We all know that money doesn’t grow on trees – don’t we? We found this tree, though -well lots of other people had also, obviously, found it too – which might suggest otherwise. The big sign is a clue to what it is – a Money Tree!! Sadly, it doesn’t give up its coins easily, in fact people hammer them in so hard they are almost impossible to remove [and we did try, lol]
So, where is this amazing piece of wood? It’s part way up the first side of the walk round Ingleton Falls, North Yorkshire. If you look at the map, follow the River Twiss to roughly the 3rd tree drawn alongside it, and the Money Tree is thereabouts.
I went to the falls last Wednesday [8th August] with my friend and 2 children and it was a typically British not-sure-what-to-do weather day. We had sun, wind, heat, cold, rain….yup the British Summer, as we know it, is back . Actually, I wouldn’t recommend going on a very hot day [although most of the walk is shaded by trees] because it’s HARD WORK! The guide leaflet reckons 2½ to 4 hours; it took us a good 5 and we were utterly jiggered at the end. The girls did have loads of fun, especially at the parts where you can get down to the riverside and paddle, but, despite their running up steps and down paths which we adults were creeping along, even they were exhausted and fell asleep in the car on the way home. A great way to get exercise AND wear the kids out!
There is one important tip I feel I must share with you before leaving you with a plethora of photographs: there is a little refreshment cabin near where it says Pecca Falls on the map. Here, the tea, coffee and ice-cream are very reasonably priced. When you get to the mid-way point there is an ice cream van which charges a fair bit more, and by the time you get to the other refreshments [near Beezley Falls] the prices are roughly double. There are, however, toilets at this second stop, which were much-needed by the time we got there. There is also a small picnic area [though the entire trail begs you to stop and rest and maybe have a butty* or 2].
So, to sum up, it’s a great day out [£15 for parking and entrance for a family] and there is a children’s trail too – they do pencil rubbings at special points on the way and get a prize at the end. If your dog is energetic and has reasonably long legs then it’s a great walk for them too [some of the trail goes though farmland where they must be kept on a lead]. If you suffer from arthritic knees, need a buggy for your child/ren or are generally not very fit and active then maybe find somewhere less steep for your day out. I’m no athlete; I struggled and managed with lots of rests but it is very steep in places. The views, however, are amazing; I will leave you with a selection. [They should be thumbnails to click for a bigger version ?!?]
*For Southerners etc: Butty = Sandwich!
The Travelling Hamster 