Friday May 18, 2012 – Sunday May 20, 2012
Whitefields Cottage
Description:
Organiser – Gary Box
Where – Whitefields Cottage, Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Park, Ripon, North Yorkshire HG4 3DY
When – 18th-20th May 2012 (Fri-Sun)
Cost – £50.00
Summary
Our accommodation for this 2 night trip is a National Trust bunkhouse situated in the grounds of a World Heritage Site. Whitefields Cottage sleeps 16 people in 3 dorm rooms and also has lounge, dining room, kitchen and male and female showers. The beds have mattresses, cover sheet, pillows and pillow cases so we only need to bring sleeping bags, towels and toiletries.
The property is on an estate that includes Fountains Abbey, a spectacular water garden and a deer park that contains over 500 Fallow, Sika and Red deer. Our stay does not include entrance to Fountains Abbey which is free to National Trust members or otherwise charged at £8.15 per person or £9.00 (which includes a voluntary 10% donation).
We will offer 2 walks during the weekend. On Saturday we will explore Wensleydale with a drive to Askrigg where we will start a 7 3/4 mile (12.5km) walk that involves 370 metres of ascent and should take about 4 hours to complete. From Askrigg the route heads to the River Ure and follows its course until Worton Bridge where we cross and head to Worton. After passing Worton Pasture we join a road and head south to Carpley Green Farm where we leave the road. The highest point of the walk is next, Addlebrough at 477 metres after which we again make our way to Worton and then back to the start. There are a number of pubs in Askrigg where we can enjoy a post walk drink.
On Sunday we will walk from our accommodation door. The route is about 10 miles but should only take 4 hours to complete. As well as Studley Deer Park we will have views of Fountains Abbey. Anyone who wants to spend time exploring the Abbey can do this themselves rather than join the walk (there will not be time for both). We hope to get back to the accommodation by 2:30pm and will then return to London, expecting to arrive back at about 7pm.
