Trip 7: June 2026, Otley RFC training ground, Otley, Yorkshire.
An easy drive in the rain, up the A1 and then turn off for Otley. The roads get a bit narrower the nearer you get but the traffic was light. We arrived at a wet campsite on the training pitches. We were the second van to arrive. We got a pitch on the front row opposite the garden centre, this meant we could connect to the garden centre wi-fi signal.
We set up the basics because it was still raining and the forecast says rain most of the afternoon. We were going for a walk.
The rain did ease off and we walked into town. To be honest we headed straight for The Bowling Green pub, which is a Wetherspoons. We had a couple of drinks over an hour and walked back home once the rain had stopped.
Sue cooked us a curry and we watched bits on TV.
Day 2:
More rain this morning but we set off on a walk. The footpath took us to fields and we lost the signs so we diverted to the main road and picked another route. This path was not very well used and once we reached the river Wharfe it became a path for fishermen. It was over grown and wet with nettles and brambles taking over in places. We carried onto until we got to a nature reserve where the path was much wider.
We were soaking wet by now and the rain got heavier as we walked through the park along side the river to the main weir.
Then onto the new bridge, over the river and into town where we walked around. There was a market today. We found our way to The Bowling Green pub again, it was much busier but we found a seat.
We left the pub and headed back to the market where I bought three different cheeses from a huge array. Then we headed to the Underground Bakery that we had seen earlier. We wanted crusty bread, and bought a Sour Dough baguette and I could not resist a couple of cakes that were big and they were too tempting.
Then we walked home and spent the afternoon reading. The wind was too strong to sit outside despite the sun appearing now and then. Tea tonight is a fish dish.World cup ⚽️ was on TV but it was Canada 🇨🇦 v 🇧🇦 Bosnia so I gave it a miss
Day 3:
Today we went to the garden centre next door and although they did not have the plant Sue wanted she bought 2 flower pots.
We had a short break at the van before heading off to the Chevin hill. The walk through Otley and upto the bypass, over the bridge and the real hill climb began. It took us over an hour but we made it to the top after a short stop at The White House. Once we reached the top of the Chevin we had climbed over 1000 feet above the town.The views were superb despite the sun hiding behind clouds.
We walked to the Royalty Pub on the top of the hill for a drink before retracing our steps back down the hill to the Education Centre at The White House. The centre was closed but the benches were good for a rest and to eat our lunch.
We followed the White House access road down the hill to join the footpath. We made our way back into town, stopping at The Bowling Green for beer. After our refreshment break we walked to the river and followed it to Gallows Hill nature reserve and then upto the road and back to the campsite. We had walked 7.2 miles in total today.
Day 4:
Again the weather was not the best but we stayed around the van until about 16.30. We walked into Otley along the river and made our way to The Bowling Green pub.
We got a seat outside and I ordered the drinks online. The sun had gone in and it was getting cooler so we went inside. There were plenty of tables so we got one by a window. Sue wanted to order at the bar so she could customise her curry. The food was good and great value, both dishes included a drink .
When we had finished the food we sat and watched people, then two men about our age sat on the table next to us. They were both ex bus drivers and they had been out with a friend on his vintage bus. They had been to Hull then onto Whitby before returning back to Otley. They were very interesting to talk to.
We had another drink to finish the holiday and we walked back to the campsite via the main road which was a shorter route than following the river.
We had 4 good active days and saved loads of money by using the Wetherspoons pub.
Iona’s Travels 