20 April 2013
After a relaxed breakfast, I wandered along to the café at the Wensleydale Cheese Factory and spent most of the day there, writing up my exploits from the previous day and scribbling postcards to friends as well as reading and future route planning. I also ordered several mugs of coffee, cake, a lunch etc. and so helped to ensure they had good trade. The weather was beautiful, dry and sunny so by the afternoon I thought it was time to go for a walk (of course!).
River in Hawes 
A very traditional pharmacy doubles as off licence 
Sheep in fields 
Stone walls and barns
It was enjoyable to have the time to amble through the village and stroll through the traditional stone walled fields up to Hardraw Force. This is England’s largest single drop waterfall and was accessed through the grounds of the traditional Green Dragon Inn.
It was impressive although I think that at many times of year there would be more water coming down it.
Unfortunately I was off guard and relaxed so I missed the fact that the wet stones where the water was splashing from the waterfall were very slippery and managed to let my feet slide away from me landing heavily backwards. This could have been the end of my walk but luckily I survived this utterly ridiculous and eminently preventable accident with an enormous haematoma but no other obvious injury. My left pelvis continued to be intermittently painful from this point all the way to Dunnet Head and for a few weeks after the end of the walk. Possibly I cracked a bone but, as I did not get any treatment until seeing a physiotherapist after my return home, we will never know. In fact I did not even include mention of this fall in my diary, as if ignoring it would make the injury disappear.
The waterfall was worth seeing, but with the benefit of hindsight I would have done better to miss seeing it and stay safely in Hawes for the day. On the other hand, it would have been sad to pass so close and not to see it.
I was not so badly injured that I couldn’t go out to the pub for dinner though! The hostel was fairly full so there were six in the dormitory in contrast to the three of the previous night. Unfortunately one person snored a lot resulting in rather an unsettled night what with that and my enormous swollen bruise.
Where's Kathryn? 