admin, Author at Scribble by the Ribble

Can you solve Dales stone mystery

Seven days ago I believed the Dales summer was all over and done with. So what a bonus to have a few pleasant days this week. I’ve been able saunter around the hills and dales with the fleece still tucked away in the bottom of my bag. One day I drove up lonely Kingsdale and pulled in to walk along the old track which leads over to Barbondale. I love the views from up here. Sitting at the top of High Pike at around 1600ft you can see over several dales and north-west to the Howgills. I was pleased the top photo came out as well as it did. The folding hills merge well with the rolling clouds which bubbled up like waves on the sea.

This carved stone sits in a field at a place on the OS map known as Foul Moss, just off the track. It is only a couple of hundred yards away from the County Stone, the point where Yorkshire, Lancashire and Westmorland all meet. If anyone knows the significance of this little stone and carving I’d be interested to hear from them.

Dales kingsdale — Distant mist but the view down Kingsdale from the top gate is always worth a second glance

Dales inglefar — From the Barbondale track the top of Ingleborough can be seen

Dales deepdale1 — The first view of Deepdale and beyond as you rise out of Kingsdale

Dales hoss — Photo-bombed by a horse as I looked towards the Howgills

Later I drove into Dent where I picked up a couple of stock pictures after stopping off at this waterfall in Deepdale.

Earlier in the week I drove up to High Birkwith at the top end of Ribblesdale for a circular stroll around Ling Gill National Nature Reserve. By ‘around’ I really mean right round the edge of the reserve for I wouldn’t contemplate clambering my way through the gill. By all accounts it is an almost primeval landscape of boulders and waterfalls, with dark and dank enclaves populated by rare plants. The short, steep-sided valley has remained virtually untouched from grazing animals and humans. Probably the best website I’ve seen for further details is http://oldfieldslimestone.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/ling-gill-limestone-wild-and-untamed.html

Dales newhouses1 — The Tarn at Newhouses on the way to High Birkwith

The walk, stretches of which were still a tad boggy, takes in part of the Pennine Way and also the Three Peaks route between Penyghent and Whernside. I never tire of the views around this part of the dales.

Dales parkfell — Park Fell seen from near Nether Lodge (pictured below)

Dales lingbridge — Ling Gill bridge. The National Nature Reserve is in the steep gill which can be seen behind the ruin (below)

Half of last week’s blog disappeared into an internet black hole. Probably my fault. Here’s one you missed of a duck trying to explain the hokey-cokey…

Dipping a toe outside Yorkshire

I took a few tentative steps outside Yorkshire this week. I must add a rider here: many of those steps were within the new Yorkshire Dales National Park boundary. You know what? It’s pretty good – Westmorland and Cumberland have quite a bit going for them. Just south of Appleby is the impressive Rutter Force which just sneaks into the recently extended park. The mill there is now accommodation, reached by a ford which even on a fairly calm day like this I wouldn’t cross in my little car.

Busy Appleby is just outside the Yorkshire park boundary but a fine place to visit – made even better by being reachable via the Settle-Carlisle Railway. Before this visit I hadn’t realised the extent Appleby had suffered from the last major flooding. Many riverside properties are still being renovated or drying out. Flood prevention schemes along the riverbank are being implemented.

yorkshire img_5056 — A definite autumnal look beside the Eden in Appleby

They like to take care of their trees in Appleby – this one has a nice woolly coat to protect it from the strong north-easterlies.

Yorkshire img_5052 — The red sandstone St Lawrence church in Appleby – parts of it date back to the 12th century.

I was looking forward to some extensive views down the Eden Valley and Mallerstangdale but sadly the mist never really cleared. Cloud clung to the tops and from a distance looked like a layer of snow on the east. This scene was taken from Pendragon Castle.

maller — The red sandstone St Lawrence church in Appleby – parts of it date back to the 12th century.

