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At
this time of year the 3 Peaks Walk in the Yorkshire Dales is very
popular. Hundreds of walkers try to complete a 25 mile circuit including
the tops of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough.
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| Family
run business |
The
walk itself begins from the Pen-y-Ghent café in Horton-in-Ribblesdale.
Many thousands of walkers have clocked in at the café, between
1968 and 2000 more than 200,000 walkers had made it back within
the target time of 12 hours. The Bayes family have run the café
for 37 years. Peter Bayes was looking to leave his job and take
on a business in the countryside for the sake of his children.
 Listen
to Peter Bayes and Mike Kemp on the cafe
The
café or grocers as it was then was advertised for sale in
a newspaper. The family saw it on the Saturday and bought it on
the Monday. They’ve stayed ever since.
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| Seeing
your way home |
The
café is on the route of the Pennine Way and they first concentrated
on getting the café known to walkers on this long-distance
path.
But
then the Three Peaks Walk developed, with the establishment of the
Three Peaks of Yorkshire Club for those who successfully complete
the walk in the required time.
The
real coup de grace was a clocking-in system for walkers attempting
the 3 peaks.
Walkers
check in with the café before they leave and clock in on
their return, because the café will always remain open for
3 peakers. It also acts as a safety service as the family know who
are out on the fells and who have yet to return.
Next
week you can find out how I and three other members of staff at
BBC North Yorkshire fared on our attempt at the walk in aid of our
Follow the Rainbow appeal.
Discuss
your favourite walks on our Message Board
Enter
the latest walks competition
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It
is essential for both the success and safety of the walk that
an up-to-date weather forecast is obtained before setting
out.
