Volunteer rescuers came to the aid of a man who was injured in a cave in Nidderdale yesterday.
The man, believed to be in his late teens, was part of a group of cavers at Goyden Pot, north of Lofthouse.
Goyden Pot, with its extensive network of caves close to ground, is a popular location for the activity, particularly among beginners.
But things went wrong yesterday when a man injured his knee and, despite the efforts of the leaders of the group, was unable to get out.
Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association was alerted at 2.16pm and a team of about 16 volunteer rescuers attended the scene.
Rescuers needed ropes to get to the man. Pic: Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association
They managed to locate the unnamed man and help him out of the caves. He was then taken by ambulance to hospital.
The operation took about four hours, most of which was spent manoeuvring with ropes to get to the right place.
Read more:
- Nidderdale Showground: new cash-only parking system announced
- Call for speed bumps on Pateley Bridge High Street
The association said in a report on the incident:
“Cave rescue requires considerable man-power and we all work against the clock: speed makes hypothermia less likely.
“We often alert our neighbouring teams to live cave incidents in case extra man-power is needed.
“The Cave Rescue Organisation and Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team were advised but later stood down as our own team was sufficient to provide swift medical attention to the injured caver as well as technical rope experts to facilitate the extraction.
“We’d like to thank local cave leaders and teachers who also helped considerably, as well as the casualty who was a true stoic. We wish him a very speedy recovery.”
Treating the casualty. Pic: Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association
About 400 people are expected to take part in tomorrow’s annual Nidderdale Charity Walk and Run.
The event, which is being held for the 29th year, has raised over £900,000 for charities since it started.
People will meet in Pateley Bridge from 7am before completing either four-mile, eight-mile, 15-mile, 22-mile or 26-mile routes.
The shortest route is around Wath while the longest is a challenging hike around Wath, Bouthwaite, Ramsgill and Lofthouse before returning via Scar House reservoir.
Registration is from 7am
Many participants are being sponsored to raise money for voluntary organisations, including Dementia Forward, Disability Action Yorkshire and Harrogate Homeless Project, while others just want to enjoy some of the country’s finest scenery in spring.
The routes are signposted and include checkpoints with medical help.
Brian Stuttard, chairman of the walk committee for the Rotary Club of Harrogate, which organises the event, said:
“About 320 people have registered so far and we expect another 100 or so on the day.”
Mr Stuttard said 40 junior soldiers from Harrogate’s Army Foundation College would be taking part in the four-mile route for the first time.
Nidderdale awaits
Registration begins at 7am and those taking part in the 22-mile and 26-mile routes are expected to depart by 8am. The shorter routes can start later.
It costs £10 for adults to enter (£5 for the four-mile walk) and you can enter on the day.
Read more:
- Fundraisers prepare to take on Nidderdale Walk this weekend
- Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet visits Nidderdale pub for dinner
Nidderdale farm prepares for spring return of ‘magical’ visitors
A farm in upper Nidderdale that has diversified into family tourism has revealed its latest attraction, which is set to open over the Easter holidays.
Studfold – The Nidderdale Experience offers a variety of holiday and leisure activities and says that visitors can now search for “little people” along its Adventure Trail.
Studfold is at the top end of Nidderdale.
Anne Challis, who runs the business with her brother, Ian Walker, said:
“Magically, fairy doors have appeared throughout the trail as the springtime fairies arrive in the Dales.
“The Great Studfold Easter Egg and Fairy Hunt is a day the whole family can enjoy. Pick up a clue sheet and then explore and discover large willow nests, brightly coloured eggs, golden rabbits and the famous Studfold spring fairies and their countryside friends. There’s also go-carts, ride-on tractors and den-building.
“The woodlands at Studfold are always magical but spring sees an extra level of enchantment.”
Ride-on tractors are one of the activities on offer at Studfold – The Nidderdale Experience.
The Walker family has farmed at Studfold, near Lofthouse at the top end up Nidderdale, for 16 generations, and started to diversify into tourism in the 1970s. Siblings Anne and Ian have since developed it into an award-winning business.
In addition to its adventure trail, Studfold now also has a caravan, camping and glamping park and a café, and hosts school groups and seasonal events.
Anne added:
“We are very much custodians of this wonderful countryside. We aim to educate inquisitive minds and enable children to have a lifetime love of the countryside. Memories made at Studfold will become part of your heart and soul!”
The Great Studfold Easter Egg and Fairy Hunt will run during the Easter school holidays, from April 1 to 16.
Read more:
- Gallery: Stunning photos of Nidderdale in winter
- Asylum seekers given woodland conservation experience in Nidderdale
- Campsite bookings soar as Spain quarantine proves ‘too risky’ for travellers
Firefighters rescue family trapped on black ice in Nidderdale
Volunteer firefighters from Lofthouse rescued a family whose car was stuck on black ice last night.
