Drive & Stroll, with RON FREETHY

I SET off early in the morning but on the previous evening I watched a video of the film Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. I did this because many of the scenes were filmed around my destination -- Aysgarth Falls.

Heavy rain and sleet swept by a high wind greeted me as I arrived at the car park and wrapped up warm and -- to start with -- dry.

Before I reached the waterfalls I could hear the crashing of the River Ure against the rocks. The brown peat-stained waters looked awesome but appearing very comfortable amid the turbulence were a dipper and a couple of grey wagtails. The birds proved just how resilient our wildlife can be.

Between the Middle and the Upper Falls is an old mill. In the 19th century this mill sold a job lot of crimson fabric to Garibaldi, who had uniforms made for his army which did so much to unify Italy.

High above the falls is the parish church, which has a circular cemetery. This shape proves that the site has Anglo-Saxon origins and there may well have been an even earlier pagan settlement way back in Celtic times.

In the churchyard and obviously sheltering from the weather was a flock of 18 redshank. It was good to see these birds because, along with other waders, a combination of loss of habitat and too many agricultural chemicals has reduced many populations. By the time I returned to my car I was cold and a little damp.

It was, however, worth all the discomfort to enjoy the sight and sound of waterfalls and birds.

I looked forward to my one-hour drive home, followed by a hot meal and yet another viewing of Kevin Costner leaping in and out of the waterfalls with the Ure in a much more gentle mood.

The route: Follow the A59 to Gisburn and then the A682 to Long Preston. Continue along the A65 to Settle and up Ribblesdale on the B6479. At a T-junction turn right along the A684 to Hawes and on to Aysgarth. There is plenty of parking and an Information Centre close to one of one of Britain's most impressive waterfall systems.

Next week I am beginning a series of walks to explore the course of the River Darwen from its source close to Darwen to its confluence with the River Ribble at Walton-le-Dale.

I decided to do this because of a book I read recently which was published in 1936. It described strolls mapped out for East Lancashire folk who could not afford to go on holiday during their Wakes Weeks. Instead they walked in the local countryside. I would love to hear from readers who have memories of East Lancashire's Wakes Weeks.