The Coverbridge Inn, Wensleydale

There’s a very old walking in club in West Yorkshire that seems to love walking in the depths of winter, in the Yorkshire Dales. Members are all of a certain age but that doesn’t stop them walking a fair distance and, after a night’s revelry, cycling a similar distance the following morning. Those aged 75+ are entitled to use electric mountain bikes.

Sunday saw the ‘A’ party [the fitter ones] complete just under 15 miles at an average of 2.8mph, with a vertical climb of around 850m. That’s some pace, we can tell you – about 6 hours including lunch picnic. After the floods this week a couple of bridges across the River Cover were washed away, but the early sleet and gale-force winds [34-40knots – “Twigs breaking off trees, generally impedes progress”] didn’t hamper the enjoyment. A couple of route diversions – no we didn’t get lost – saw us return to our revised starting point of West Burton at around 5 o’clock, where tea in the pub was accompanied by watching the England rugby. These Sunday walks end with a meal and, for those spent from the day’s activities, an overnight stop. Tie essential.

Usually semi-luxurious, this time it was eating at the Coverbridge Inn. They only have a small number of rooms, so a lucky few camped up the road in the The Blue Lion – heaven. We ate at the Coverbridge. Their ‘Ham and Eggs’ saw us replete. No starters offered and only two brave souls have a pudding.

Pub The Coverbridge Inn