I was looking forward to some extensive views down the Eden Valley and Mallerstangdale but sadly the mist never really cleared. Cloud clung to the tops and from a distance looked like a layer of snow on the east. This scene was taken from Pendragon Castle.

Back in real Yorkshire

In amongst lengthy thunder and lightning storms this week there were a couple of decent sunsets. The shot below was taken at Winskill Stones above Langcliffe.

Why seeing red in the Dales is vital

Bright red telephone boxes in the Dales, like this one at Arncliffe, need to be preserved. Too many of the old pay-phones all around the countryside are being disconnected and removed. In the Dales some have been developed into tiny book-swap-shops, art galleries etc, and in the Lake District I’ve even seen one turned into a fish tank. I’m not just some old fart wanting to wallow in nostalgia. I can see the logic behind getting rid of some urban boxes but in the countryside where mobile reception is poor, or where walkers and campers have no way of recharging their mobiles’ batteries, the old red boxes can help save lives. I read this week that Keswick Mountain Rescue Team are asking people to help keep a kiosk at Seathwaite on a popular route to Scafell Pike. Surely the saving of just one person during the whole life of a phonebox is more important than the minutest of dents made in the profit margins of a communications giant like BT? Comments can be made at:
http://planning.allerdale.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=148110

Dales arncliffe3 — Another shot of the kiosk in Arncliffe.

I popped into Arncliffe this week during a superb Dales drive from Langcliffe in Ribblesdale, over the Silverdale road to Halton Gill and down Littondale. From there I doubled back along the dodgy road via Darnbrook to Malham Tarn. Then it was back to Langcliffe via Cowside and Winskill. Here’s a selection of pics on the journey…

Dales arncliffe — Looking back over Arncliffe from the Darnbrook road

Dales dalehead — Looking towards Penyghent from the Silverdale road at Dalehead Farm.

Dales silverroad — Further along the road to Halton Gill at the ‘backside’ of Penyghent.

littondale1 — The breathtaking Dales view down Littondale. One of my favourites.

Dales littonbw — I like it so much here’s a black and white shot.

Dales haltongill — Little Halton Gill snuggles between Littondale’s steep hills.

Dales arncliffe1 — The beck at Arncliffe.

Dales arncliffe4 — There are some fascinating tombstones at St Oswald’s church, Arncliffe.

Dales stocks — Bring back the village stocks, I say. Not enough time for me to list who I’d throw rotten tomatoes at. Arncliffe.

Dales arncliffe5 — It’s not always as tranquil as this in the Dales – the river Skirfare near St Oswald’s in Arncliffe.

Whenever I drive through Rathmell in Ribblesdale, as I did one day this week, I wonder about the origins of the term ‘Reading Room’. I realise it is the equivalent of a village hall but why was it so called? Is it a Dales thing?

Dales plumpewes — I don’t know what happens at the treatment works by the Ribble here in Settle but those ewes certainly look to be thriving on it.

Sitting ducks

Dales ducks — Team photo: Millpond Ducks FC first XI line up for their latest match in Langcliffe.

Changing Dales

Dales locks — Yesterday I thought I’d take one more summer shot at Langcliffe Locks before the trees change colour.

Dales claphamfalls — Earlier in the week I dropped in at Clapham Falls where there was already more than a hint of autumn.

Missing the Dales bus for sunny delight

Rather than watch the Dales bus ride from Richmond to Ingleton on TV I travelled up Ribblesdale to see a sunset. It was well worth it for this week’s photo diary. The view of Moughton Scar and Wharfe hamlet when the late sun catches hillside there is always a fine sight. I sat in a lay-by on the back road from Helwith Bridge to Stainforth as the sun finally set. The colours and patterns were amazing behind the silhouettes of Norber and Robin Procter Scar. To my right, now in half-light, Ribblesdale and Penyghent looked like the red-grey dying embers of a bonfire. My thanks to the passing cyclist who helped make the top shot a much better picture.

