A Day Out in Pateley Bridge and How Stean

 This morning dawned cold, windy and rainy, and it looked anything but the sort of weather you would venture out into, but surprisingly by mid day the sky was clear and bright, so by two o'clock we decided to make the most of the day and headed for How Stean & Pateley Bridge.

There is a small cafe at How Stean Gorge, whcih serves up very tasty and satisfying food, so this was our first port of call.

About the time we purchased the Vauxhall Meriva, from Nidd Vale Motors in Pateley Bridge, we paid two or three visits to the How Stean Cafe, and on one occasion Mum let slip that I was an organist. No sooner said than the owner of the cafe persuaded me to play him some tunes on the rather fine electronic organ he had at the rear of the cafe.

On another occasion when I had gone up on my own, I was again persuaded to play the instrument and was rewarded with free drinks!

How Stean Cafe

 How Stean Cafe showing the electronic organ (back right)

The car bridge over the gorge has been widened and there is a new toilet and shower block near the site of the car park. The gorge itself is still as impressive as ever.

We then decided it was time for Ruby to have a walk. About a year previously we had discovered an impressive road which runs from Pateley Bridge to Wath along the top edge of the valley. There are some fine views of the valley from the road, and it is an ideal spot to take Ruby for a walk.

 

The View from the top Pateley Bridge - Wath Road

Gouthwaite Reservoir seen from the top Pateley Bridge - Wath Road

By the time we got back into Pateley Bridge, most of the shops were either closed or closing, so we headed home via Summerbridge, Burnt Yates, Killinghall, and Otley, to complete a circular tour!