Route to Wharfedale - landslide
We are due to visit Wharfdale for a week this Friday. we have been many times and are aware of the best route for us but I thought I would visit the site map to print the latest version, on doing so I caught sight of an almost "greyed out" message informing that there has been a landslide at Blubberhouses on the A59 and there is a diversion in place via Otley and Ilkley. I would have hoped that emails could have been generated to members with bookings to make sure they were aware of this. I wonder, am I being naïve in thinking the club should act as a "club"? or maybe its time for another name change to remove the C word and replace it with the term "Booking Agency"
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It would certainly be useful if they included it in the enjoy you holiday email they send out. Although sometimes they struggle to get the arrival time right.😂
As to if they should inform everyone who has a booking. In an ideal world it would be nice. However, I think I would pick up on something like this, as it is shown on Google maps, which I check before a journey. What is less obvious are events that may be occurring closing roads locally for a short time. Being informed of these types of events, I would class as more important.
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I agree that it would be helpful but personally think it's unrealistic to expect the club to let folks know of everything that's going on outside of their jurisdiction. I'm not booked in to go to Wharfedale any time soon but I know about the road closure. I've a booking for Knaresborough later in the year and am hoping that the road will be open before then, otherwise I'll have to change my normal route as I don't fancy going through Otley or Ilkley.
Like Steve says, I would always do a Google route check.
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Totally agree with the above however The good news is the Council/highway authority are planning to have the road re-opened for w/c 9 July when it is the great Yorkshire Show.
The site are aware of the issue and it is well known on local radio - I agree that it is a club so serve the members! we pay the wages remember and I simply do not accept with emailing and texting technology now available it cannot be done. There are two local to the site well used wedding venues and having used one fairly recently I can GAURANTEE they will be telling their clients and guests. We were at Bolton Abbey site last week and one couple travelling from Norfolk took two hours longer due to the lack of advance notice. However If travelling from the south the best option (least worst) in my opinion is to come off the m1 at the A63 Selby/Leeds east junction and head to Crossgates and around the Leeds ring road anti-clockwise until the West Park roundabout and you see the signposts for Otley/Ilkley/Skipton. Once through Ilkley turn into Addingham and follow the signposts for Bolton Abbey. If heading for Grassington site (unless you are confident towing on twisty narrowish uphill/downdale lanes) you need to turn left at the Bolton Abbey roundabout and pick up grassington signs near Skipton. i used to live in Otley and work in Harrogate and know the area pretty well from childhood through motorcycling and courting days and whilst the map shows many other road options, I would not touch most of them with a caravan outfit.
Driving through Ilkley isn't an issue, it is simply very busy and slow and Otley is bypassed. Go up to the Dyneley Arms traffic lights, hang a left through Pool and on to Harrogate. Even if you go through the town, it is no worse than driving through Knaresborough (especially the last bit where the road narrows coming out of the town) and parts of Harrogate - unless of course you go via Ripley.
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Hi all thanks for the replies.
Flatcoat I was looking to maybe go A1M Jc45 onto A659 into Harewood then A61 into Pool then A658 - A660 - A65 via Ilkley to re join A59 opposite the Tarmac site. what do you think?
I have asked the site wardens for advice and they reckon going through Harrogate on A59 then via Greenhow Hill via Grassington to the Wharfdale site.
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It depends where in W/Yorks you are starting out and what day/time travelling. The last stretch into Pool is a bit narrow if you meet an HGV and you either need to go up Pool Bank to Dyneley Arms and turn right on a steep hill into fast downhill traffic OR go through Otley, which if a Friday or Saturday is busy with market traffic and street market stalls. I only go that way to Otley when i do not have the 'van in tow.
If you know Greenhow it is steep and Pateley Bridge is very narrow in places. I can only remember the moorland stretch of that route in the eyes of a motorcyclist so struggling to recall if any pinch points towards Grassington. I drove the last stretch of it last week but heading a short drive out of grassington to Hebden and then to Barden and Strid Woods but sans c/van. If it's not a big van I guess it should be ok, just take it steady.
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Hi wedgy and others,
The landslide information has been added to the booking system, which means this would have appeared on your booking confirmation for Wharfedale as follows:
Please note when planning your journey to or from the site that there has been a landslide at Blubberhouses on the A59 and traffic is currently being diverted via Otley.
I hope that helps and that you have a great trip to Grassington.
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We've never had a problem towing through Otley in either direction, so far, it's just slow going, as is Ilkley. Patience is all that's required. The road from Pool to Otley leaves a lot be desired, surface wise.
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I think the booking confirmation is the best place for this sort of detail. Mine, for Cirencester Park is warning of possible delays on the dates of the Cotswold Show. Seems eminently more practical to me than sending out specific emails!
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I just assumed that like us, most folks just took a look on whatever info site they prefer to see where hold ups might be. I just tap in start and finish point on my iPhone and it highlights any issues. If one comes up, I get more info, and amend journey accordingly. Mind you, we don't use a lot of Club Sites, so we don't tend to rely on Club emails.
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flatcoat sorry but I don't understand the "through Pool and on to Harrogate" comment?
Driving through Ilkley isn't an issue, it is simply very busy and slow and Otley is bypassed. Go up to the Dyneley Arms traffic lights, hang a left through Pool and on to Harrogate. Even if you go through the town, it is no worse than driving through Knaresborough (especially the last bit where the road narrows coming out of the town) and parts of Harrogate - unless of course you go via Ripley.0 -
They send out specific emails in any case M. At least they do to me. We get enjoy your holiday emails, usually a week or so before the booking. I would not have thought it that difficult to include the information on that, particularly in relation to events, as that might not have been available at the time of booking. I am less concerned with road closures, as most that I am prepared to tow along would be shown as closed on Google maps.
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When you turn left at Dyneley Arms you are then heading down Pool Bank and through Pool in Whatfedale village towards Harrogate. You go past a Shell filling station at the junction with the Otley road and just before you cross the River Wharfe.
west park is 2 roundabouts before Hall Park roundabout when heading anti clockwise and just ‘up’ from Headingly. Turning right takes you past Golden Acre park (interesting history as one of the first theme leisure parks in the 1930’s and fabulous rhododendrons) and through Bramhope. If you miss west park just carry onto next roundabout (also by a shell garage) and do a U turn or simply carry on and pick up A65 providing you dont mind ploughing slowly through Yeadon, Guisely, Burley and into Ilkley. Can be tortuously slow when busy. Used to work just round the corner from Hall Park and still have a house in Otley hence i know the area so well.
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Wedgy. Where in West Yorkshire are you travelling from? I live near Harrogate and recently had to negotiate it so may be able to advise. It may be better to go via M62,Bradford and Keighley to avoid Otley and Ilkely. Depends on the time of day.
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