Riverside Wanderings

We've been enjoying some stunning seasonal weather here of late, with the sort of bright, crisp, cold sunny days that make Autumn feel like a true pleasure. When just such a day happens to be a Sunday, well, it would be a naughty thing indeed to loaf around indoors instead of getting out there and making the most of it.

These photos are from just over a week ago, on the last day of the half term holidays. As we were all still very firmly in holiday mode we didn't manage to leave the comforts of home until after lunch, but the blue skies and bright sunshine made for a glorious afternoon to head out into the Yorkshire Dales for a stroll.

We decided to drive 15 minutes up the road to one of our favourite stretches of the river Wharfe - the beautiful Linton Falls.

There isn't a lot at Linton Falls, except for some very desirable riverside cottages and the water doing some spectacular falling. The river Wharfe tumbles over a wide, picturesque weir before being forced over/through some dramatic limestone rock formations, and this is a very noisy business indeed. At certain times of year after a lot of rainfall, the volume of water passing through these narrow rocks is staggering. It's mesmerising to watch the water move at such a rapid rate right under your feet as you cross the bridge, but also a little overwhelming after a while (you can see/hear it on YouTube to get what I mean).

I felt a certain relief at leaving the frantic movement and noise behind me and walking gently along this really lovely, familiar  riverside path.

We've walked here many, many times during the past twenty years or so, in all seasons and in all weathers. We've seen trout jumping clear out of the water, and on one memorable occasion we were treated to a high speed kingfisher fly-by. 

Last week though, the river was unbelievably tranquil and still, with no wildlife action at all. 

The light and colours combined with the stillness of the water was breathtaking.

Walking along this side of the river, the path passes under a whole row of enormous horse chestnut trees growing right by the river bank. As you can see, they are in full Autumn flow right now and I love to see the low slanting sunlight lighting up the leaves.

This is Hebden suspension bridge, one of those very bouncy type bridges that really delight the Little People. We had originally intended to bounce across the river at this point and continue along the other side into the village of Burnsall where we knew there would be refreshments and facilities. However, I remembered hearing very good things about a gorgeous little cafe in nearby Hebden village, so managed to talk the Fam into a last minute change of plan. We did indulge the Little People though, and let them run across the bridge and back again purely for the high energy, bouncy excitement before turning away from the river and heading in search of Tea Room Bliss. 

And this is what we found - an old converted school all decked out for Halloween and looking very inviting in the late afternoon sunshine. This is the Old School Tearoom and I'm pleased to confirm that it totally lived up to the good things I'd been told about it. The coffee was superb, and the home baking was out of this world good. The carrot cake - Oh. My. Goodness. It totally made me involuntarily close my eyes and groan with pleasure, it was so, so good. Little B loved this place because we were able to sit outside in the sunshine while he ran off to make the most of the adjoining children's playground which had the biggest slide. It was the most delightful and picturesque place to rest for a while and re-fuel and we will most certainly be going back again.

This wasn't a circular route, so our jaunt back to the car was simply a reverse of the same paths that we had already walked. I'm thinking we probably walked about 4 or 5 miles in total, which equated to around two and a half hours of very pleasurable Riverside Wandering.

There were a couple of times during that afternoon where I just stopped walking, stood still, closed my eyes and turned my face up to the sun. The Little People don't even blink an eyelid when their Mother does this kind of thing, I do love that they are perfectly accepting of my weirdness.

My wish for this season is that it keeps on delivering this kind of glorious weather, most especially on weekends, thank you. There is nothing nicer than spending time with family, wandering around amongst all this sunny, green open space. 

I love this little patch of Planet Earth so very much.

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Comments

[Annette]

Old School Tearoom! I've been there! Woop woop. WHen we stayed in Hebden fro Yarndale. Such a cute little place. We indulged in full Vintage Tea menu... Oh my... I didn't make it to the top... Too stuffed... But oh so good. I hope to be back again one day.
Xxx
Annette

PS Thanks for popping in. Thanks for encouragement. Feels good. :)

[Hedda Gerlinde Sidla]

your wandering touch my heart and soul...I have been following your blog for several years now...love your crochet work...and how you live it into your life. Love the town you live in, the photos...and the sentiments and joy...thank you. Hedda Gerlinde Sidla

[Susie Holden]

Utterly breathtaking photographs. Makes me want to jump on a train to North Yorkshire right this very minute. Thank you for illuminating so many wonderful corners of the country. With the world as it is right now, there is such solace in the beauty of nature.

