We continue our quest to create some Outdoor Family Time every weekend, usually a Sunday morning. With each week/outing it gets easier and the vocal complaints have now dwindled to very mild do-we-have-to's. Persistence pays off, as does chocolate bribery.
Yesterday the weather wasn't especially nice with a thin film of mizzle hanging low in the air, but we weren't put off in the slightest. We are heading out, we have flasks of coffee and chocolate, we care not if it is damp and grey!
We live very close to the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and there is stunning scenery to be found just a short drive from home. Yesterday we went to Malham, well more precisely a mile or two up the road to the magnificent Gordale Scar.
This is ancient limestone landscape, and the scale of it is quite mind blowing. It is huuuuuuge. The hillsides tower a good hundred metres above the footpath.
J and I know this area well, we have been here many times over the past twenty years yet we couldn't remember ever bringing the Little People here. They really enjoyed the drama of the scenery and couldn't wait to get around the corner and right into the gorge......
....as you can see it really is spectacular. Pretty wowsers eh?!
Believe it or not, this is actually a footpath. Uh-huh....can you see a couple of people beginning their climb up the side of the waterfall there? Well that's the footpath. We told the Little People the story of our own climb up there once, when we had been camping in a little tent nearby and decided to do this walk one morning. Our book described this part of the path as "a mild scramble", jeez, that author told a big fat lie there. It is a knee-knocking, heart lurching rock climb, made a hundred times worse by the fact that you have such an audience watching your every leg trembling move. I remember that I was wearing little flowery shorts, and some black mary jane style shoes to make that climb, so funny! I didn't even posses walking boots back then, I used to walk for miles across the countryside in those black shoes which I loved to bits.
We drank coffee and consumed chocolate in the gorge, then wandered back down the path in the mizzle to visit this other beautiful waterfall.
This is Janets Foss, a rather magical place with fairy stories attached to it.
We decided to leave the car parked here and walk the 1.5 miles along the stream to the village. The walk is lovely, starting out in this gorgeous woodland, then opening out through fields and pastures.
I loved the green greenery of moss and wild garlic, so lush looking with the delicious scent of garlic in the air as we walked.
It took about an hour for us to walk to the village, ambling along at Little B's pace. But eventually we arrived, crossing over the stream via this lovely old stone bridge.
We had booked a table at The Buck Inn and were very much ready for lunch. Which was rather delicious and enjoyable I have to say. This pub is very warm, cosy, relaxed and homely inside, and children are made very welcome.
After lunch, J and Little Man set out to walk the 1.5 miles back up stream to pick up the car, while I parked my ample backside on that lovely wooden bench there and supervised the other two. I know I've said before how much I love watching the Little Peeps at play, it really is one of the best things in life. They devised a game that was a combination of hide and seek and tig, so funny to watch. Then there was a game involving stick racing in the stream, followed by some general running, jumping and climbing.
And then the welcome comfort of our car arriving and the slow winding road home-wards through the glorious spring countryside. A good day. Very, very good.
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Oh I have just discovered your blog and I love it! I was in Malham in May and it was wonderful. Have also had a delicious dinner another time at the Buck Inn on a freezing cold day. I used to live in the area but now live in Australia and miss the scenery and the weather so much. Thank you for bringing me a little closer to "home"
Posted by: Connie Carter | August 04, 2014 at 07:07 AM
a great read with pictures. thanks for sharing.
Posted by: mj*seborn | May 12, 2013 at 12:06 PM
You really have a knack for capturing those quiet, beautiful moments in life. I so enjoy your blog. Thank you.
Posted by: Cami | May 10, 2013 at 03:55 AM
It looks like a really perfect day. I love how you make the most of your local area. We've been into the Dales most weekends lately, and I dream of moving there quite often... xx
Posted by: Gillian | May 08, 2013 at 05:23 PM
Oh my ... Malham is one of my favourite places!! x
Posted by: Mellie | May 08, 2013 at 12:25 PM
This is a delightful post, Lucy. It takes me back to our bush walks with our three, over thirty years ago. they were such highlights of childhood, and really are memories they all still share with pleasure , despite the fact our youngest only daughter complained bitterly, especially towards the end and her Dad would assure her we were just about there, hyperbole usually!!
These walks were in National Parks north of Sydney Australia so your photos and stories are full of happy resonance for me. You are creating a marvellous legacy for your family
Posted by: Martina | May 08, 2013 at 02:53 AM
Just loved your day out. Made me so homesick. Keep it up.