Dales pyglatelight — Night falls on Penyghent

Dales wharfe — Wharfe hamlet beneath Moughton in some strong evening light

Dales sunsetslip — A different angle on the sunset

Dales sunsil — Silhouettes near Austwick

Dales carsun — My car doesn’t usually star in my photos so here’s its moment of glory

I watched the bus ride programme in three chunks on iPlayer. (I’ve never been one for long bus rides – I was often the one throwing up on school trips). When I’m driving around the Dales I’m usually forever gawping at the scenery and almost crashing – but with the TV programme I found myself looking at the road and thinking ‘he’s going to crash into that wall’! I’d read somewhere that this was a ‘real time’ trip along the route … well it certainly wasn’t: it took just about five minutes to get from Hawes to Ribblehead in the iPlayer version I watched, so unless they switched from bus to jet fighter part-way it wasn’t ‘real time’. And the journey ended at Ribblehead, missing some of those great views and features along Chapel-le-Dale.

Dales fromthorns — Three shots all taken at or near Ribblehead. The train one a reminder of this time last year when the steam specials were still heading along the Settle-Carlisle line.

Later in the week I parked up on the Kingsdale road for a wander around this peaceful dale. I also popped down to Thornton Force where lots of Dales holidaymakers were enjoying the waterfalls walk – I say ‘enjoying’ but looking at some of the tortured faces of those not expecting to climb hundreds of steps to join the green lane above the waterfalls, I’m not sure enjoyment was what they were experiencing. Certainly many looked as though this was their first, and probably last, exercise of the year.

Dales bridge — Rain heading in from the west. Kingsdale.

Dales kingsdale2 — Looking up Kingsdale towards Whernside.

Dales ingleking — Ingleborough peeking out above Twisleton Scar, seen from Kingsdale.

Dales thornton — Thornton Falls on the Ingleton Falls walk.

A lot of my spare time over the last few weeks has involved fitting a kitchen into my tiny cottage. The building was obviously constructed before right-angles and straight lines were invented. Seemingly it was built by eye – unfortunately, the eyes must have been owned by the village drunk. Anyway, I’ve run out of money now so hopefully more time for photography and wandering around the Dales in the coming weeks.

Dales teeth — Did anyone see a sheep without its bottom set this week?

Dales gatesun — Late sun on a path above Langcliffe.

Flooding brings back different dales memories

I’m lucky enough to remember lapping up weeks of sun in the Yorkshire Dales during the sweltering summer of 1976. Those days of my early 20s, when I was still enjoying life to the full, came to mind last Sunday.

Conditions during those long, dry summer days of 40 years ago couldn’t have been more different. In the greyness of the morning I photographed the flooded Ribble at Langcliffe. It cascaded over the weir where surrounding fields were soaking up unusually heavy August rain from further up Ribblesdale.

Thankfully, a brighter day followed and I was able to take my only walk of the week in the Dales. I parked at St Leonard’s in Chapel-le-Dale, pottering about around Hurtle Pot before heading up the rough track to Ellerbeck Farm and circling back.

Dales IMG_4730 — I can’t for the life of me remember what the bright orange-red plant is – can anyone remind me?

The sun struggles to find a way through the tree canopy along this way, and Nature has created a strange little world here. The limestone outcrops are covered in a carpet of mosses and lichens; ferns and other shade-preferring plants thrive in the crevices.

A surprising statue jumps out of the shrubs – the plaque says:
‘For years a statue stood on this spot. It was vandalised on Saturday August 27th 1983 and subsequently found in 30 feet of water at the bottom of Hurtle Pot. An enthusiastic team of divers made the recovery and it has been erected again as found. It was the creation of the late Charles I’Anson the well known sculptor and artist. Time will tell if the spirit of the Boggard of Hurtle Pot is now enshrined in the statue.’

Not wishing to hang around to find out, I moved quickly on. The track opens out beneath the mass of Whernside into a landscape of wild boggy fell which had acted like a sponge during the previous day’s downpour. The limestone outcrops which break up the bogland provide some excellent foregrounds for photos (first pic in post).

