There was some wind during the night but as the sky kept clear the temperature dropped to just under zero. The pitch is excellent with a good water supply nearby. Unfortunately I have to leave today to catch the bus home. I was on my way by 09:30am and headed firstly towards a rocky outcrop to the west. The views from the boulders were impressive. I took a diagonal descent line towards a spring that is shown on the map. Below was the village of Cracoe which is where the bus stop is. I came to a steep and unmarked path descending towards a gate at the top of Fell Lane, which is a track. I followed it for a while then left it to continue to the spring. The spring is called Three Thorn Well and is surrounded with a dilapidated iron fence. It is quite substantial and a manhole lid marks the actual spring but it soon emerges below as a stream if clear water. I headed down towards Fell Lane but soon had to do a few detours round some very boggy ground.

A sunny morning at my last camp

Boulders just south of Threapland Gill

For the whole of the walk I’d managed to keep my feet dry and didn’t want to spoil it now. I reached the gate with dry feet and set off down the stone walled lane to the main B6265 at the bottom. Across the road was a Farm Shop so I called in to buy some local sausages for tea. Heading SW I came to the bus stop at the Devonshire Arms. The 10am was a few minutes late but we still managed to get to Skipton Bus station by 10:20am. I wanted to catch the 10:21 bus to Preston but it was a few minutes late so that helped me get my connection. We all got on and already being 8mins late the bus driver got off, leaving the engine running, stepped on to the tarmac, lit a cigarette and smoked it before getting back on again, making us even later. At Preston there was a 125 bus waiting so I was soon home.