Forum Members Meet Up 25th June 2014

 

 

As part of our week’s holiday in Yorkshire, we decided to invite forum members for a get-together on Wednesday 25th June. Tony, Mach, Webby, Pen, Pete.r and his wife Joyce, Hollinhare and Ben were all free on that day so we arranged to meet at the Harewood village hall at 9.30 a.m.

However, plans nearly came to grief as an accident on the A1, and also in Harewood early that morning, caused a slight panic as there was a distinct possibility people might arrive late, or not at all and me nearly having kittens! Thankfully, plans didn’t go too far astray and we quickly bundled everyone into two cars and set off for the first location to visit the Packhorse Bridge at Dob Park near Otley.

There is a lovely one hours (approximately) circular walk which goes along by the River Washburn, complete with a (sort of) lightning tree, and through wildflower meadows to the bridge. The return route we took was along narrow country lanes with far-reaching views.

 Click images to enlarge

 

The Packhorse Bridge location can be seen in episode "The Prize" where Steve tips water out of his boots after helping Dora and Kalinka out of the river.

 

 

  We could have spend much longer in this beautiful setting, it was so peaceful and unspoilt. 

But lunch was booked at the Scotts Arms pub in Sicklinhall so we had to tear ourselves away and walk back along quiet lanes admiring the views as we went and head off to the pub. I have to say I had the biggest steak and ale pie I’ve ever seen!! Pen couldn’t make the first location visit but she joined us for lunch and her eyes nearly popped out of her head at the size of her meal! Pete and Joyce had decided to look around Thorner village in the morning, the location for many Follyfoot scenes, and they also joined us for lunch afterwards.

We waddled out of the pub and set off for a visit to the Hallowed Ground. The weather had been sunny for a week or so beforehand and the ground was mercifully dry underfoot.

 

There has been a fence erected around the big lake, which is a shame.

 

However, the second lake was just as beautiful.

 

We headed on up the hill and gazed across the valley to the farm.

 

Despite all the changes to the house, barns and lake it's still a picturesque scene.

 

A quick group photo before heading back to the Harewood Village Hall