Great views up and down the Dales appear as you gain height. Beyond Ribblehead Viaduct I could clearly see the old Roman Road heading up Cam. It’s creamy surface, laid to take wagons for wood clearance, creates an open scar on the hillside. Hopefully it will soon blend into the surroundings.

Dales IMG_4754 — There’s a pleasant waterfall beneath my feet here where I stopped to take a short video of the view – see link below (yes, I am out of breath and incredibly unfit at the moment).

https://youtu.be/vxp1TOE-sWE

I could also pick out the path restoration work being carried out up Ingleborough. There were plenty of folk attempting the Three Peaks and I hope they all contribute to the route’s upkeep – http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk

Dales IMG_4764 — I think I’ve found a couple of extra carriages for Branson’s trains. Plenty of room here Jeremy.

Gold medal days in the dales

Although it’s been a mixed weather week in the Yorkshire dales my photo diary shows several golden moments. I walk with Romans, drive the border and a cow takes the wee-wee.

I did it byway

Dales IMG_4599 — Top photo shows the Roman road stretching down Wensleydale.

I popped over into one of Ribblesdale’s next-dale-neighbours to follow in the footsteps of the Romans on Monday. The ancient route to Bainbridge, which I picked up at the top of Sleddale, offers some fine views up and down Wensleydale and Raydale. Although it wasn’t the crispest of days for long-distant shots, Semerwater, Pen Hill and Addleborough helped paint a good picture. It didn’t seem worth ploughing a way through the peat bog to the top of Wether Fell as the view across Wensleydale can be enjoyed just the same along the path which circles around the hill like a necklace.

Dales IMG_4573 — Looking down Raydale towards Semerwater.

Dales IMG_4578 — Someone having an even better view of the Dales than me.

Dales IMG_4585 — Above, the flat top of Yorburgh with Wensleydale beyond.

Dales IMG_4591 — If my bearings are correct that’s Sedbusk seen from Wether Fell

Golden days and nights in the Dales

A late stroll from Langcliffe to watch the sunset was well worthwhile. Here several shots in no particular order:

dales IMG_4661 — Last light, nearing home

Dales IMG_4632 — Ingleborough in the distance (note the ‘sun dog’ – part of the Sun’s halo).

Dales IMG_4610 — Looking across to Penyghent on my outward journey.

Dales IMG_4624 — In low-level light looking down on the Ribble

Dales IMG_4617 — Evening shot of Ingleborough and Smearsett Scar from the Malham road out of Langcliffe,

Along the border

For a change of view of the sunset, the following evening I took a trip along the Yorkshire-Lancashire border …

Dales IMG_4690 — Stocks Reservoir looked serene just as the Sun was disappearing over the horizon.

Dales IMG_4685 — Is this cow taking the p*** out of my attempts to capture a rural sunset?

Dales IMG_4704 — On my journey back home the full Moon glowed brightly over Settle. I was on the lookout for werewolves.

Dales IMG_4674 — The grouse moors on the borderlands took on pretty patterns in the low light.

Dales IMG_4671 — On the way up the bleak moorland road from Bentham to Slaidburn the purple heather was soaking up the last rays of sunshine.

Dales IMG_4699 — Sheep settling down for the night near Gisburn Forest.

Dales IMG_4665 — Do not adjust your sets … I tried to get as much fading light as possible in the shot. The colours turned out weird but Ingleborough still looked majestic.

Dales IMG_4679 — From this angle, near the source of the River Hodder – part of which forms the traditional Yorkshire border – Gisburn Forest looks incredibly dense.

A Dales summer & are we related?

