50 YEARS of the DALES WAY
We are celebrating 50 years of the Dales Way in 2019.
Amongst the events planned for the year are:
* A Celebration Lunch at the Craven Arms, Appletreewick.
The lunch was hosted by the Dales Way Associaton on June 20th for a small number of invited guests.
* A Re-enactment of the first public Dales Way Walk from Ilkley to Bolton Abbey.
This historic event took place on March 23rd in 1969 - with over 120 walkers participating! Over 70 walkers joined Colin Speakman for a recreation of that first walk on Saturday 3rd August 2019. After meeting at 10 a.m. by the Old Ilkley Bridge the walkers made their way through to Addinham.
After a short break, the walkers continued on to Bolton Abbey, where two vintage 1960's buses were on hand to ferry everyone back to Ilkley.
(Read about the First Dales Way Walk here).
* A Mobile Exhibition of 50 years of the Dales Way.
The exhibition was formally opened at the Manor House by John Grogan MP. It will be on show throughout August and and tour afterwards.
As well as displays on the ROUTE and the HISTORY of the Dales Way, the exhibition features stories of the PEOPLE who have walked the Way.
* Countryside podcast - The Dales Way at 50, with Colin Speakman.
* Dales Way lecture with local author Colin Speakman.
Thursday 15th August 2019 8pm – 9.30pm Tickets £8 including refreshments Booking via the Manor House website www.ilkleymanorhouse.org was essential to avoid disappointment.
* An Ultra Marathon run along the full length of the Dales Way.
The race was run over 36 hours, starting in the Lake District and finishing in Ilkley. It was organised by Punk Panthers and featured 131 competitors, both runners and fast walkers. The race started on the morning of Saturday, 17th August 2019, with the winner Keith Wigley completing the 80-mile trail on the same day in just 14 hours and 36 minutes! Full details from the Punk Panthers website here.
* Friends’ Coffee Morning - 50 years of the Dales Way.
Friday 30th August 2019 10.15am – 12 noon Booking via the Manor House website www.ilkleymanorhouse.org was essential to avoid disappointment
* Dent Brewery brew special anniversary Dales Way IPA
Dent Brewery helped celebrate our 50th anniversary with a new brew - Dales Way IPA. First to test it out at the George & Dragon in Dent in August was the DWA chairman Colin Speakman.
As well as their usual outlets, a couple of barrels were made available as a special guest ale at the Flying Duck in Ilkley for the 2019 Annual General Meeting of the Dales Way Association!
* Baildon Walkers are Welcome - the Dales Way Link - Shipley to Ilkley.
September 14th. Walkers met @ 10:00 am. at Shipley Railway Station to walk and returned at 4:00 pm., celebrating the 50th anniversary year of The Dales Way by joining this Baildon WaW Second Saturday guided walk from Shipley to Ilkley, following the Dales Way Link. https://baildonwalkersarewelcome.org/
* Friends of Dalesbus - the Dales Way stage 2 - Bolton Abbey to Grassington.
Sunday 10 November 10 miles. Moderate. Start Bolton Abbey 1035. Finish Grassington 1600. Continuing from the special Anniversary walk with walk leader Colin Speakman.Travel: Bus 874 from Wakefield 0840 via Leeds & Otley. Return: Bus 874 from Grassington to Wakefield 1700. Colin 01943 430652. www.friendsofdalesbus.org.uk
* Friends of Dalesbus - the Dales Way stage 3 - Grassington to Buckden.
Sunday 8 December. 10 miles. Moderate. Walk leader Colin Speakman. Start Grassington 1100. Finish Buckden 1600. Travel: Bus 874 from Wakefield 0840 via Leeds & Otley or bus 72 from Skipton 1030. Return: Bus 874 to Wakefield 1625. Colin 01943 430652. www.friendsofdalesbus.org.uk
* A History Recording Project to digitize the paper records of the Dales Way Associaton.
The year long project will aim to scan all the Committee Minutes and Newsletters produced by the Association since it's formation, and make them available to members via the website as an important historical resource. You can see the Special Scanned Archive here .
* A Special limited edition souvenir booklet - "50 years of the Dales Way"
50 Years of the Dales Way celebrates the first 50 years of one of our most popular and cherished long distance trails.
The Dales Way through the Yorkshire Dales to the Lake District is now one of Britain’s most popular and best-loved long distance walks. This booklet traces the extraordinary story of how the enthusiasm, determination and dedication of a small group of Ramblers 50 years ago turned their vision into reality.
Beautifully illustrated with over 60 full-colour photos, including some rare and exclusive historical images, this special limited souvenir edition will be of interest to walkers everywhere.
50 Years of the Dales Way by Colin Speakman and Tony Grogan, ISBN 978-1-911321-04-0, 28 pages, full colour, £4.99.
50 Years of the Dales Way is now available to download for free as a pdf here.