Brass band contest took place on 12th September

The world famous Hardraw Scaur Brass Band Contest takes place annually within our natural wooded amphitheatre to the rear of the Inn on the second Sunday in September. The band contest was first held behind the Inn in 1884 and were held upto 1927. Then in 1976 the Band Contest was restarted and has been a success ever since.

Photo - The 2002 Brass Band Concert held on Sunday 8th September

After the completion of the competition, the concert MC will introduce the Finale programme. This is the traditional end to the day which takes the form of an impromptu concert given by the massed bands drawn from those who have competed in the contest. this enables both musicians and audience to come together and enjoy singing the hyms along with the bands.

Healaugh Crag

I was pleased with this photo with the dark and threatening sky above the Crag. Would make a lovely painting!

Grouse

This is my favourite bird. I love everything about it, the way it looks, sounds, flies and tastes.
It should be Britain's national bird- Red Grouse are found no where else.

Many interesting lectures

Dyeing Flowers Workshop

Lunchtime Lecture -Red Squirrel Conservation in the National Park

Lunchtime Lecture -Woodland Birds of the Yorkshire Dales

Discover & Do: Textile Crafts

Dry Stone Walling Demonstration

Lunchtime Lecture - Upland birds of the Yorkshire Dales

There are so many wonderful lectures at the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes. Take a look at the website for more details.


http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/

Grouse and hay

Looks like it will be a good season on the moors this year. The dry breeding season has helped all the ground nesting species. Large broods of grouse have been seen. It isn't long til the start of the shooting season, which is in effect like a harvest. It should prove a better harvest than for farmers who need hay. Think that will be in short supply and expensive this year.

Funny comments from our guests in June

We had this lovely email from guests who had stayed at Laykin this month and asked them if they minded us sharing it on the blog- here is what they said:

Dear Mrs. B,

We really enjoyed staying in your house in early June. Our welcome from your housekeeper could not have been better.

A "game" we played was to try to find anything we needed which was not provided (if you see what I mean!), the one thing was a knife sharpener --- we found it on the last day hiding behind the garlic jar!

Thank you so much,

The Hs, Hs and Ts.

Grouse and Golden Plover

After the hard winter, the birds have had a wonderful breeding season. All ground nesting birds benefit from having a dry May and June, and some good broods of grouse chicks have been spotted.