Malham | Yorkshire - God's Own County

Walks Along Leed Liverpool Canel

On August 12, 2010, In Our Yorkshire, By admin

leeds

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal crosses a wonderful part of the country, linking the two industrial cities of Leeds and Liverpool. Over a distance of 127 miles (204 km), it crosses the Pennines, and some of the best scenery in Yorkshire and Lancashire. The canal follows the flatest route possible. But, given presence of Pennines and other hills includes an inevitable 91 locks on the main canal.

There are several pleasant walks along the banks of the canal. Some of the places the canal passes through include:
# Leeds
# Kirkstall – The old ruined abbey makes an interesting visit
saltaire

Saltaire on a rare perfectly sunny day.

Saltaire – visit the old village and mill museum made famous by Sir Titus Salt. More on Saltaire
Bingley – The five rise locks
Skipton – The Gateway to the Dales, Skipton is the base for many good walks. A thriving market town with inspiring countryside overlooking.
Gargrave – One of best locations on edge of Yorkshire Dales. To the north of Gargrave are places such as Malham. A great walk at this point in the canal.
Barnoldswick
Nelson
Burnley
Gannow Tunnel
Hapton

Shipley and Leeds on Leeds-Liverpool Canal

Leeds Liverpool Canal info at Pennines.org

Photo of Leeds Liverpool canal by Lynne Pettinger

Welcome to Settle – BD24

On June 19, 2010, In Welcome To - series, By brian

This North Yorkshire settlement of Settle may have been populated by Angles in the 6th century but there are prehistoric remains amongst the limestone hills nearby.

Key Points of Interest

Known for its position on the Settle to Carlisle railway, where steam trains still run on occasion, beware the station is well south of the town centre. The railway was opened in 1875 but Settle was connected to the rail network 25 years before that via a road link to Giggleswick station.
Victoria Cave contained remains of mammoth, bear, reindeer and hippopotamus as well as stones, flint, bone and other implements and ornaments.
Set in the midst of great walking country, Settle is a bustling center for tourists and day trippers. For that reason there are numerous cafes, tea shops and pubs offering refreshment.

The river Ribble provided the power for Settle’s former cotton and paper mills and now is a base for many walks. Try the three peaks if you want a tester.
Overlooking the town is Castlebergh, an impressive 300 feet limestone crag which flies the flag even when England are not in the world cup.

Nearby locations include Giggleswick, just over the bridge, with it’s famous school and Feizor a hamlet up in the limestone hills with great valley views. See walking maps Settle to Feizor & Giggleswick
Scalebar Force is a waterfall in a deep wooded ravine just off the road which leads from Settle over the limestone moors to Kirby Malham and Airton
In keeping with a modern town new features are added. The Millennium garden is a small tranquil place spoilt only by the nearby eponymous supermarket run by the upmarket Booths chain. This hasn’t spoilt the local shops and my wife enjoys the local wool shop whilst I haunt the secondhand book shops.Victoria Hall is a lively theater and community focal point nearby. Queen Victoria gets a good press in Settle as iher reign was the great era for Settle’s tourist tourist trade.

Market day on a Tuesday in hectic. Buses and coach trips visit Settle on other days as well but if you want peace and quite get on your walking boots and head for the hills.
The church is set under the hillside not far from the Ribble. I was taken by the use of the church grounds to grow rhubarb and other edibles under the protection of the church walls, to say nothing of the surrounding hills.

Yorkshire Bank Funding National Trust

On January 21, 2010, In Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire History and Heritage, By brian

The UK’s biggest ever plant hunt is underway with a survey that will cover tens of thousands of plants at more than eighty significant National Trust Gardens. The project is sponsored by Yorkshire Bank, sponsors of the Outdoor Programme which also includes help to conserve and protect National Trust gardens through investment in greener gardening initiatives.

Using the latest technology including GPS positioning to record plant locations over 1,000,000 plants are being recorded to give an overview of the largest collection of cultivated plants in the UK. Many of these plants tell the history of a garden’s creation, people’s passions and changing fashions through the centuries.

During the three year sponsorship deal Yorkshire Bank is also supporting the Greener Gardens initiative to improve the way both the Trust and its supporters can maintain gardens in more environmentally sustainable ways. This includes composting on an industrial scale, rainwater harvesting and reviving old wells, to experimenting with drought-resistant varieties of plants and introducing solar-powered lawnmowers.

It is good to see a bank putting something into more than just executive bonuses.

Locations from the National Trust Yorkshire section that you might like to visit include

Beningbrough Hall & Gardens
This imposing Georgian mansion contains one of England’s best baroque interiors. Over 100 pictures are on loan from the National Portrait Gallery. Outside there is a delightful walled garden and a fantastic adventure playground.

(more…)

Tagged with: gardens • National Trust • trips

Rylstone Walks, Boulders and Calendars

On December 2, 2009, In Books & Literary Work, Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire Trips and Places, By brian

St Peter’s church in Rylstone stands above the village made famous in recent times by the Alternative Womens Institute calendar. As the church and graveyard can testify there has been a vibrant community in the locality for many centuries. The duck pond was looking a bit forlorn when I visited this week but the area is well kept and feels homely.