[Lynn]

Thank you Lucy for a wonderful riverside walk. I enjoy your posts of wonderful scenery and wide open spaces. So refreshing! I think your photography is so good. You really know how to frame your subject. Would love your photos framed and on my wall! Thank you so very much for sharing.

[Yvonne Jones]

I would just like to say how much I love your Attic24 site and blog. You are so creative and have inspired me to take up crocheting again after a long break! Thank you.

I wonder if any of your ladies would be interested in either crocheting or knitting a baby blanket for the SANDS charity? I'll post a link for you to see what it's all about.
https://www.sands.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer-sands/knit-sands
It's a charity that doesn't get too much publicity but helps parents at a really difficult time. x

[Hanne Abrahamsen]

Lovely autumn pictures, thanks for sharing!

[ALI DUFTY]

Lovely pics of a gorgeous day! :)

[Carol]

I love walking in this glorious weather we have been having as well, and my river Nene was just like yours the other day - very tranquil.

[Linda Harvey]

Beautiful pictures and so nice to hear how much you love nature. Wish I lived near you.

[Linda Ashworth]

What fabulous photos of delightful scenes. My husband and I would love this kind of walk. I love carrot cake too!!!

[Charlotte.]

Thank you for taking me on your walk. I do wish that I had someplace to wander like this. It is good for ones whole being to be outside like this.

[Maria João Machado]

You shouls love that little patch of planet Earth because is awesome! I'm so jealous of you!

[Laurie Mowat]

You are definitely not weird! Some of us just take the time to look around and enjoy the simple and wonderful things around us. I talk to the squirrels in my yard and have even been known to converse with insects. I always stop to watch the geese fly over and love to watch hawks as they glide in the air currents, so peaceful. My neighbors may wonder about me but let them wonder! Hmm....wonder what they are thinking?
LOVE all your posts.
Have a great day.

[Shaelyn Ward]

Your pictures are inspiring. Please could you tell me what camera you use.Than you

[Linne]

Thanks so much, Lucy; you really brightened my day. We have had over a foot of snow already (on the 2nd and 3rd) and temps down to -16C. Early for here (near Salmon Arm, BC, Canada) I already miss the warmer weather. When I lived in Victoria, BC, a few years ago now, I walked so much. Not as easy here and now it's slippery, too. But it's good to be back and close to where I spent much of my childhood. So thanks for sharing your corner of the world. I love these posts as much as I love the tutorials . . .
Warm hugs. ~ Linne

[Caroline]

Thank you so much for taking us along on your adventures

[Teresa Kasner]

What a gorgeous day you had, and all that clean clear rushing water. I'm happy for you that you live in such a wonderful place. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[J.C Boscher]

When I see this I want to visit your country

[Jenny]

Beautiful Lucy thank you love Jenny xx

[CJ]

What a beautiful spot, and a lovely destination for cake at the end. Carrot is one of my very favourites. My youngest points good sunsets out to me now, I have trained him well! Glad you had such a lovely walk, and what glorious weather. The reflections are stunning. CJ xx

[Susan]

My kind of weird😊I love stopping and listening with my eyes shut and hearing all the sounds around me😎

[Susan Smith]

Awww! You've done it again Lucy, delivering me a dose of The Dales & no weirdness & stopping to be in the moment. I've done things like that all my life, remembering when I was quite small, laying on the grass with my face to the sky, just drinking it all in. I'm also very fascinated by nature itself & stop to look at the smaller things on walks too. Hence I take some weird & wonderful photos if I have my camera handy, which is most of the time. Thanks again & take care.

[Margaret Simpson]

So always Lucy, your words and photo’s are delight full. Thank you so much. 😊

[Rae]

Lovely pictures again Lucy. We have some great walks nearby in Norfolk but lack the river scenes. It was frosty here first thing but we've had a glorious day ...long may they continue.x

[Kimmy]

Oh, what gorgeous photos. Loved walking with you as usual, Lucy! Thanks for inviting us.