On a breezy day in September we mustered at the Bowes Museum ahead of a drive through the Dales to Buckden.The weather forecast had varied between moderate and heavy rain, but in the event it turned out to be both dry and clear. Our vehicles of choice included a Lotus Elan, a rare Gilbern, a Mazda RX8, a Mazda MX5 and rather rapid Triumph motorcycle. The route was up The Stang to Reeth then along the Swaledale road to Muker. From there we headed to Hawes via Buttertubs. This is a spectacular road with wonderful views across Wensleydale and over to Wharfedale.
The early autumn sunshine produced warm colours backed by a blue skies with a few cotton wool clouds.
The road from Hawes to Buckden is narrow and twisting with several hairpins and many steep gradients. Picturesque does not do it justice. Buckden sits below Buckden Pike and is a magnet for hikers, campers and tourists.We treated ourselves to a hearty lunch at The Buck Inn and then returned at a leisurely pace via Leyburn.
Overall, a really enjoyable trip and a reminder that we should get out and do this sort of outing more often.
Report by Peter Colley