Back to Yorkshire :: Part 3

Hello Lovelies,

one of the nicest things about this Yorkshire visit for me was the walks I did straight from our hotel. Both mornings we were there I managed a walk before breakfast. The morning of our departure saw me exploring the towpath of the canal. It wasn't a sunny day, but the air was still and I loved the mirror like reflections.

and the cute ducklings.

It's such a peaceful green oasis in a busy area.

 Old mills and narrow boats.

Fun signs.

Locks and views.

boats and cottages.

Colourful trucks :0)

After breakfast Mum and I ventured down the road to Damart...where there was a sale on.

Mum picked up lots of bargains, then we decided it was time to head home.

 As we travelled through Bingley mum noticed a familiar lane. "Beckfoot bridge is down there" she said. Ooooh I just had to turn the car around for a quick lisit.

Above my bed I have a painting done by mum of this bridge and I love it. I couldn't miss the chance to see it for myself. If I had been as a child I couldn't remember it.

We stopped by this house and I left mum in the car. I just walked through that gap you can see.

And there it was !

Welsh poppies grew out of the stone walls ( that's a childhood memory right there)

and the other side of that house was so lovely

Standing on the bridge you can see there is a ford here.

The bridge it's self is an old pack-horse bridge and would not have had any sides when it was used by horses ( so as not to interfere with the wide loads these animal had to carry)

This is the view from the other side....how perfect it looked with the fresh spring foliage.

There were even a few bluebells on the bank.

And here's the angle that seems so familiar to me. 

Because this is the painting of it that a love so much.

This impromptu visit finished our short break off perfectly. Thanks mum for another special trip down memory lane :0)
Jacquie x

Back to Yorkshire :: Part 2

Hello Lovelies,

on the Friday of our short break n Yorkshire mum and I took the opportunity to drive into the dales. We headed up Wharfdale and stopped here to admire the sunlight on Kilnsey crag

It's beautiful limestone country and I was delighted to spot Lapwings right by the road.

They were flying overhead and I loved listening to their "pee-wit" call. You can see one flying in the centre of this photo if you look closely.

Here's a clearer view.

I crossed this cattle grid.

To get a closer look at the lambs.

Who were so small and cute.

Soon we moved on and came to the village of Conistone  and I went exploring while mum sketched. The daffodils in the churchyard were going over but still looked pretty and there was so much birdsong here.

Hello Mr Robin.

It was such a pretty and peaceful spot.

I explored a footpath I noticed and climbed a short distance to look back on the village and Kilnsey crag beyond.

The sun came out as I returned to the car and the old buildings looked beautiful.

Here's the view mum was sketching.

and her drawing.

We carried on, past more sheep and lambs.

Through more pretty villages.

and had to stop regularly to capture the wonderful views.

After a while we arrived at Buckden and parked the car again.

There's an information barn here.

And happily, nice toilets. After a visit I said bye to mum and set off on a walk.

I like walking where there are lots of clear signs :0)

The path climbed steadily and delicate little primroses made me smile.

Here in upper Wharfdale it felt much earlier in spring than it did down in the midlands, and also earlier than down in West Yorkshire where we were staying.

The rocky path kept climbing.

And the reward...as always...was a lovely view.

This huge boulder "gate post" made me smile.

I looked down on the farmer feeding his flock.

And always remembered to close the gate :0)

A little further on I was down in the valley...at Cray....where the Daffodils were still at their best.

And there were stepping stones across the stream.

The water level did seem low, a result of our dry spring I'm sure.

I was going to sit by the river and eat my picnic, but decided to carry on a while.

Passing lots more lovely lambs.

And then spotting a place to shelter from the wind while I ate my snack.

A cinnamon bagel from the breakfast buffet was very welcome.

I don't have the right walking  map for this part of the dales, so I had improvised by taking a screen shot of Jenny's walk...Thank you Jenny :0)

It's a shame the sun had disappeared as the views back down the valley were lovely.

Here they are still waiting for the wild garlic to flower too.

I was not following all of Jenny's route, but looking for the path that would take me down into Hubberholme  to meet mum. There's the sign.

The lambs were going around in little groups here. Feeling brave as I approached.

Until a Baaa from an adult called them back to a safe distance.

Soon the village came into view.

And I met up with mum, who had spent the time I was away painting. I loved the spring colours in her watercolour.

As it was getting late in the afternoon we decided to start heading back down the valley, stopping at a lovely little tea shop on the way.

 

Oh, the joy of a weekday visit outside the school holidays. We had the place to ourselves.

I can thoroughly recommend the Spiced Apple cake ...and the place mat, with it's view of Pen-y-ghent made me smile, reminding me of my previous dales walk last September.

There's one final Yorkshire walk from this trip still to share. But I'll save that for next time.
Jacquie x