Brrrrrrrrrrrrr, isn't it cold?? We've had freezing temperatures here over the weekend, it's been proper wintry weather. Its been the kind of weather which makes one very reluctant to head out of a cosy house, but on Saturday, J and I decided to ignore the pull of staying at home and head out for a wintry walk. We deposited the Little People with their grandparents and ventured up into the Dales for a few hours of walking and pub-lunching together. We went to the village of Malham, a favourite place for us and an area that we have walked and camped in many, many times over the past fifteen years. The village is very cute and picturesque with a very good pub, and the scenery is beautifully rugged and dramatic.
You could describe the weekend weather as "bracing". It was the kind of biting cold which made ones face ache, yet it was also very exhilarating to be wrapped up and striding out in it. As I've spent rather a lot of the last fortnight sitting around at home being ill and wrapped in blankets, it was amazing to find that at last I had some energy back in my body :: enough energy to climb up hills. Big hills. It felt great.
The first part of this walk heads out of Malham village along frosty field tracks and wintry woodland paths to the waterfall at Janet's Foss. I loved seeing where the water had frozen into icicles as it splashes down over rocks and logs.
After the watery bit comes the climbing bit. Head down and a steep ascent up through frosty pastures. The landscape colours are beautifully muted, shrouded in ice and mist.
Eventually, at that point where my legs start to resemble a plate of jelly and where I am quite hot and red in the face, the climbing ends and there we find ourselves at the top of the cove. This is the limestone pavement which is an incredible natural feature. Because it was so icy, the pattern of the rock formation looked very striking. Yes, beautiful to look at but quite treacherous to walk on :: in normal weather you can hop quite happily across these rocks, avoiding the "grykes" and not coming to much harm. However, after I managed a few comedy slip-slides on the ice I decided enough was enough and had to detour round the back of the pavement itself to avoid walking on the rocks. Didn't fancy doing myself an injury, even though I was desperate to go nearer the edge to take in the full view.
We stopped up here for our customary brew-break, warming our hands round hot enamel mugs of coffee, freezing our butts off on the ice cold rocks.
It was breathtakingly beautiful :: it's very high up on top of the cove and the view down the valley is amazing.
After the coffee and views, it's time to descend. The way down is via a large number of stone steps. It's surprisingly hard work walking down steps, especially when legs are still slightly jellyfied.
But eventually we reach the bottom where a gorgeous little stream burbles it's way along the valley. The view back towards the cove literally stops me in my tracks, it never fails to amaze me. So high! So dramatic! And look :: we were sitting right up on the top there drinking coffee just a short while ago!
Many people walk the footpath towards the cove to climb up the steps that we've just come down. We pass old and young, with dogs, with babies in backpacks, big groups, small groups, families, couples.
It's deservedly popular this particular little slice of the Yorkshire Dales. Yet there is still such a feeling of peace and calm and space and solitude to be found in this landscape.
I did enjoy this Winters day Walk. So very much. Even with jelly legs and a frozen nose.
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Posted by: my website | November 26, 2013 at 12:17 PM
Your photos are so beautiful. We were in Yorkshire many years ago but I remember being taken by the wonderful wild beauty of the countryside.
Posted by: Rhondi | January 27, 2009 at 01:49 PM
What an adventure, what a beautiful landscape...thank you for braving the frozen nose and jelly legs to share those photos with us!
Posted by: Emma | January 20, 2009 at 01:16 AM
You live in such a beautiful place. Even in winter, it's lovely.
Posted by: gardenymph | January 15, 2009 at 05:40 AM
It was so wonderful to drop into your blog and see these photos! I remember hiking with the Girl Guides as a young girl at Malham Cove. Beautiful... and your photos are stunning! Thank you for a trip down memory lane.
Posted by: Lisa | January 13, 2009 at 09:30 PM
What a gorgeous place and such wonderful pictures! I like the sound of the pub lunch!
Rachel x
Posted by: Rachel | January 13, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Magnifiques photos !!!!;-))
Posted by: Marielle | January 13, 2009 at 10:31 AM
gorgeous photos... thank you for sharing! :)
Posted by: Anna | January 13, 2009 at 08:27 AM
You have such a beautiful countryside!