The on-call firefighters were called to the notoriously steep Trapping Hill just outside the village at 6.50pm last night, on the final day of the recent freeze.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident log said:the car “had become immobile on black ice” and the family had been informed it would take six hours for a recovery vehicle to attend. It added:
“Firefighters walked two adults and one child into the safety of Lofthouse village.”
The incident log also noted that fire crews do not recover vehicles.
Temperatures have risen sharply today after more than a week of sub-zero conditions.
Read more:
- Gallery: Stunning photos of Nidderdale in winter
- Firefighters from Ripon, Harrogate and Masham called to garage fire
Gallery: Stunning photos of Nidderdale in winter
With its reservoirs, hills and villages, there are few more beautiful places than Nidderdale. And it has rarely looked better than in recent days, when ice and light snow added to its allure.
Talented local photographers, who posted a series of images on the We Love Nidderdale UK Facebook page, have agreed to share some of them with us.
Several are by Dave Benson, who lives in Summerbridge and gets to see Nidderdale through his jobs as a self-employed gardener and newspaper deliverer.
We have also included images by Heather Middleton, Matt Bibbings and Jamie Clark.
If you have stunning images of the Harrogate district, please send them to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.
The view from Wath. Pic: David Benson
Sunrise over Brimham Rocks. Pic: David Benson
A wet Lofthouse. Pic by David Benson
Brimham Rocks: Pic by Helen Middleton
A cloud inversion: Pic by Matt Bibbings
Hoar frost on Top Wath Road: Pic by Jamie Clark
Gouthwaite reservoir. Pic by David Benson
Charity fundraiser Mary Philpott completed the Nidderdale sprint triathlon on her own — after the race was cancelled following the Queen’s death.
Ms Philpott, 65, had received pledges of £900 to complete the 400 metre swim, 20 kilometre bike ride and five kilometre run on Saturday.
But the event was cancelled 24 hours before it was due to take place because Brimhams Active, the organisers, felt it would be inappropriate to take place during a time of national mourning.
Not wanting to let down Saint Michael’s Hospice, who she was fundraising for, Ms Philpott decided to complete the course alone anyway.
She had already endured disappointments in 2020 and 2021 when the event was cancelled due to covid.
Ms Philpott, who lives in Pateley Bridge and works at Nidderdale Pool and Leisure Centre, where the triathlon was due to start and finish, ended up finishing the course in one hour and 44 minutes.
Mary Philpott completes the course.
The pool roped off a lane to allow her to complete the swim. She then cycled the hilly route to Lofthouse and back before finishing with the run around Pateley Bridge, following the intended route. A ribbon was installed at the finishing line.
With Barclays expected to give £700, Ms Philpott expects to have raised £1,650 for the Harrogate-based hospice, which cared for her husband Paul when he died of cancer in 2015.
She said her legs “felt like jelly” during the run but she said she was “astounded” by her rapid finishing time, particularly as she didn’t start training for triathlon until she was in her 60s. She recalled:
“About three or four years ago pre-lockdown I learned how to swim the front crawl because I could only do breaststroke.
“Somebody said ‘you should challenge yourself by doing a spring triathlon’. I thought it would be a bit of a challenge so why not.”
“I’ve done various things over the years to raise money for Saint Michael’s but this was the big one. So it was a big blow when it was cancelled but I decided I’d go ahead anyhow.”
Read more:
- Pateley Bridge mum’s fear over £660 sixth form bus cost
- Pateley Bridge butcher hopes to make former police station new home
Consultation withdrawn on closure of Nidderdale village school
Governors at Fountains Earth Primary School in Upper Nidderdale have withdrawn their request for a consultation over its closure.
They had put forward the plans after finding the low number of pupils made the school in Lofthouse unsustainable, with just 11 on the role aged between four and 11.
However, a letter issued to parents at the end of term said:
“The governors have reviewed the current position of Fountains Earth. With new information to consider, we will be withdrawing the current consultation application sent to [North Yorkshire County Council] whilst we review this new information.”
The move has been welcomed by parents who had opposed any possibility of the school’s closure.
Sharon Leeming, whose two children have both attended the school, is chairman of the village parents’ association.
It saw villagers rally in support of the school, turning out in force when the threat to it was discussed by Upper Nidderdale Parish Council at the beginning of July.
Ms Leeming told the Stray Ferret:
“The community are incredibly pleased and the 110-strong turnout at the parish council meeting showed what a thriving community we live in.
“We hope the governing body see the impact of a school closure would have on the young people in the area. There are increasing numbers of children over the next five years, so hopefully the school will remain strong and the community will continue to thrive.”
‘New information’
While the governors have not given a reason for their decision, North Yorkshire County Council confirmed the news to the Stray Ferret. Stuart Carlton, corporate director of children and young people’s services, said:
“The governors of Fountains Earth Primary School have withdrawn the application for further consideration after new information was made available.”
