For those of you that are thinking of going onto the hills I would strongly recommend that you read the advice given by the Mountain Rescue organisation of England and Wales. To read this advice, which will open in a new page please click HERE. If you would like to make a donation to the Mountain Rescue organisation which is purely voluntary please click HERE. Please make the time to read the advice page.

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The Scarecrow Festival at Wray was established in the early 1990's and each year seems to go from strength to strength. We do not visit every year but it would be fair to say that we have driven through the village every year whilst the scarecrows are on show. We last visited properly in 2008 so thought it was about time that we coupled a short walk with another visit. I will be putting this walk on the website "out of sequence" so that if anybody fancies a looksee they have time to plan it. The festival started on the 23rd April and will run through to Monday 2nd May on which date there are many attractions. For further details see HERE

For anybody not wishing to walk to the festival there is ample car parking at Wray itself but it does get very busy and allowances should be made for traffic. Also please note that car parking at Hornby is limited.

Route Map

We left home around 08:00 and popped into the Crook O'Lune picnic area near Caton on our way. There was still some valley mist about looking up the Lune Valley towards Ingleborough. Can you spot the hot air balloon?

A short walk from the picnic site down towards the Crook O'Lune offered some lovely reflections.

This place will be very busy later with people enjoying their picnics in the sun.

From the Crook O'Lune we drove the short distance up the valley to Hornby where we parked in the free car park near the bridge over the River Wenning.

There wasn't much water coming down the river after the recent dry spell.

A close up of Hornby Castle from the bridge.

We took a path from the village which followed the river for a short while before going off to the right across the fields.

The path across the fields is easy to follow but there are quite a number of stiles most of them with "doggy gates". Here we are looking over to Claughton Moor with the wind-farm on Caton Moor just visible.

Looking the other way, the silhouette of Ingleborough.

I don't think Edith would like these dandelions on her lawn but they did look nice as we progressed across the fields.

Our path as come into this picture from the left. When we return it will be along the hard track past the barn shown here.

A group of friendly, inquisitive youngsters come to say hello, encouraged in some part by Edith.

Before long we arrive at the B6480 passing through Wray. However we will not go into the village yet but instead will take a path along side the River Hindburn for a while.

A very pretty show of flowers on the riverbank.

The path alongside the river had a "Path Closed" sign on it due to damage by river erosion but we decided to follow it and never found any problems.

I suspect it may have been this section which looked to have been recently repaired.

At the road bridge we would do a circular tour to see the scarecrows. These are just a few of the very many on display and if you are in the area it's well worth a visit.

A private exhibit entitled....RECESSION....Let's dig our way out of it.

"Good job I learn to swim" from the Hornby Swimming Pool

The Royal Wedding.....from the children of the Ridge Community Primary School. (Lancaster I believe)

"Pussycat, pussycat where have you been"......Tatham Fells Primary School at Lowgill

A rather irreverent take on the Royal Wedding but all in fun.

" The Queen of Hearts " .....from The Little Shrimps Day Nursery at Morecambe

" Sing a song of sixpence " .......Wray Pre-School

A private exhibit......"The King and Queen of Rock"......hope Elton approves

Another private one.....The local weather forecaster.

Hmmmm.....Premier League footballer, Film Star or an MP maybe?

Private....." I think I'll knit myself a new husband "

The local school is well decorated as we walk up the lane by the River Roeburn

A look over the village towards Ingleborough

The River Roeburn as we cross the footbridge

Private....." A scarecrows work is never done"

Emmerdale, who will Jimmy pick?......Nicola or Kelly?

Tug O' War

" The Big Fat Scarecrow Wedding "

We arrived back at the Bridge House Cafe and Garden Centre where we stopped for a cuppa and scone before continuing through the village.

Looking down on the path we arrived on.

" I've been digging for victory "

" Richard the Lionheart and his Crowsaders "

After walking through the village we found the start of the lane for our return to Hornby.

Almost back

Looking down the river to the weir and bridge where we started.

A walk through the farmyard

And finally.....back to the car.

Remember the festival runs till Monday 2nd May 2011 with that date being the biggest day. A full description can be found HERE  I am posting this out of date sequence so that if anybody fancies a trip there they know in time. The last time we did this visit in 2008 it wasn't posted on the website until after the main event and I had a number of e_mails from folk saying they wished they had known about it earlier. The missing 11 walks will be put on the website as soon as possible.

Next Walk:     27th April 2011 - Arnside & Silverdale AONB - Arnside Knott & The Pepper-Pot from Silverdale

Last Walk:       24th April 2011 - Lake District - Cumbria Way & Torver Back Common

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