Walks and days in the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District (mostly) – 2012
The walks on here are my main walks. I take other short local walks when I might not take the camera – if the weather's bad or it's a short power walk to keep my fitness regime going. I might put a separate photos page on some time although most of my pix can be seen on my Picasa pages. This year I'm hoping to walk the Dales Way. I'm not doing it in one go in one week or anything daft like that! I'll be picking my days – no point doing it on not so nice weather days – but doing the full length even though I'm already very familiar with the lower stretches of the walk. Keep watching!!
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Carron Crag and Grizedale – Friday 27January
Left: Approaching the summit of Carron Crag Right: One of the many sculptures in Grizedale Forest |
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The forecast had changed somewhat between us planning the walk and carrying it out but it was the only day we could go. Rain, sleet, hail and a bit of sunshine were our companions for the day. But a day in the Lakes is always enjoyable whatever the weather. We'd hoped to see the red kites which were released in Grizedale a couple of years ago. I think they were hiding from the weather as we had no sighting of them. A longer report will follow shortly.
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A frosty sunny walk on Farnhill Moor – Friday 13 January
Left: Jubilee Tower, more commonly known as Farnhill Pinnacle on Farnhill Moor Right: Wintry trees on Farnhill Moor |
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Bad weather for just about every day of the first two weeks of January with rain at some time nearly every day has meant that I hadn't got out for a proper walk yet. I intend getting out as much as I can this year and also getting on with my wildlife and birdwatching. At last, however, a nice day coincided with me being able to get out for a walk midweek. Tilly was at the vet having a biopsy to try and sort out a stubborn skin infection. So needing to take my mind off it and not wanting to travel too far I parked at Barretts Bridge at Kildwick and set off for Farnhill Moor. I was hoping for some bird photos – the swans were very obliging. After only a short walk along the canal bank I crossed another bridge. This took me up Parson's Walk, which originally was the path the parson took from the parsonage down through the fields to the church in Kildwick. A friendly robin let me get some nice photos and a grey squirrel was obliging too.
I was soon up onto the frosty open moor where the walking was easy although I had to keep a lookout for icy patches. On the top of the moor is the prominent marker of Jubilee Tower, better known locally as Farnhill Pinnacle, with its bright white coat standing out against the blue sky. The views from here are panoramic reaching up Airedale beyond Skipton to Malhamdale, with an intimate view of the valley below. A lovely place to sit and dream on a warmer day. As I walked back through the woods a harsh bird call caught my attention and I was lucky to catch a glimpse of a jay. I managed a photo as it flew up high into the trees, but only a back view. Then back down Parson's Walk and I was soon back at the car. Not much wildlife seen but I was happy with the photos I did get. A lovely short walk of about 3 miles.
More photos from the walk can be seen here
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