Ms Leeming said she and other parents had provided information about more families moving to the village in recent months, as well as others planning to do so.
Part of the reason for the village’s increasing popularity, according to Ms Leeming, was the number of people who were able to work from home for the first time following the covid pandemic.
She said:
“Superfast broadband has been installed in Nidderdale. A lot of current parents work from home and said they have never had a better internet connection.
“EE have switched on a mast up the dale and people can’t believe the signal they’ve got. Those kinds of things make a huge difference.”
Read more:
- Ofsted praises ‘small school with big ambitions’ in Nidderdale
- ‘No option’ but to close Woodfield school, says council
Unlike other schools under threat of closure, Ms Leeming pointed out Fountains Earth is rated ‘good’ by Ofsted.
It is part of a federation of schools with St Cuthbert’s in Pateley Bridge and Glasshouses Primary School, which has just received a very positive Ofsted report. The three schools share a headteacher, Nicola Thornber.
However, she said any threat over its future could lead people to choose other options rather than risk having to change their child’s school later on.
Fire crews called to garage blaze in Lofthouse“If people hear a school is consulting to close, they won’t even consider moving to the village. If they know it has been withdrawn, or revisited, people will have more confidence in the village and in the school.
“There’s something special about Fountains Earth. We need to all work together now to keep it open.”
Fire crews were called to a fire at a garage in Lofthouse late last night.
Fire fighters from Masham, Summerbridge and Lofthouse were summoned to the village at 11.51pm.
The fire was estimated to have damaged 50% of the garage and its contents.
The owner of the property extinguished the blaze before North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue arrived.
The service added in an incident log:
“Crews carried out an inspection using a thermal imaging camera and gave advice to the owner.
“The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental.”
Read more:
- North Yorkshire fire service has adequate funding, says minister
- Fire Brigades Union ‘seriously concerned’ over cuts to Harrogate service
How Stean Gorge plans to expand under new management
How Stean Gorge has revealed plans to expand under new management.
The 10,000-year-old gorge in Nidderdale currently provides abseiling, gorge scrambling, caving, canoeing and a high ropes course.
Tony Liddy, 33, and Rebecca Verity, 29 who have taken over control of the site after working there for more than a decade, have revealed a five-year plan to install 11 chalets, including hot tubs and wood burning stoves.
The attraction currently has a 20-pitch campsite. The new chalets will sleep up to 11 people each.
Mr Liddy said there was “huge demand for adventure tourism”, adding:
“We’re transforming the site with these ambitious expansion plans with an eco-friendly build in fitting with the spectacular setting.”
Pre-covid the centre, previously run by Stan and Ann Beer, attracted about 10,000 people each year for outdoor activities.
The new owners said bookings for hen and stag weekends had doubled since the lifting of restrictions.
Read more:
- Bettys and Taylors win Queen’s Award for Enterprise
- Plan approved to convert former Harrogate restaurant into craft bar
There are also plans to revamp the visitor centre, with new interpretation boards containing historical surveys and maps of its cave network.
How Stean Gorge employs 18 full and part-time members of staff with an additional 10 casual instructors. Mr Liddy said:
Lofthouse schoolchildren prepare for charity moveathon“We’re very proud to be continuing the values of Stan and Ann, they helped raise How Stean Gorge into a leading visitor attraction, as well as a vital lifeline for local employment and our rural economy. It’s a fantastic legacy, and we are incredibly excited to take that on and build on that hard work.”
Two schoolchildren from Lofthouse are urging people to get moving in an effort to raise money for charity.
Petra and Thora Vardy, pupils at Fountains Earth Church of England Primary School, decided to organise a “moveathon” tomorrow in aid of Salvation Army.
Children and adults can take part at any time in their own homes or gardens. Toilet breaks are allowed but drinks must be taken whilst exercising. The movement must be non-stop to qualify.
Petra and Thora decided to organise the event as they were concerned by the number of homeless recently in the cold weather, as well as those who cannot afford food or heating.
Read more:
Jo Metcalfe, teacher at the school, said:
“Anyone can take part and they will be required to move as vigorously as their health permits and ask for sponsorship for every 15 minutes that they can keep the movement up.
“Walking does not usually qualify – nor does watching television and wiggling toes – unless these are all you can do! Dancing, gymnastics or any other form of exercise would be fine.”
Dr Peter Vardy, Petra and Thora’s father, said the pair came up with the idea themselves and organised for other schools to take part.
He said:
“They organised everything and arranged for St. Cuthbert’s in Pateley bridge and their own little school, Fountains Earth primary in Lofthouse, to take part.
“They asked to visit the Salvation Army to see what they did over the holiday and we’re so impressed they decided to raise money.”
You can sponsor the moveathon and find out more details here.