Bedale Benefice of Churches

Bedale Benefice of Churches The Benefice of Bedale, situated in the Yorkshire Dales, comprises the parishes of Bedale with Burrill, Thornton Watlass and Leeming.

07/06/2026

Links to the Service booklet and our Bulletin can be found on our website https://bedale.church

Day 5The pleasure that is walking, rehydrating and recovering with friends, particularly when the weather is fabulous. Y...
05/06/2026

Day 5

The pleasure that is walking, rehydrating and recovering with friends, particularly when the weather is fabulous. Yes, today we even saw that bright orb in the sky. Rapid road from Grassington we even didn’t bother with boots, gaiters or waterproofs - trainers and trail shoes made for ease of walking. We met Lee at Barden Bridge with a change of footwear because the ground promised the dampness of the previous days. The final nine miles were glorious. We consistently made 3.2 miles per hour and raced past Duke of Edinburgh teenagers who were transfixed by our speed, our athleticism and endurance. The day was encouraged by Andrew’s son John who added to the walking discussions (and dragged us for the best speed of the week). Lee gave us a false finish a couple of hundred yards short, but we would not succumb to temptation. Matt quoted John Le Mesurier, aka Sargent Wilson, just before his demise, ‘It’s all been rather lovely!’ Today was, and yet the 60 miles of front crawl left a lot to be desired. Yet, company was transcendent, ie bob on it was!

Day 4A wise man said it was better to be semi-wise than daft or soft as a brush. We are verging on the semi-wise, the we...
04/06/2026

Day 4
A wise man said it was better to be semi-wise than daft or soft as a brush. We are verging on the semi-wise, the weather suggested taking photos along the route, diving out of the car and returning to a comfortable digs; but we set off in the rain, no surprise. However, wisdom was in heading east ward, proved by those we met walking into the storm. Further wisdom we chose to follow lanes rather than the recognised paths as the meadows were swamped and the high paths swathed in run off. Still, the road was flooded as well and my boots had ingress as we tip toed on a verge through the tumult. Kettlewell had a tea stop and the stomp down to Grassington we actually hit some fine weather, for the first time finished in the dry. Lee was prepared with tea and biscuits. Tonight promises a curry and warmth. The Wharf is really full of water and I swear we saw Noah along the way.

04/06/2026

Latest update- early morning!

Left the accommodation with the merest hint of moistness on warm zephyrs of breeze. Actually it was raining as it had been throughout the dreary night. However, we remain supremely just north of depressed and vaguely happy. My mug of tea promised to be the driest part of the day. Driving to Beckermond for the paddle back to digs in Grassingtonwe noticed the water meadows were swamped. There are other paths to take.

03/06/2026

A videos from our chauffeur the Rev’d Lee (dry) Finnegan.

Day 3Driving out of Kendal with belligerent skies (Matt’s poetic description) with a drive back to Dent for another day ...
03/06/2026

Day 3

Driving out of Kendal with belligerent skies (Matt’s poetic description) with a drive back to Dent for another day heading west. Dentdale dampened us with meadows grass and overhanging bushes. Progress was slow and misty rain doused us. Out of Dentdale was a significant climb at the top we veered onto a high fell. Driving rain behind us made the swim miserable. Crossing a valley onto another fell and the atmosphere darkened and the previous experience was mere sprinkles. But, it passed by and we descended with the wind behind us and would have been dry (ish) if we hadn’t experienced a monsoon as we got in the car wet. A drive with the Upper Wharf swollen and the drive to digs in Grassington most welcome. All in all a good, beautiful stroll without any of the promised views. It is a good job we are not made of sugar.

Day 2 Today we started where we started yesterday, but today we headed east rather than west. Slightly misty, but humid ...
02/06/2026

Day 2 Today we started where we started yesterday, but today we headed east rather than west. Slightly misty, but humid we walk in clear weather. I took off my waterproof coat and left my sticks and had to walk back. We followed the West Coast Line and then crossed the M6. Hugging the River Lune we had a beautiful walk through meadows hardly travelled. Skirting Sedburgh and onto Dent. The sun at our back we agreed it was a fabulous stroll (16 miles). We were welcomed in Dent Lee was waiting with chocolate, a can and a lift back to Kendal. Other photo are available via Rev Lee Finnegan - our driver and social media expert.

Day 1 ‘The sun shines on the righteous (and the unrighteous.” However, today we walked in the rain, bar the last hour or...
02/06/2026

Day 1 ‘The sun shines on the righteous (and the unrighteous.” However, today we walked in the rain, bar the last hour or so. Undeterred, we plodded on up and down dale, appropriately! Fabulous vistas hidden by low cloud, especially as we climbed high. But, the final descent into Bowes on Windermere was drier than us, as we carried more water in our clothes than our water bottles. The highlights of the day? A barn with tea facilities - ‘Spring Mill’ - dry and so welcome and our digs - close to ‘spoons’. When dining the skies opened so much more fierce than the soft drenching weather we walked through on day one.

30/05/2026

Sunday 31st May service at Leeming
St John’s Church beginning at 10.30am.

Address

North End
Bedale
DL81AF

Telephone

01677 425985

Website

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