A walk from the Riverside Caravan Park in Pateley Bridge, to Gouthwaite Dam, this is not a circular walk as we came back via the same path.
We left the campsite by the side gate to the side of the river nidd turned left and walked the short distance to the footbridge, where we crossed over onto the opposite bank (Dot and I had done this walk to Wath before so knew the best way).
Off the bridge it is left again following the river. This path is along the route of the old Nidd Valley Light Railway and basically follows the river Nidd to Wath (where there is a pub, the Sportsmans Arms). Some of the route is on the old Railway itself, some along the river bank.
With it being so late, the girls wanted their picnic as soon as we set off but we made them wait, until we had done at least part of the walk. We had a camera each and had a competition to see who could take a photo of the most unusual thing long the way. We didn't get many photos but it kept their minds off food for a bit.
When it was time for food we couldn't find anywhere to sit, the ground was wet and there are no seats along the path. Eventually, about forty-five minutes into the walk, we found a tumbled down wall to sit on and had the picnic there.
We where just outside Wath and I wanted a beer in the Sportsmans Arms, so I hurried everyone along, as I had the feeling it would close soon for the afternoon (I also had a feeling it might not be open at all). We got there just in time and had our drinks outside in the hot sun.
The girls had had enough walking but we convinced them to go a bit further to Gouthwaite reservoir, we had not got that far last time we did the walk. It was only a short walk and there is a lovely old dam there but you can not get a good photo of it. Also the walk across the top of Gouthwaite Dam is gated and locked off, bit of a shame really, as it would have been good to walk over.
The girls really were tired of walking by now, so we headed back, we walked the same way we came and promised them they could play in the river when we found a suitable place. Its nice to have a splash about on a hot day. We arrived back at the campsite, not too wet and even though the girls were supposed to be warn out, they still had enough energy to go and play in the park.
As for the photo comp, I think I won, with a fungus and dragonfly.
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