A quirky look at the village can be observed from several convex mirrors designed to help motorists.

Origins of the Alternative Womens Institute Calendar

John Richard Baker a National Park Officer for the Yorkshire Dales, died in July 1998 at the age of 54 as a result of Leukaemia. His wife Angela Baker and her friends from Rylstone local WI, had the idea of the “Alternative WI calendar” to raise funds for Leukaemia & Lymphoma research. This idea provided much mirth and entertainment for her husband throughout the later part of his illness but regrettably he did not live to see the calendar and the great success that followed.

To donate to Leukaemia Research

Barden Moor and Fell with the twin skyline landmarks of Rylstone Cross and Cracoe Pinnacle from the church. The drystone walls were in excellent order and the late afternoon winter light made the whole area glow.
Rylstone ridge near Skipton is one of the most scenic Yorkshire grit crags, with fine views across Barden Moor, Wharfedale and the Malham hills. It is well known amongst boulderers for it’s quiet location. There are several good walks from Rylstone including one that takes you along Rylstone edge to Cracoe or along the railway track that was closed in 1962.

To the south is Norton Tower a 16th Century square tower built by Richard Norton but damage in 1569 and now sadly just a ruin.

There are several good eating places and hostelries in the near by villages and Rylstone is worth a trip if you are feeling like a bit of exercise.

Dales Barns Survival

On September 12, 2009, In Books & Literary Work, Yorkshire Dales, By brian

Not all the wonderful barns of the Yorkshire Dales have been converted in to holiday lets or cottage homes. These distinctive, rustic almost run-down but utilitarian structures still abound. Originally erected in 18th and 19th centuries many of these barns were built, to store hay near the point of use and were called Laithes, or as Hogg Houses (Hoggs are young sheep) to overwinter the sheep. Tudor Tythe barns still exist at Riddlesden Hall Keighley and Botton Abbey.

The Yorkshire National Park Authority’s Planning Committee have approved the temporary use of a free-standing ‘eco-pod’ inside an isolated barn on the Bolton Abbey estate near Skipton. Yorkshire Forward are supporting this and other conservation measures to protect the 2000 odd barns that are suffering from dereliction.
The National Trust owns Town Head Barn Malham and this 18th century barn has been restored it to its original condition when it would have been used to house overwintering cattle and hay to feed them. It is located on the edge of the village next to its farm and is therefore a rare survival. Most village barns in the Dales have been sold off for house conversions.

Barns of the Yorkshire Dales by Andy Singleton & David Joy is prefaced by Bill Bryson “‘Many of the best of England’s barns are in the Dales. So it is wonderful to see a book celebrating, with wit and affection and penetrating historical insight, the Dales barn in all its undersung glory. This truly is a delightful and valuable book – almost as good, in fact, as the barns themselves.’ ”

Mark Banks Dales Barn series
Main photograph at hardwick House looking towards Nesfield and Beamsley Beacon.

Green Lanes of Yorkshire with Boats

On August 1, 2009, In Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes, By brian

Green lanes is a term for grouping together the various sorts of tracks, bridleways, and footpaths without a sealed (metalled or tarmac ) surface. These Green lanes that traverse and enhance the Dales landscape and cater for recreation in various ways. Some green lanes are Roman in origin or medieval, used by drovers, locals and travelers over the centuries. They were not designed with modern motor traffic in mind nor have they been upgraded for recreational vehicles. According to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority ‘There are over 2,000 km of rights of way and over 100 km of unsealed Unclassified County Road in the Yorkshire Dales National Park‘

BOATS are ‘Byway open to all traffic’ and in the Yorkshire Dales National Park you can down load a list of these Boats. Boats allow recreational vehicles to use designated green lanes.

Disputes with Recreational Vehicles
At a Leeds court in June 2009 the Traffic restriction orders TRO’s on several green lanes was challenged by LARA (the umbrella organisation of recreational vehicle clubs including Association of Land Rover Clubs, the British Motorcyclists Federation and the Motor Sports Association)

This Administrative Court restored four important green lanes in the Yorkshire Dales National Park to recreational motor vehicle use. The quartet of byways, running between Settle and Malhamdale, Malham Tarn and Arncliffe Cote and Horton-in-Ribblesdale and High Green Field, will now be fully opened to drivers again (A Street Gate to Arncliffe Cote, B Harber Scar Lane, C Stockdale Lane F Gorbeck Road).

Other TRO’s remain in place at D The Highway, E Old Ing to Cam End via Ling Gill, G Horton Scar Lane / Foxup Road, H Cam High Road again available from Yorkshire Dales Org.

Both Sides of the Track
Green Lane users have a code of conduct and an organisation promoting sensible driving in the countryside ‘Glass’
Yorkshire Dales Green Lanes Alliance takes the other view ‘Campaigning to free the green lanes from off-roaders’ and vehicle use that is destroying the Dales green lanes.

