It's been a long while since J and I enjoyed a hike in the Great Outdoors together. I LOVE walking the hills with J, we've been enjoying this pastime ever since we first met seventeen years ago. But in the past couple years due to the bump/baby business happening we've been unable to stride out together and I've missed it. I've missed it a Lot.
Early last week it dawned on me that with a little careful planning and some wonderfully obliging family, we could perhaps finally Make It Happen. We could perhaps spend a day together in the Great Outdoors getting down to some serious walking. Just us two. Just like old times.
And that's exactly what we did :: on Thursday we dropped the Little People off at school, then delivered Little B to his wonderful Grandparents, and then the glorious day was all ours (well five hours of it anyhow).
We chose a ten mile circular route. Ambitious to say that I am quite unfit these days, but we were determined to get up Somewhere High, and a walk to Simons Seat seemed to fit the bill nicely (cos it really is a mighty high destination for hereabouts)
We've done this walk once before and remembered it to be a Good'n'. Starting at Bolton Abbey, the route climbs up through woodland and into the "Valley of Desolation". Nothing desolate about it these days mind you, it's absolutely beautiful up here.
Out of the valley and into the dappled shade of a small plantation....
...then out into the open landscape of the expansive Barden Moor.
Lots of green shrubbery up here on the moor at this time of year, and joy of joys we discover that they are all bilberry bushes, yippeee!!! We love bilberries, and hadn't realised that they grow so prolifically in this area.
On closer inspection we see that the bushes are already laden with little berries (yippee-yipppeeeeeee!) but it'll be August before they ripen and turn purply-black.
We continue to stride upwards across the fell :: by now we've been climbing steadily uphill for almost two hours. My legs feel a little jelly-like.
But up there ahead is our destination :: that rocky clump of rocks is the famous "Simons Seat" and I for one can't wait to get there. Can't wait to view the view, rest my jellified limbs and tuck into the packed lunch cos I'm suddenly starving hungry.
Ahhhhhhh finally we make it to the top and catch a glimpse of the view, and what a view it is!!
It feels as if we are on top of the world up here.
Breathtaking. So high! We have climbed so high!!
Now then, enough of the view for now, lets get down to the business of refuelling shall we? Snuggle in between the sun-warmed rocks and bilberry shrubbery and eat with pleasure :: hams rolls, sweet cherry tomatoes, apples, strawberries and dark chocolate (our usual picnic fare). Delicious.
We don't get to spend a lot of time lolling about at the summit as we have now passed midday and are very aware that in three hours time we'll have two Little People standing at the school gates fully expecting their parents to be present and correct. So down we go, down, down from the heights...
...admiring the view as we descend.
Over there we can see the picturesque village of Appletreewick, a real gem of a place which we know and love well.
We are striding out on the return journey now, following wide easy tracks past farms and campsites...
...until we make it back to the banks of the River Wharfe.
Riverside walking is always a pleasure, especially when it follows lots of climbing. It feels as if ones legs are operating of their own accord. Walking on the flat after all that uphill stuff is a breeeeeze! We cross the river at Barden by way of this magnificent stone bridge....
....then into Strid Wood we go. We are on familiar turf now, we know this woodland very, very, very, well.
It is incredibly beautiful in this woodland at any time of year, but most especially in late April/early May.
Because this is Bluebell Time.
My heart soars with the beauty of it all...........
......Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a day. What a wonderful, beautiful, exhilerating, exhausting, glorious day! Wow. We must do that again sometime. When my legs have recovered that is :: two days later and they are still behaving like stiff planks of wood.
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ps Dorset Tales will be coming soon I promise, I've not forgotten :o) x
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=african+flowers&f=hp
Just wondered if you'd like an idea for a new project!
Ana
Posted by: Ana Armson | May 05, 2011 at 01:42 PM
You seems to be a Perfect Photographer..!!! Every pic is so perfect loved your work amazing, beautiful...!!! I wish I could be like you..!!
Posted by: Buy Kitchen Cabinets | May 05, 2011 at 01:06 PM
Oh my goodness. absolutely gorgeous!
