As a layer of snow was keeping the mud at bay, Robbie and I decide to walk home by crossing the local flood plain. I was hoping for photographic opportunities, I was to be disappointed partly due to poor daylight conditions. However Robbie enjoyed his freedom off the lead. I was surprised by the number of people who had earlier taken the same course as me, evident by the many footprints large and small.

We left Skipton by the canal tow path heading towards Barnoldswick, but soon transferred to Engine Shed Lane which acted as our guide to the Carleton footpath. After using a underpass to avoid the Skipton’s bypass we reached open fields. The going under foot was better than I expected. However the picture that I hoped to obtain of a derelict JCB excavator in the snow was not to be: after several years the JCB has been removed from its lonely grave. To coin a phrase: I should have acted sooner. At least I and Robbie enjoyed the walk.