A feeling of excitement and fear rushed over me as I told my other half i was going to start my challenge. I think he gets that i want my life to be more exciting but the 12yr age gap is starting to show and in our free time we like doing different things. He has a love of music and is in a heavy metal cover band and loves nothing more than locking himself in his guitar room to tinker with new music software or practice the same part of a song, over and over…. and over again. Me on the other hand, I like a plan, I like my days to be packed full of things to do, be it waking up early watching the sunrise in our conservatory whilst reading the latest issue of women health to being out and about and seeing the world.

The plan was to start with Yorkshire on the Sunday. The other half had a gig so i knew he’d be spending all day locked in the guitar room so I had it to myself, yay. I have to say Yorkshire is (so far) one of my favourite counties. Its rolling hills and dales punctuated with stone walls make for an epic view. I moved to Leeds about 11 years ago from Surrey in search of a better job. I found the better job, lost a boyfriend, found one and even managed to buy a house. (thank god for northern prices). I’ve since moved over to Lancashire to live with the boyfriend but when I lived in Leeds I loved nothing more than nipping out into the dales in the convertible (another of my loves) and tearing round the windy  roads and observing the view.

On all the exploring we’d done in the car I’d never managed to make it to Malham and so this seemed an obvious place to start. The prepping began. At this point I should say, I’m just a normal girl, 9-5 job, most weekends in the summer I’m outside gardening and in the winter I hunker down and pretend to meal prep healthy food. I hardly ever go on a walk! So i feel a bit scared prepping.

Ok… ‘what do I know?’ I thought. Well… I need a route first and foremost. After googling on several sights it appears that as well as the waterfall I always wanted to see there is actually quite a few things to see in Malham. Firstly Janet’s Foss is a lovely little waterfall and it’s quite near the village and that goes on the ‘To see’ list. The big waterfall i’d always wanted to see is Gordale scar. I notice on malhamdale.com (great website) that there is also a massive tarn and a cove and  this cove is actually one of the biggest draws of Malham, who knew! Apparently loads of people go climbing on it. Don’t laugh… I guess in your day to day life it’s super easy to become a little ignorant of stuff in places (this is something i’m hoping this challenge will overcome). How amazing would it be to be able to drop into conversations with people recommendations on a few places they definitely should go in that area.

Anyways, I googled a little more and came across thewalkingenglishman.com. If you need some good walking routes this guys is your man!. I found he had a great one in malham (link) it covered all the places except the tarn and was 4.4miles. I knew i wanted to go to the tarn so had a look at national trust website and they have a walk around (link). Looking at both, my plan was to join the two up. Knowing nothing about walking routes at this point I remembered Anna Mcnuff at Yestival had mentioned an app MapOut, so opened that up and I learned that you can actually download GPX route files and upload them into that app. Bingo the walking mans route was uploaded and with a bit of faffing i’d added my little look round the tarn and it took me to 10.5 miles. (as you can see i still can’t figure how to delete bits)

That morning I pulled out my Deuter backpack and loaded it up. At this point I still don’t know what to take so packed thermals, a big jumper, my mac, water and a folding plastic seat thingy. Loaded up the car, and nipped to tesco to fill up and to grab a meal deal. I also bought a bag of chocolate coated raisins vowing that they would only be eaten in an emergency.

Pulling into the Malham car park, I still had visions of air ambulances but I was there and I was going. Climbing out of the car I got suited a booted, got my app out and started to walk through the village. Malhams a lovely picturesque village with a cafe and a few pubs. My route took me over the bridge in the centre and back along a well trodden path. A couple of guys were in front of me, they looked like they’d done this kinda stuff before and i got a little sick feeling thinking “do I look out of place here?!”

 

Following the guys along the path I met dog walkers coming the other way saying hi as we passed. The route takes you through a forrest as you walk up the stream to Janets Foss. Janet’s foss is lovely (photo below) but shall now stick in my mind as the place I saw one of the guys I caught up to pee!

Gordale scar was next on the list and not more than 20 mins from Janets foss. I was amazed at how great the path was walking up to the Scar and there was plenty of people. If you do try this route there is a great little van serving tea and coffee here so a perfect place to have a quick rest. I headed into the Scar, I watched a couple walking up the steep bit on the left hand side and followed the stream all the way into the Scar where it cascaded down.

Holy Crap! Upon reaching the waterfall I knew at this point I’d not be sticking to my planned route. I’d read the route on the walking man and he’d said “technical” not knowing what this meant i’d told myself I just wouldn’t do anything I didn’t feel ready for. Well that sodding moment had come and i was only about 30min into the walk.

The two guys I’d been following and watched Pee trotted up to the waterfall and started climbing it! Jesus they were doing my route! gulp. As blood drained from my face I’m pretty sure I said out load, “well kell we’re not doing that!” and hightailed about face and started walking back. Handily that couple I’d seen hiking up the steep embankment on the way in had given me an idea, I’d nip up there and join my route on top. After a lot of looking I worked out how to precariously jump over the stream, climb over a wall and started the uphill slog.

The 3 extra stone I was carrying reminded me all the way up there that I’m not fit and stopping every 30 or so steps made me feel great! Finally reaching the top I got a “bloody hell yes” moment ‘I did it’ so I came to rest on a rock and whipped out my Wispa to have celebratory bit of choc. It did feel a little wrong going on a healthy walk to then stuff my face with something unhealthy but I needed the boost.

 

Once up the hill my route took me across the top of the scar, I was all alone, it was cold but the sun was shining down on me and I felt bloody invisible. I distinctively remember saying “kell this is what life is for!”.

I managed to meet up my planned route on the tops and made it to where i’d joined the walking mans route and the national trust. A few people were walking here but my route seemed to take me in the opposite direction. I do really wish that those little voices of doubt never creept into my head but at this point they were saying “should you really be going on your route or should you stick with safety and follow the numbers of people heading downhill?’.

Ignoring the voice I proceeded onwards and across a field of scary cows and made it to the tarn. It was wonderful! the sun was a bit lower now and the reflections it cast across the water were stunning. The rest of the tarn route was steady and flat, a point I was very grateful for, after climbing what felt to a 3 stone overweight chick, like Everest. The route takes you round the water, past an old house then leaving the waterside you head up some country roads.

At this point I’d been following a couple for some time as they seemed to be walking my route and got a bit fed up of catching them up, so left my route again and trotted up some paths. I finally got phone signal and decided to take a wee break and text the other half that I was alive. I told him where i’d been and he asked if I liked the cove. What cove? I’d only forgot one of the major things to view on my route and by veering  away from that couple I was now on track to miss it! Damn it

I may now have done a slightly stupid thing. I jumped a farmers field went off a walking path, learnt the hardway what contour lines close together mean and scrambled down a steep hillside and finally made it to the top of the cove. How the hell I managed it I do not know. Kell 1 – Air ambulance 0.

The top of the cove is amazing the limestone is split and forms what can only be described as massive stepping stones that you can walk across. the view is stunning and walking across the top to the other side is a series of steps all the way to the bottom.

Amongst all that hiking my legs were now killing me and 5 million steps down took their toll on the ole knees so once down I took a break grabbed some water and looked up at the cove as some nutters on string climbed up and abseiled down it.

The walk away from the cove is also lovely following a stream into the centre of Malham where I headed to a cafe to grab a brew, Yorkshire for tea 😉 and sat in my car eating my coronation chicken meal deal, aching feet but a massive smile on my face.

County 1 DONE!