Posted by: Paula | May 05, 2011 at 07:11 AM
Greetings from Sweden. I found my way here from another blog. Lovely pictures, thank's for sharing! Now my urge to go back to England soon again is growing :D
Posted by: Anki | May 04, 2011 at 10:11 PM
Thanks so much for teaching me what those little shrubs are - we saw lots at Brimham Rocks last week and I wondered if they were an edible berry - now I know. I look forward to August when we can go a pick a few!
Breathtaking blubells.
Posted by: Emma | May 04, 2011 at 03:51 PM
Dear Lucy,
is the first time I write you: I ended up on your blog by accident and is now one of my favorites!
Thank you for your beautiful pictures and your stories. I would ask some things privately, how can I do?
Best regards, Flavia (from Italy)
Posted by: Flavia | May 04, 2011 at 01:58 PM
You should draw a map of your beautiful hike. It doesn't have to be perfect, just colorful. You could make a map book to commemorate your adventures. Remember the maps in the Pooh books?
Posted by: Pom Pom | May 04, 2011 at 01:24 PM
Lucy thank you for your pictures of your beautiful hike. Such an amazing variety. Our bluebells are blooming here too (in the middle USA - Missouri)
Candy
Posted by: candy grisham | May 04, 2011 at 01:23 PM
What a beautiful walk. Thank you for sharing it with us. Best wishes, Pj x
Posted by: Pj | May 04, 2011 at 10:13 AM
This worked was really well and he seemed to enjoy himself. That was a beautiful walk, thanks for sharing it. i love it all thanks for a little peek. those bluebells are gorgeous.
Posted by: DSTT | May 04, 2011 at 10:10 AM
Thank you for that lovely post. You certainly live in a beautiful part of the world and so glad you and J had that special time to share it together. Times like that are ones to be treasured.
Posted by: Meredithe | May 04, 2011 at 02:04 AM
OH, you live in such a beautiful place.
Posted by: Sandra J. | May 03, 2011 at 11:42 PM
I love bluebells. I had harebells in my wedding bouquet as they were the nearest I could get to them! Bluebells have been growing everyhwere here in Cornwall, it has been an exceptionally good year for them. Your pictures are gorgeous!
PS.
I have just finished my second crochet blanket at the weekend. Your influence I have to say.
I have blogged about it. I hope to try making something to wear next.
x
Posted by: Andrea | May 03, 2011 at 11:11 PM
Merci pour la ballade, magnifique...! dommage je ne comprend que peu l'anglais... mais je viens souvent !
Posted by: mimi poud'de riz | May 03, 2011 at 08:47 PM
glorious glorious pictures, in an area I adore! I could just smell those blue bells hmmmm yumm.
Posted by: kate | May 03, 2011 at 08:36 PM
Wow!! Your country is SO BEAUTIFUL!! Your pictures make me want to come for a visit, it's all so lovely :) Thanks for sharing!!
P.S. The bluebells are gorgeous, I'm amazed how they form a carpet in the woods.
Posted by: Raili | May 03, 2011 at 08:32 PM
How gorgeous! You are so lucky to live in such a beautiful area. Thanks for sharing the pictures, and giving us all a mini-vacation!
Posted by: Val | May 03, 2011 at 02:41 PM
Greeting from Finland - Lucy, I just love your blog! Found it a few days ago and have allready started some projects inspired by you. :D
Posted by: Katja Siltanen | May 03, 2011 at 08:38 AM
Oh Lucy, so glad you managed to get out for a hike and such gorgeous countryside. Hope your legs have recovered!
Posted by: sue | May 03, 2011 at 08:08 AM
What a wonderful walk. Makes me want to pull on my walking boots at once! Thanks for taking me with you!
Posted by: Lynne Kovan | May 03, 2011 at 07:06 AM
I enjoyed the vicarious hike, just beautiful! Thank you for the gorgeous pictures! You certainly are fortunate to live in such a beautiful place.
Posted by: eva | May 03, 2011 at 05:05 AM
Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!
Posted by: Della | May 03, 2011 at 12:45 AM
What a wonderful walk- a bit of everything.
And as for the weather...astounding!
Posted by: Kate | May 02, 2011 at 11:03 PM
Thanks for sharing such a special walk with us - and such lovely photographs, as usual. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Posted by: ScoobyDoo | May 02, 2011 at 09:31 PM
HOLA Lucy,sigo tu blog a diario,me gustan mucho las cosas que haces,un saludo.
Posted by: sara | May 02, 2011 at 09:10 PM