Misty Wensleydale

 Monday 14th Nov. 2011
                      We've just arrived back from a few days up in the Yorkshire Dales. We stayed in our motor home in the small market town of Hawes in upper Wensleydale. The previous few days of sunny weather gave way to cloudy misty conditions when we arrived and this dullish weather lasted for the whole of the week but at least it was mainly dry. Nothing remarkable about our few days but it did emphasise that Autumn was well and truly over in this high dale country.

The last of the sunny weather at Ribblehead with the cloud encroaching from the east over Ingleborough

                          The working market town of Hawes

                        Near to Hawes is the village of Gayle

 Above Galye the path follows Galye Beck into the upland valley of Sleddale

                      The attractive waterfalls of Galye Beck

                                   Wilder country of Sleddale

This walk starts at the village of Castle Bolton famous for its Castle (Bolton Castle)  Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned here from July 1568 until Jan.1569.

This is also the countryside of  James Herriot the vet made more famous with the television series  "All Creatures Great and Small"  several years ago.

                The real James Herriot stayed at this pub in Carperby

                Continuing on the walk to Aysgarth Falls (upper falls)

                                             Middle falls

                                           Lower falls

 Another wintry walk from the village of Bainbridge around Semer Water

                      Mosses thrive in the damp climate of the dales

                              Just one of the countless stiles

                 One of several ruined barns overlooking Semer Water

                              Marsett a small working village

                           Around the head of Semer Water

And finally the late afternoon light as we approach Bainbridge the end of our walk

Autumn in upper Airedale (Malhamdale)

 Mon Nov.7th 2011.
         Yesterday was a perfect autumn day and compared to last weeks walk where there was a distinctive lack of autumn colour today made up for it on a lovely stretch of the River Aire along the Pennine Way to Malham.
      On last weeks walk the dominant trees were all Sycamore and owing to the gales a few weeks ago they had either blown off or turned a dullish shade of  grey (most unattractive).The trees along the river today were a mixture of Horse Chestnut and Beech and were holding on to their leaves which made for some attractive autumn pictures.

                                           Hanlith Hall

          A small cottage garden still in flower owing to the mild autumn

                                           Malham Cove

                               Footbridge in the village of Malham

                                              Flasby Fell

I couldn't resist these two pictures for the blog, it just depends where you stand (apologies for the smutty humour)

                                      Kirkby Malham

                Late afternoon sun along the banks of the River Aire

And finally as I post this blog a reminder that winter is approaching ,as I look out of my window another morning frost, this time enough to form a skim of ice over my garden pond.

       Last Junes wild orchids spikes a sad reminder of their former glory

Lack of Colour

 Monday 1st Nov. 2011
           One thing that has struck me over the last couple of weeks is the lack of autumn colour in our area , it would seem that excessive windy weather last month and unsuitable weather conditions has left our local countryside rather drab compared to some of our previous autumns.
           We did our usual Sunday walk with our friends down in the Ribble Valley specifically for the autumn show but this year ...nothing, I just got my camera out for one shot on this ridge when the light was fading

Today whilst searching for Salmon and Sea trout down a tributary of the Ribble  the only autumn scene that caught my eye was this beech tree catching the sun against the darker background of Pendle Hill.

 On Saturday just over the Pennines in west Yorkshire  John Williams has abandoned  is beautiful garden on the moor until next spring , in the moorland misty drizzle it has a soothing affect has it shuts down for winter.

                         

                       and finally what it will look like in the spring