soaking wet bracken or heathland! Unless it is really bad, it will go ahead, but if anybody gets up in the morning and decides the weather is just too much, leave a post in this thread and then we'll know who to expect!
Of course, on the day it may depend on the weather, it was sunny yet windy yesterday. If it is tipping it down, people may not be up for running through large patches of soaking wet bracken or heathland! Unless it is really bad, it will go ahead, but if anybody gets up in the morning and decides the weather is just too much, leave a post in this thread and then we'll know who to expect!
Well its sounding good. Thank you Spam and Ratty for doing all the 'leg work'
Sorry I couldn't make it along but I was forced into slaved labour for the weekend.
I'm gonna try and keep that date free and get myself over.
Sorry I couldn't make it along but I was forced into slaved labour for the weekend.
I'm gonna try and keep that date free and get myself over.
It'll be great to have you along. Is there anything in particular that the folk coming would like to try and do? We've got good areas for pictures, bewing up, collection of bark and staves (on the sly!) and areas to be kids again. Anything else?
Ratbag may be cutting away early, he takes his nipper swimming on a Sunday. So, if anybody wanted to go early he could get you back down off of the Crags. We'll make a decision closer to the time when we can make a better guess at what the weather will be like.
J
jamesHarrisonAkers
Guest
Just got back from another trip up Wharncliff Crags, I reckon between Ratbag and myself we have got a very good route to take. We have cut out the initial crag hopping to take another route through some pretty fantastic open woodland. This allows us to take a walk through some heathland and then arrive on top of the crags. Along the way, there is scope for gathering good straight staves for staffs and the like, and also the opportunity for some really first rate birch bark, for the UK anyway! There are plenty of downed birches and I aim to only take from downed trees. As for staves, there is a lot of birch in the area that was cropped a while back but it has grown through again.
Along the way, we will cut off of the main path and visit an old elm which is quite nice, take a look at some funghi and then get up onto the crags for the photo opportunities! The heathland is nice too, full of heather. I took my camera to take some pictures but it is bust somehow! Not too happy about that!
There are some nice areas on the way back down, for those who may suffer with bad knees or whatever, I strongly suggest a stout walking staff. I reckon I would have been crippled today without mine. We have one area that is a must to visit, hopefully it will be the jewel in the crown. Kids will love it, and I reckon that most others will too. We are looking at using the jewel as a stopping point for a brew, or maybe drop down onto a path and use another area that is a little away from the crags but quite covered from view and has plenty of large flat rocks to stop the fire hazard.
We were out for four hours today. Saying that, we were doing a lot of exploring so that we can hopefully take you straight to the good areas. I had a look at going to the old Deer Park, but there was a load of shooting going on and there really isn't much to see unless you like looking at open moorland. It is on the way so we can certainly pop through the gate and take a look at the view, which apart from the pylons would be bleak but interesting.
I'm quite looking forward to it, today was sunny but very windy. Kit wise, I had a windproof smock, a Swanni and a thin woolen shirt underneath. At the end, was down to the thin woolen shirt alone! Pleasantkly warm, but very windy. I wore gaiters with my boots, although it seems to be drying out reasonably well up there. My boots were in good state afterwards, not too muddy. My Tilley hat went for a burton at one stage so I had to employ both straps to keep it in place! I swapped to the Lowe Alpine after a while. I had gloves and shemagh in my pocket.
Cutting tools were a pocket axe, a folding pruning saw and my F1. I took my Nova Plus stove, and nearly incinerated Matt when it flared up something rotten!
I had a poncho and blanket in mt bag too, lip balm and FAK in my possibles and a monocular for the distance. All basic equipment for a day trip, that should do anyone, I of course had navigation equipment as well to check where things are for the route in a few weeks time!
Cheers Spam, sounds great
Id like to come. Just turned round to the mrs and asked as nicely as possible as were living at her mother in laws untill I finish doing up an old house we are moving into.
Got to get out of here as soon as poss, so every day grafting on it counts but I need a day off and she said YES. So looking forward to it.
Got to get out of here as soon as poss, so every day grafting on it counts but I need a day off and she said YES. So looking forward to it.
Just getting this back on the front page as this trip is happening this weekend. Not exactly sure who is definitely coming though, so if we can have a confirmation by way of one of those lovely lists, then I can see how many are coming and make sure I don't set off from the meeting point without anyone.
Thanks Stuart. Nice list!
OK, so yup, this is still on for Sunday 10th Feb 2008, this Sunday! Meeting point is SK292986 where I will be parked up in the big blue bus (Zafira) with a large Hi vis panel on the back to make you all aware that you are in the correct place. From there, we'll head on out once everybody has arrived and we'll go and have some fun. Matt may have to push off early, so if anybody needs to go back with him I'm sure they'll be able to tag along.
I think we have decided on 10 o'clock as meeting up, is that right? I'll probably turn up a bit earlier, so if you want to arrive earlier on and have a chat, I'll be there for about half nine. Remember your chap stick as it gets a tad windy up there! If you wear a wide brimmed hat, ensure you can secure it to your noggin well, or we will all be delighted to see you running after it across the Crags! It seems to have been OK rain wise latelt, until last night when we had some rain. To be fair, it may be a little muddy in places but there aren't any river crossings so don't be too concerned!
I can't wait now!
OK, so yup, this is still on for Sunday 10th Feb 2008, this Sunday! Meeting point is SK292986 where I will be parked up in the big blue bus (Zafira) with a large Hi vis panel on the back to make you all aware that you are in the correct place. From there, we'll head on out once everybody has arrived and we'll go and have some fun. Matt may have to push off early, so if anybody needs to go back with him I'm sure they'll be able to tag along.
I think we have decided on 10 o'clock as meeting up, is that right? I'll probably turn up a bit earlier, so if you want to arrive earlier on and have a chat, I'll be there for about half nine. Remember your chap stick as it gets a tad windy up there! If you wear a wide brimmed hat, ensure you can secure it to your noggin well, or we will all be delighted to see you running after it across the Crags!
It seems to have been OK rain wise latelt, until last night when we had some rain. To be fair, it may be a little muddy in places but there aren't any river crossings so don't be too concerned!I can't wait now!
J
jamesHarrisonAkers
Guest
The parking area is that geogrid stuff where the grass supposedly grows through. It is firm enough for normal cars but if you're coming in a truck I'd reconsider! Hopefully, there will be plenty of space too. It is quite a large area.
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