May 30, 2026

Apologies for missing yesterday but the little one lane town of Appletreewick couldn't keep up with good wifi. Our first day of walking felt a bit intimidating for me - not knowing if this was an impossible challenge or would I be able to push to the end.

The beginning of the Dales Way. Only 128 km to go ---

A warm and sunny day forecast, we departed Ilkley around 9 am, determined to get the first 18 km behind us. The signposts are not clearly marked and several times we asked the locals if we were on the right track and the response was mainly - "just follow the river and you canna go wrong". So, that is what we did. Following the River Wharfe, we took our time and came to Bolton Abbey right around lunch. The grounds were teeming with Saturday picnic goers - lots of families with children and an afternoon enjoying a warm day just being together. We took a break at The Tea Cottage and ordered up a ploughman's lunch to share. After airing our feet for a bit, we continued on, arriving at our next pitstop, Appletreewick, hoping for a bathtub, but alas, it was not to be.

First cow encounter - who has the right of way?

Bolton Priory located in the village called Bolton Abbey is a 12th century Augustinian priory founded around 1154. Attached to the left of this ruin is one of the finest medieval churches in the north of England, and a site of continuous Christian worship for over 850 years.

Perfect day for capturing the height of these arches.

Very impressive front door.

Our ploughman's lunch - it tasted so yummy after a full morning of walking.

Most churches we come across are open to the public and this little spot was Farfield Quaker Meeting House, built by the Quakers in 1686. Very sparse furnishings, but a perfect place to get out of the sun and have a bit of sustenance.

Walked through the grounds of St. Peters Church in Addingham and the notable feature is the blue faced clocks in the tower of the church - a fashion started by the old established clockmaking firm of William Potts and Sons. The blue paint for is a specially mixed colour known as 'Potts Blue', it having been discovered that the numerals in gold leaf are more legible on a blue background rather than on black.

Sauntered through Strid Wood and the day provided perfect reflection.

Came across a group of avid birders attempting to spot a tawny owl, and blocking the path.

This stile was mastered 3 times - again wondering whether we were still on the right path.

And the end of our day - on our way into Appletreewick - we were greeted by this sweet, black kneed sheep.