So where do you stand on the issue? Recreational vehicles, 4by4′s and trials bikes can use Green lanes that are classed as Boats (in this summer boats may need boats) but can’t use footpaths and tracks with TRO’s. Add your comments below.

Yorkshire’s Top Twelve Bird Watching Sites

On May 30, 2009, In Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes, Yorkshire Trips and Places, By brian

sparrow

John R Mather ( ‘Where to watch Birds in Yorkshire & Humberside‘) has compiled a list of 156 Yorkshire sites from which I have selected a personal favourites list or top dozen. To make it a bakers dozen please comment below with your own personal favourite.

On the Coast RSPB Bempton Cliff stands out in more ways than one.
Humber Estuary in the East Riding you may want to check out Cherry Cobb Sands or Welwick Salting.
North Yorkshire Moors have a different environment at Dalby and Staindale Forest.
Richmond and Northwestern Dales around Arkengarthdale
Settle and Upper Wharfedale particularly Malham Tarn or Semer water near Hawes.
Masham and Upper Nidderdale Yorkshire Waters reservoirs at Grimwith or Gouthwaite
Nidderdale and Washburn Valley gravel-pits at Hay-a-park Knaresborough
Downstream Aire Valley you can’t beat Fairburn Ings close to the A1
Lower Derwent Valley National Nature Reserve and Weldrake Ings.
Doncaster Area and Thorpe Marsh run by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Southern Pennines Hardcastle Crags owned by the National Trust
My own garden with feeders and bird friendly garden features.

Form the various links you can see how many organisations help with the protection of birds and support ther hobby of birdwatching. It can be a low or no cost hobby that you may find very rewarding.

Peregrine Falcons at Malham

On May 18, 2009, In Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes, Yorkshire Trips and Places, By brian

new-picture-2

If you want an opportunity to see the peregrine falcons along with a variety of other characteristic upland birds then Malham Cove is the place to visit. These Falcons are one of the most impressive birds of prey and they are never more impressive than when they are rearing the young on the cove at Malham. Everything has been set up for professional and amateur watchers with a special viewing position and telescopes you can use. Other birds you might spot include little owls, green woodpeckers or redstarts.
‘Volunteers from both the RSPB and Yorkshire Dales National Park ( providers of the above image) will be present at Malham Cove every day from 10 April until 30 August to show visitors some of the exciting birds that can be found in the Yorkshire Dales’.

Malham Tarn and Woodland

Being 1250 feet above sealevel there is ample moorland and grazing sheep near Malham with Tarn Woods to the north of the Tarn. Three miles further north, Fountains Fell reaches an impressive 2200 feet. In addition to the Peregrine falcons other birds of prey include sparrowhawks, kestrels and merlin breeding locally with occasional winter visits from the hen harrier or common buzzard.

Around the Tarn are Common Coots, common pochards, tufted ducks and the usual mallards. This stretch of water attracts good numbers of water fowl in autumn and winter with August to October being the best time to visit for the number of species to be seen.

Little owls and tawny owls breed in the vicinity as do flycatchers and willow warblers and large flocks of twites can be seen on the approach roads. Approach from Settle or Arncliffe and park on the road, not the soft verges they need protection, and view from the south side of the Tarn with the sun behind you. There is so much to see and do around Malham it is worth staying for the local hospitality and a look at Gordale Scar and Janets Foss other local landmarks.

Beauty of Yorkshire Dales

On April 30, 2009, In Yorkshire Dales, By admin

The Beauty of the Yorkshire Dales from Malham Cove.

yoorkshire

The craggy limestone pavement at top of Malham Cove. Foreboding clouds in the background heigten the atmosphere, but, the sun manages to come through

yorks

photos by Tricky (flickr)

Fly Fishing in Yorkshire

On April 5, 2009, In Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes, By brian

wharfe-in-spring

Fly Fishing

Yorkshire Anglers is a commercial club with 35 acres of water in two resevoirs and over a mile of the river Wharfe. 15 miles from Leeds this intimate private fishery has brown trout and rainbow trout weighing 1.25 lbs and occassionally much more. ‘The waters leased by Yorkshire Anglers are hidden gems, tucked away in the midst of typically beautiful Yorkshire scenery and are a refreshing tonic to the numerous ‘muddy puddles’ masquerading as fly fishing lakes. The two reservoirs and a stretch of the River Wharfe provide ample scope for the discerning fly-fisher to test his skills against fish which very quickly wise up and start feeding naturally.’

Fly fishing lessons are on offer with Steve Rhodes and the Yorkshire based Go Fly Fishing . Yorkshire has some of the most famous fly fishing locations in the UK with the equally limestone Rivers Wharfe, Ure and Aire in the Yorkshire Dales where Grayling and Trout are available. From fly tying to lessons on technique would make an interesting day out or a fine present. (more…)

Tagged with: resourses • weekend

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