Summer can be all too brief, especially here in the Dales. Hopefully there are a few more warm days to come. Here are fourteen shots from a Dales ‘summer’ …

Dales IMG_8967 — First shot and above, sheep enjoying a summer sunset in the dales – both taken at Winskill, Ribblesdale

Dales IMG_4239 — The signpost should really read ‘Good weather left, stormy weather right’

Dales IMG_4243 — Looking the other way from the previous picture of Penyghent taken at Dale Head Farm, I like the way the wall follows the ridge

Dales IMG_4259 — Looking across the Ribble near Horton in Ribblesdale

Dales IMG_4274 — Shame about the telephone wires but still a nice shot of a tree in the Ribble meadows with Penyghent looming ominously in the background

Dales IMG_4275 — There aren’t many flatish, open spaces in Upper Ribblesdale – this one is between Horton and Helwith Bridge

Dales IMG_4282 — I posted a similar shot to this a few weeks back but prefer this one with a shaft of sunshine lighting up the meadow in Horton, and Penyghent looking dark and moody in the background.

Dales IMG_4284 — Someone shouted ‘mint sauce!’ and started a stampede

Dales IMG_4311 — A Dales stile and drystone wall with interesting sky. Fountains Fell in the background.

Dales IMG_4314 — Sheep couldn’t care less about what’s happening in the Dales sky.

Dales IMG_4321 — Not the clearest view of Pendle Hill from near the top of the Craven Fault above Settle.

Dales IMG_4390 — Trees soaking up the summer sun in the ground of Langcliffe Hall, Ribblesdale. (I’m peering over the wall, not trespassing!)

Dales IMG_4426 — Finally, a shot of Marsett in Raydale – hidden just over the hills from the Dales of Ribblesdale, Wharfedale and Wensleydale.

For the benefit of anyone tracing their family tree – particularly in West and North Yorkshire – I have now published a list of surnames connected to my own family. Click on the Family History page to see whether your surname is included – if so, please feel free to contact me via the comments section or by email on paul@jacksoneditorial.co.uk and we’ll discover whether you have a link to my lot.

Ribble reflections and crown of Thorns

Two enjoyable shortish walks by the Ribble to report on this week. The river looked fabulous as it reflected the sun while I sauntered along to Stainforth.

Ribble stackhouse — The Ribble and Stackhouse from Stainforth Scar

Then it was a trudge up Stainforth Scar to take in views up and down Ribblesdale. I’ll let the photos do the talking here as I’m out of breath…

Ribble smearclouds — Lovely clouds over Ingleborough, Smearsett Scar and Knight Stainforth

Ribble pyggap — Penyghent seen through a gap in an ancient wall on Stainforth Scar

Ribble path — One of my favourite paths near Langcliffe

Ribble rocket — Looks like a rocket taking off from Skipton – the first manned exploration probe into Lancashire?

Ribble stile — Another view towards Smearsett Scar and Ingleborough

Ribble hayfield — One day, son, all this hard work will be yours…

Making hay while the sun shone was the order of the day as I approached Langcliffe. So satisfying to see people working while I idle my time away.

Ribble head

Later in the week in cloudier weather I snatched a short walk at the head of the Ribble. Thorns Gill looked and sounded fabulous. The crown of Thorns has to be the hidden waterfall at the Gearstones end. But the old bridge which has defied gravity for hundreds of years was also a splendid sight.

Ribble thornsrock — A miniature world on a rock – a bit like planet Earth, really

The Three Peaks of Ingleborough, Whernside and Penyghent took on different moods as the clouds (and trains) passed by.

Ribble thorns2 — Clouds gather over Park Fell and Ingleborough

Ribble thornstrain — Zoomed in from Thorns Gill – a goods train over Ribblehead Viaduct, helping to remove more lorries from our congested roads.

www.settle–carlisle.co.uk

Ingleborough nature reserve at Ribblehead

Ribblehead quarry is part of the Ingleborough National Nature Reserve with great views of the Three Peaks of Whernside, Penyghent and Ingleborough.

Visit http://www.natureinthedales.org.uk/get-involved/places-to-see-wildlife/ingleborough-nnr for more details.

