3 April 2007: LotR: Ch. 5, Pt 2: Kettlewell & The 100 Dwarves ... An Ingredient of the Spell gained
Tuesday 3 April 2007
:: Kettlewell, England - Yorkshire::
Chapter 5: Part 2
With relief of the rainbow, the sun peeked through the clouds. The adventurers could take of their raingear. The road to Kettlewell from Arncliff had steep moments as it went up and down the mountainsides and following the River Skirfare to Hawkswicke. Their legs were killing them and they were ready to stop or the day from Arncliff to Kettlewell - yet it was about 3-4 miles remaining. Stopping for second lunch in Hawkswicke along the River Skirfare after passing by some old settlements, climbing up the Stepping stones, past the Knipe wood, and finally through an old settlement/quarry, down the mountainside into Kettlewell - home of the legendary "Calendar Girls". The explorers stopped at the first cafe/bistro in town, "The Cottage Tea Room", each for a pot of Yorkshire Tea and scones with whipped butter, cream, and jam. After a nice charming quaint stop for tea, the adventurers weaved their way up to the Kettlewell Hostel where they would reside for the evening. The hostel was empty and did not open it's registration desk until 5 - so they explored town, the graveyard, and churchyard. Then as they stopped by a cottage with advertisements for the "Calendar Girls" tour, where the film was made, and after a visit to the historic may pole in the town center, feeding an apple to a cute horse, and yet another pot of Yorkshire Tea at Zerach's ... they came upon hundreds of garden gnomes, dwarves, and hobbits. These garden gnomes and dwarves, all a humorous and enchanting sort, all quite merry. It was in their presence that Sir Thomas Leaf discovered the secret to the dis-enchantment of the wicked spell cast on Lady Vanessa's ring .... he must present a ribbon to be tied by the faerie amongst the great elders at Avebury and whisper certain words while doing so to the Great ones.
After the visit with the gnomes ... the explorers checked into the hostel and then wandered down to the Blue Bell Inn for dinner and drink. Sir Thomas Leaf enjoyed a Lamb Shank with Poppins and bubbles; while Sir Ingo and Lady Vanessa both ordered the Farmer's Casserole - all of which were very good. Drinking lots of beer, cider, and Jameson/Coke ... they had a boisterously funny time. A pitstop off at the King's Head pub after dinner for some more cider - they laughed themselves to exhaustion. It was time for bed. Before leaving the pub, they met a couple from London who were also hiking the trail, though they were camping at the Kettlewell campground (only 6 pounds/night). They didn't know the answer to the money trees either. Sir Thomas Leaf was dead set on finding the answer to this tradition. It was a very good night.
a horde of gnomes, dwarves, and hobbits
revealing secrets to the adventurers
River Skirfare erosion
delicately hard at work ...
Welcome to Kettlewell!
Hawkeswicke down below ...
Kettlewell down below ...
Leaving Arncliff ...
The Arncliff graveyard/churchyard ....
Arncliff, England - Yorkshire Dales
Arncliff graveyard/churchyard
Arncliff, England - Yorkshire Dales
Around the corner from the graveyard, off to the side of the church ... remains ...
The churchyard at Arncliff
Peat and branches burning
Ruins ... at Arncliff
River Skirfare
Lady Vanessa and Sir Ingo
path to Hawkeswicke, England
along the Skirfare River
More numbered sheep and lambs ...
A whole new definition of 'counting sheep'
Along the river Skirfare
Crossing the River Skirfare
Hawkeswicke, 2 miles to Kettlewell ...
'Hawkeswicke behind us ...'
Resting our sore legs ...
the road to Kettlewell ...
Scargill House down in the distance ...
A Global Christian Commune ...
Kettlewell ... about a mile left!
first budding of spring ...
Ruins above Kettlewell
Sir Ingo making his way down to Kettlewell
entering Kettlewell, England
The Village of Kettlewell
:: Kettlewell, (Yorkshire Dales) - England ::
A thriving market town known or it's scarecrow festival and it's Calendar Girls. It rests between Grassington, Kilnsey, Conistone, and Starbotton lies the village of Kettlewell in Upper Wharfedale, Yorkshire, England. At the feet of the Great Whernside & Buckden Pike where the River Wharfe and Park Gill Beck merge. A market was started in the village around the 13th century which blossomed the village into a thriving community. Lead mining, marketing, arts, crafts, and tourism made the village boom. There are three famous Inns in the village - the Blue Bell, the Racehorses, and the King's Head as well as many guesthouses, cottages, a Youth Hostel, several tea bistros/cafes, a village store, an outfittery, clothing shop, and a smithery. A late Victorian church with a gorgeous graveyard rests in the town. Each August a annual scarecrow festival attracts visitors from all over England.
The Village of Kettlewell
RIver Wharfe
The Calendar Girls of Kettlewell
A story of 11 older Yorkshire women who were dead set on raising money for the Leukemia Research fund decided to pose nude for an alternative Women's Institue calendar. They spread like wildflowers. Over 3,000 calendars were instantly ordered and eventually turned into 330,000! The story became a hit film "Calendar Girls" and have brought many tourists to the area due to this creative feat and the filming of the gorgeous country that surrounds Kettlewell.
The Calendar Girls walk
The Cottage Tea Room of Kettlewell
The Cottage Tea Room * Kettlewell North Yorkshire BD23 5QZ * Tel: (01756 760405)
A quaint little Tea cottage just as you enter Kettlewell. Great service, good pots of Yorkshire Tea, and scrumptuous scones with whipped cream and jam. An assortment of gifts, jellies, jams are also available. Good food. Rating 4 stars out of 5.
The Cottage Tea Room
A happy Sir Thomas Leaf
Lady Vanessa and Sir Thomas Leaf
Sir Ingo the Great
Lady Vanessa of the Rhine
The Wee people love hanging out in Kettlewell!
Fairy Kitch!
Kettlewell: Where the garden gnomes outnumber the humans!
Pappa Smurf!
They are everywhere!!!
St. Mary's Church, Kettlewell, England
St Mary's Church
:: Kettlewell, (Yorkshire Dales) - England ::
Reflective of the ancient Parish that is Kettlewell, The Church is a strong vicarage dedicated to St. Mary ever since it was rebuilt in 1820. The original was probably not later than Henry I. In 1686 the town and church was nearly destroyed in 1686.
Kettlewell's Maypole :: Kettlewell, Yorkshire Dales, England ::
"This Maypole was re-erected by the Kettlewell Women's Institute to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II June 24, 1953" - plaque on pole
Maypole in the Town Square of Kettlewell, England Ever part of the village, Burnsall's maypole was re-erected after it had mysteriously vanished one day while one remarkably similar one had sprung up in neighbouring Thorpe - which appeared to have revived an ancient maypole feud dating back to 1874 when this was commonplace. The revival of the feud and the resurrection of Kettlewell's maypole brought many tourists to town. It is now a landmark of the village.
Maypole placque
Blue Bell Inn
Kettlewell - B023 5QX - Tele +44(0)1756 760230
http://www.bluebellinn.co.uk/
In the spirit of a 17th Century Coaching Inn is a olde town pub and restaurant where many of Kettlewell's festivities take place - good atmosphere, fine cask ales, home-cooked food, and comfortable seating. Great Ciders as well as a full bar. As is common in the Dales, this Pub also is an Inn with lodging. Our visit we tried the Lamb Shank and the Farmer's Casserole ... both of which were good. Rating: 4 stars out of 5.
Lamb Shank
Farmer's Casserole
Some very toasted adventurers ...