Posted by: fleur | January 13, 2009 at 08:17 AM
Lovely photo's Luce, I could just do with a long walk like that....blow away the cobwebs :) x
Posted by: Josie-Mary | January 13, 2009 at 06:40 AM
What a wonderful virtual walk you've given us. I've always wanted to visit the Yorkshire Dales, ever since reading James Herriot. I do hope to make it there one day!
Posted by: Kristin | January 13, 2009 at 06:23 AM
Yorkshire dales, you are taking me down several memory lanes. And I thank you!
If you were able to be out and to take these glorious photos, I think that you must be on a new years mend. Glad that you are over that illness.
Now. The colors in these photos are beautiful, so cool, silvery, and so different from the hues that I usually associate with you. Does your natural palette have a seasonal variation?
When I paint, I do have a comfort zone of colors, but often find it great fun to deny them, and explore what the rest of the rainbow might show me.
Cheers!
Posted by: frances | January 13, 2009 at 02:54 AM
Lovely photos Lucy as always. Glad to hear you are feeling much better. Nicola xx
Posted by: Nicola | January 12, 2009 at 11:01 PM
lovely pics - thanks for sharing. You were quite brave to have that long walk mind you - it does really look freezing cold!
Monda
x
Posted by: Monda | January 12, 2009 at 07:32 PM
We live in bracing West Yorkshire and have had several face achingly lovely Winter walks recently :) Your photos are wonderful, haven't been up in the Dales for far too long, you've reminded me why we should return! I love January and to celebrate I'm having a little giveaway so feel free to pop on over, I'll have the hot water bottles and hot chocolate ready :)
Twiggy x
Posted by: Twiggy | January 12, 2009 at 07:15 PM
Wow....it looks gorgeous. I love proper cold, frosty winters like the one we are having. Looks like you are making the most of it! x
Posted by: Andi | January 12, 2009 at 07:12 PM
Beautiful pictures - it sounds a great walk - worth the jelly legs and frozen nose to see all that wintery beauty!
Posted by: Rebecca | January 12, 2009 at 07:12 PM
A very beautiful place; thanks so much for sharing!
Posted by: Shirl | January 12, 2009 at 07:06 PM
What wonderful photos! Me and my husband did a similar walk around Malhamdale during summer 2006 - it was spectacular then - but looks simply amazing in the winter! We may have to venture back! Have just discovered your blog, and it's great!
Posted by: Victoria Plum | January 12, 2009 at 06:18 PM
We went to Yorkshire for our summer holiday this year. It rained so much every single day that we never saw much of the countryside - cloud was too low! How lovely to see what it all looks like really, especially with the frost.
Posted by: Michaela | January 12, 2009 at 06:15 PM
So lovely! Thank you for sharing...Your photos took me on a little trip with my morning coffee...;)
Posted by: lisa | January 12, 2009 at 06:03 PM
I am so Jealous! I love hiking and that looks like such a beautiful place to explore and soak up all the beauty. One day we will have to take a trip to England just so we can see places such as this. You have made me want to go hiking here but I have to wait till the snow melts from the forest roads in the mountains. I will enjoy your pictures until I can go up and pretend to be a mountain goat myself. :) Thanks for sharing Luce! Have a great day!
Posted by: Kar | January 12, 2009 at 05:45 PM
I needed gas and air when we went walking in Malham...but I think Mr B took a different route to yours...on a very very hot sunny day..I felt like a mountain goat... oooh I can still feel my old ticker going...it looks much more spectacular in your photos...I have decided to try a granny square blanket as my next project I wonder who inspird me??? Can you recommend any good learn to books????
Posted by: Helen Lambert | January 12, 2009 at 05:14 PM
Malham is one of our faourites too :)
Lovely photography Lucy, note, I must take my camera out more often :)
X
Posted by: Mary Poppins | January 12, 2009 at 04:28 PM
Lovely countryside photos but they look somewhat desolute, lonely, and almost haunting looking, but in a good way, as in a place to go for some solitude and deep thinking. Is that the view of the faraway dales from your attic window or another place?
Posted by: cathleen | January 12, 2009 at 04:26 PM