Posted by: Susan Smith | May 07, 2013 at 10:11 PM
So beautiful - takes me back to my A Levels, where we spent a whole week in Malham and Skipton. Loved it. You are so lucky to live around there.
Posted by: VickiPlum | May 07, 2013 at 08:23 PM
I loved every word of this post. I live in CA but I'm rather obsessed with England. It always blows my mind that your country has been well established for many centuries and yet there is so much beautiful wide open space to see and explore. Natural beauty and scenery are very much adored there, huh? Or maybe I live in too urban an area in CA? Don't know, but I can't wait to get back to England. Thanks SO SO much for your post-- it made my day! :)
Posted by: Robin Chapa | May 07, 2013 at 08:21 PM
Lucy, I loved this post! That area is so mystical and inspiring to me. Thank you for sharing it!
Posted by: Jennie | May 07, 2013 at 08:19 PM
How wonderful to live close enough to such a beautiful place that you can go for a day-trip! :)
Posted by: erica K | May 07, 2013 at 05:46 PM
I just want to say thanks for your tutorial on granny stripes, I could`nt figure out how to do in the endings but then you explained it to me so nicely. Big thanks.
Posted by: Alex | May 07, 2013 at 05:23 PM
That sounds lovely!
Posted by: Bonnie | May 07, 2013 at 04:11 PM
Yorkshire Dales National Park ...*sigh* it's been a dream of mine to go there and Lake District . I have such a strong pull towards those areas. I feel like I've been there before....
Posted by: Serafina | May 07, 2013 at 03:07 PM
Hi There, That place is absolutely magical!!! Hubby and I also returned to our spot after a bout 25 year to show the kids just to find it all built up!!!So sad!!!!Hope your place will still be there for your grandchildren!!!
Love
AMarie
Posted by: Anna-Marie Field | May 07, 2013 at 09:04 AM
Love your pictures! Gives me a taste of home from my new home in North Africa :)
Posted by: Seekingjenna | May 07, 2013 at 08:42 AM
your photos and words made me smile (and a little sad) Many years ago I spent several family holidays in the dales camping at appletreewick, and having our own little adventures just like yours....our favourite was making our own postman pat stories as we hiked up malham cove, or gordale scar, or some other beautiful place. Happy times, sadly the marriage ended, and the little kids are now big teenagers, but thank you for sharing your own happy times...cherish xx
Posted by: paula | May 07, 2013 at 06:09 AM
It's a very great and lovely thing to do with the young ones, to go out of doors and enjoy the surrounding. Three cheers to you and J. :)
Posted by: Marlene Leonardo | May 07, 2013 at 05:49 AM
Absolutely gorgeous scenery. I love the waterfalls. They are one of my most favorite things in nature. Thank you so much for the photos. Now that I can't walk very far, getting to see your photos has made my day.
Hugs,
Sharon
Posted by: Sharon Braxton | May 07, 2013 at 05:21 AM
What fabulous photos! I live in NZ (I'm English!) and we recently went walking in Ohakune in the North Island and, funnily enough, a lot of the scenery we enjoyed reminded me of England. Funny 'eh? Especilly as we're 12,000 miles away! I've just started my own blog so I'll be able to blog about that.
Posted by: SarahNZ | May 07, 2013 at 05:00 AM
Lovely photos! I love that you used the word mizzle! As a native of the West Country (Devon/Cornwall border) I am so used to mizzle and the effect it has on your hairstyle! An American friend of mine thought I had invented the word and only believed it was a real term after looking it up in the OED!!
Posted by: Sally | May 07, 2013 at 03:10 AM
Beautiful...simply beautiful scenery!!! Someday I hope to fulfill my dream of visiting England. Thanks so much for sharing your walks with us.
Posted by: Emily Clark | May 07, 2013 at 02:37 AM
Preciosos los lugares que nos muestra!
Soy de Argentina y realmente disfruto de su blog!
el crochet es mi pasión
Posted by: Marisa | May 07, 2013 at 12:55 AM
Stunning photos, and beautifully written as always. Lucy, I can imagine us sitting in that pub together and talking for hours!
Posted by: TracyR (Australia) | May 06, 2013 at 11:35 PM
Absolutely breathtaking! Thank you for that bit of adventure,you are so lucky to live anywhere near such beauty, lovely,lovely photos.
Posted by: Annie | May 06, 2013 at 11:34 PM