42 years on (The Dove Stones Ridge)

Saturday 11th April 2015
                 Over the years I've walked the wild areas along Jackson's Ridge at the back of Boulsworth in the South Pennines to the Dove Stones many times, it's an area that is wild and feels remote even though it's only 11/2 miles across the moor from the nearest road. Today about 42 years on we're revisited this area again this time with Julie our daughter  ( the family are visiting us this weekend.)
               I first took her to this wild area when she was only 4 years old and I've managed to grab a few very poor quality but irreplaceable frames from a film I shot 42 years ago.

                          The Doves Stones from Hey Slack

The only thing appearing to be growing in this harsh environment is this Sedge Grass

                              Pendle Hill from the Dove Stones

             Looking towards "Wuthering Heights" ( Emily Bronte fame)

                         A few of the frame grabs 42 years ago

    A "Selfie" a shot that definitely won't be repeated in another 42 years

Pen-y-ghent... it never disappoints

Tuesday 7th April 2015
                           Today we've been on our annual early spring walk up Pen-y-ghent to find the Purple Saxifrage (Saxifraga Oppositiflora) the flower of the mountains it is a true arctic flower and as always we weren't disappointed. Depending on the severity of the winter the saxifrage begins to open in early March but in general it's at its best in early April. It grows on the 1900 ft contour on the limestone cliffs on the side of Pen-y-ghent. It is one of the first arctic spring flowers to open and it can flower all summer in the mountains where the snow melts later, it has been found as high as 4,505 meters in the Swiss Alps.
                         We've been climbing Pen-y-ghent for over 30 years in the spring and the sight of this Arctic Flower growing in the harsh surroundings is something we'll never tire of.

                   Approaching Pen-y-ghent along the Pennine Way

                 The first of the many locations that we found today

                            The steep south side of the Mountain

                              The summit of this popular mountain

Frogs beginning to spawn in this shallow tarn near to the summit, they've already spawned in my garden 4 weeks ago. What a difference in the seasons owing to the altitude.

           Returning down the steep south side down the Pennine Way

Probably the best saxifrage specimens of the day near to the path, but people pass by without as much of a glance

Pen-y-ghent, another satisfying walk