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Smardale orchids

By Hugh Stewart June 21, 2014 Leave a Comment

Midsummer is the time for the Smardale circular walk: last week was fine weather so we tootled off with some friends staying at the Hall, a holiday let. Plenty of butterfly orchids in the Smardale Wood, but no wintergreens seen this year. As always, a visit to Waitby/Greenriggs nature reserve is a must, and is joined up to Smardale by continuing on the disused railway line westwards., see Blog “Smardale and Waitby reduced walk” of 21/6/19. A couple leaving the reserve said there were no fly orchids to be seen, but they are there, within 30 yards of the entrance, on the south bank. They are marked with white tags but are quite small. All told 64 different flower species seen on the round. Some orchids shown below. (Left click to expand)

Greater Butterfly Orchid, Smardale Wood.
Fly Orchid, Waitby/Greenriggs reserve.
Common Spotted Orchid, lined and three lobed, Waitby.
Northern Marsh Orchid, Waitby.
Bird’s eye primrose, Smardale.

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Hillwalks from the Settle to Carlisle Railway Stations

24 walks into the hills surrounding the historic and iconic Settle to Carlisle railway, based on the stations between Settle and Appleby. The area has some of the finest walking of the north Pennines: the Craven district around Settle; the Three Peaks area; Dentdale, and Mallerstang and the upper Eden valley.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

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Mountain Biking Adventures: Multi-day Routes in Northern Britain

Over the last two decades, mountain biking has developed enormously as a “sport”. We greatly admire the technical and athletic capabilities of modern day mountain bikers and recognise that many excellent guides have been written and custom-built trails set up. In this guide we try to reopen a sense of adventure and wilderness to mountain biking, providing multi-day routes with a remoteness, continuity and “arc” missing from many modern guides with their focus on day and half day outings.

UK £13.95 ( inc. P&P)

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Settle to Carlisle – Hill Walk with Return by Classic Train Route

With over 22,000 ft of ascent in 105 miles set out over 8 days, this walk sets out from Settle, taking in the classic summits of the North Yorkshire Dales, Howgills, Eastern and Northern Lakeland Fells, to arrive at Carlisle. The return journey to Settle by one of the classic train journeys. Illustrated with photographs and route maps.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

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Durham Nuttalls: extreme social distancing.

These hills of the north-eastern pennines are perfect in these times of plague. Although we saw two moving covered all terrain vehicles at the start, and two walkers on an intruding cross-wilderness path in the distance, no-one else on the moorland hills of Bellbeaver Rigg (actually in Cumbria) and

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Malham Tarn and More

Actually the title is misleading, but kept as it sounded good; the walk goes round the "moor" north of the Tarn and only back along its north bank, and includes the wonderful boardwalk near the Tarn for a floral treat. It has 7.6 miles of limestone scenery, completely avoiding the crowds around the

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The middle Pap of Jura – Bienn an Oir

This route has been written about many times, but as we disagree with the Cicerone guide's recommended route and this was the first eight mile plus mountain walk I'd done in 18 months, we thought it worth a celebratory shout. Why just the middle Pap? Because it's the easiest as you might imagine,

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