Quick Ingleborough NNR photo blog

I know I wrote last week that I wouldn’t be blogging for a while but I just had to set myself a small photo assignment and here it is from the Ingleborough reserve …

Dales highs and lows

I’ve had a pleasant week wandering around the dales. A few gentle walks averaging around four miles per saunter; some warm weather and not a sign of sciatica. The photography’s been worthwhile too, judging by the number of ‘hits’ on Facebook, Twitter and my website which reached a new high following my postings during the week. 20 dales photos to view here this week.

I headed for the top of Langcliffe Scar last Sunday. It’s a fabulous viewpoint from which to see Ribblesdale, the Three Peaks, Pendle Hill and other nearby dales. The wispy clouds directly above me threw up all kinds of weird and wonderful shapes. Is that a broken heart and an angel looking for me? Further away, to the east, lenticular clouds were forming spaceships. And the blue sky contrasting starkly against the limestone always draws the eye.

Strictly speaking there isn’t a public footpath to the top of Langcliffe Scar. Under foot it can be quite tricky with much of the limestone clints and grykes covered by vegetation. One benefit of this is the sheep don’t like it too much so there is more chance for the wild flowers to get a hold. Sometimes getting down on the ground and really seeing what’s growing can be as rewarding as the magnificent long-distant views.

Dales history

Taking advantage of the valley bottom lanes around Austwick once again, I visited one of the ancient clapper bridges near the village. The first photo in the blog shows Flascoe Bridge, which is Grade II listed with Historic England. It was built in the 15th century of limestone and five slate flags on rubble piers. The bridge is about 12 strides across for those with short legs like mine.

dales norberfields — The fields of Austwick and Norber

Down memory lane

Somewhere from the murky depths of my mind I dredged up memories of an old deserted church seen on a walk I did many years ago around Semerwater. So on Wednesday I popped over the pass from Ribblesdale to Wensleydale and hidden Raydale to see whether the place had changed in the intervening 40+ years.

Semerwater on a quiet pre-school-holiday, midweek day with the sun blazing down seems a million miles from the world’s angst. I followed the lakeside path through the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve to the outskirts of Stalling Busk where the ruined old church still stands. The place was actually in better condition than I remember. On returning home I discovered on tinterweb that consolidation work was carried out in 1981 and further restoration undertaken in 2000. It was still being used as a church in the 1920s.

I walked back to the car via the quiet top lane so I could see Semerwater from above. The weather turned dramatically, as it often does in the dales, during the hour or so I was walking.

Animal magic

At first I thought this sheep had been crushed by a tombstone at Stalling Busk. But I soon realised it was quite happy and just shading from the sun. A bit like my dim cat, it can’t understand why its head is cool but the rest of its body remains boiling hot.

The sheep looked cooler admiring the view from Winskill, above Langcliffe.

Squirrel setting a bad example about rail safety at Settle Station.

On hearing of plans to upgrade our Trident missiles this week several moles in the Yorkshire Dales decided to surrender.

And finally…

Is that Mark Rand sitting on the S of his converted water tower at Settle Railway Station?

I’m taking a summer break from blogging but will continue to post photos from Ribblesdale and the rest of the Dales here and on Twitter (@paulinribb) whenever I can.

Author: admin

Can you solve Dales stone mystery

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Dipping a toe outside Yorkshire

Back in real Yorkshire

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Why seeing red in the Dales is vital

Sitting ducks

Changing Dales

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Missing the Dales bus for sunny delight

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Flooding brings back different dales memories

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Gold medal days in the dales

I did it byway

Golden days and nights in the Dales

Along the border

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A Dales summer & are we related?

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Ribble reflections and crown of Thorns

Ribble head

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Ingleborough nature reserve at Ribblehead

Quick Ingleborough NNR photo blog

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Dales highs and lows

Dales history

Down memory lane

Animal magic

And finally…

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Back in real Yorkshire

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Sitting ducks

Changing Dales

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I did it byway

Golden days and nights in the Dales

Along the border

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Ribble head

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Quick Ingleborough NNR photo blog

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Dales history

Down memory lane

Animal magic

And finally…

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