Grey WagtailToday's outing was the postponed Annual New Year walk arranged by Donald, who led half the group on a planned 5 mile walk by way of Harden Moor and the St Ives estate. Joan led the other half on a less strenuous 2-3 mile tour of the estate. The severity of the winter has been such that we were probably able to see as many flowering plants in March as we would have seen in January! The bird count was also low, but the morning was exceptionally bright and both parties enjoyed extensive views over the surrounding countryside as far distant as snow-covered Ingleborough. By the time the whole group had re-convened for lunch at Druids Altar we had lost the sun and the day was turning cold; we therefore strolled leisurely back to the minibus where a welcome Yorkshire Dales ice cream rounded off the day for some of us!
Stuart