Across the Moors

Last Sunday on the first day of September we set out on a morning walk across the moors. It was our last jaunt of the Summer holidays, a chance for us to stretch our legs, breathe in the fresh air and mentally begin the process of winding down our holidays and preparing for the start of a new school year. 

As is pretty usual for us these days, we were walking as a family of three with both the Teens working that day. Mind you, even if they weren't working I doubt that it would have made a difference to our walking plans - Little Lady does still like to walk with us but more often than not she's made other weekend plans for herself. Her social life is like a non stop merry-go-round and she is always on the go with her gorgeous group of friends, which of course I'm super happy about. She is in such a great place right now, happy, confident and loving life and I couldn't be more pleased for her.

So we are a threesome for walks these days, and that's quite OK, the transition has been gradual and it feels more normal now than it did a year ago. 

We mapped out a circular five mile walk around the two reservoirs (Upper Barden and Lower Barden) which sit high up on Barden Moor. We drive this way often en route to Bolton Abbey, but it's a beautiful place in it's own right and well worth an outing when the weather is fine. It can often be very wild and windy up here with virtually no place to shelter, so you do need to come prepared with the right clothes and some refreshments tucked in your bag.

We passed a few other people walking as well as some woolly four legged residents but mostly we enjoyed having these vast moors and spectacular views all to ourselves.

Upper Barden reservoir can't be seen from the road so it's always a lovely sight when it finally comes into view. Being that this was roughly the half way point of the walk, we had told Little B that we would stop here for a rest and something to eat and drink, so he was ridiculously happy when we arrived at the waters edge.

Before leaving town, we made a quick stop off at a café which opens it's doors for the early morning breakfast crowd and filled up our flasks. J and I had frothy lattés and Little B had his very own flask of hot chocolate which he was delighted with. On the spur of the moment I'd also picked up a couple of chocolate croissants which I felt would hit the spot rather nicely once we were high up on the hilltops.

Sitting out in the wide open countryside with a picturesque view laid out in front of you is one of life's glorious pleasures and one of my most favourite things to do. If you add in a picnic blanket, a hot drink and a bit of something sweet and naughty, well the whole experience is elevated up a notch or two on the pleasure charts. It was just so good! It also really helped to give Little B an extra energy boost as he'd been dragging his little legs somewhat. Hot chocolate has magical properties I'm sure of it.

We walked past the old Victorian reservoir keepers house - we were last here in the depths of Winter and I found myself very intrigued by this remote house back then too. I wonder what it would feel like to live there? Blissful or lonesome?

The heather was beautiful but definitely not abundant this year and there was far more brown than purple.

There was lots of green though, and it made me immediately think of the first part of my Moorland Blanket. I don't think I'll ever walk up here and not think of the colours in my Moorland blanket to be honest, it's impossible for me to look at this very familiar landscape and not see Cypress, Lime, Khaki, Meadow, Pistachio, Mocha and Walnut!

The winding track back towards the Lower Reservoir felt quite long and a little hard going - you can just see the reservoir in the distance there. 

But eventually we made it to the water's edge...

...and continued to follow the track across the embankment and up, up, up over the moors.

This felt like a veeeeery long part of the walk, and I was glad that Little B seemed to still be powering forward on hot chocolate energy because I was definitely dragging my heels.

I loved this Rowan tree which was absolutely covered in berries, it looked so bright and cheerful against the more muted backdrop of the hills and water.

I love walking in the countryside and taking in all the colours and I find myself mixing up virtual colour palettes inside my Creative Mind all the time. I've always been this way, even as a teenager I can vividly remember walking in Dorset and being so drawn to particular colours around me, wishing back then that I'd had a camera to capture what I was seeing. Owning a digital camera has completely changed my life and I absolutely wouldn't be without it. I always carry my little pocket point-and-shoot camera with me wherever I go (it's this Sony one, in case you wanted to know) and love that taking photographs has become such an essential part of my everyday life.

Hard to believe it's now three years since I  was working on my Moorland Blanket, it's still one of my most favourite makes.

I'm currently working on my next blanket design which I'll be ready to share with you in mid November (it'll be run as another CAL which will take place in Jan/Feb 2020). I'm super excited as I'm heading off on Friday for a little inspirational visit somewhere special. I might share some sneaky photos with you, I've not decided yet - it's hard to know how much to share and how much to keep as a surprise.

Let me know what you think? Would you like to know what the colour inspiration is for my next blanket, or shall I keep it under wraps for now? I'm so so so so so excited about it by the way!!!!!

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Comments

[Ann]

Your moorland is beautiful, Lucy. Like our moors in the South West, the Rowans are bursting with berries and not just on the moors too. It's quite early, so perhaps we're in for a hard winter? Your colour palettes are amazing, can't wait to see your next one:)

[Jen@thecottagenest]

Those changes in the flow of your family can be hard but also so good!

Try as I might, I cannot imagine a prettier walk. What a gift to have that near!

[Susie]

Please Lucy a little peek of your colour inspiration. Mid-November is a long long time to wait otherwise.....

[Sarah]

Would love to see please - hoping there may be some dahlia inspiration in there?
Working on a coastal blanket of yours at the moment - thank you Lucy xx

[Ann Van Gampelaere]

Please do share a little peak.

[Angela- Southern USA]

It's lovely seeing all the colors of the moors, and no, it doesn't seem like three years has passed since your moorland blanket. For sure they ARE magical properties in hot chocolate! xxxxxxxx

[Elise]

The moors always sound mysterious! I've never seen one (them? not sure which pronoun is the correct term, lol!) The house is so intriguing, just adds to the mystery. Does someone actually still live there? Thanks again for taking us along your adventures. I for one cannot keep a secret and admire your fortitude.

[Gaby]

A little pick, please.... Getting so excited already!

[Pauline Johnston]

It is a perfect end of summer day here in New England USA so I am enjoying some relaxing time reading your delightful article. I was born in N Yorkshire and as a child did the Moore walks with my parents, oh the memories. Your blanket reflects the colors only nature can put \together so perfectly.. You have the gift for not changing what God has given to us. I can not wait to see your next project.

[Pamela]

The only thing I know about moors as an American is that at night a big black dog comes out and gets you and then Sherlock Holmes has to come solve your murder. Looks a lot nicer in the day time!

[Jenny Young]

I think a sneak peak of an inspiration photo would be fun....let us guess the colors from your photo.

[Janet Dudek]

Your blogs about hikes through the hills and seashore are wonderful. Your photos in this one reminded me of a question I wanted to ask you. We were in Yorkshire in September 2017 (travelling from Canada). While walking near a reservoir I noticed the small circular building out in the middle of the water with the walkway out to it from shore. What is that? We also noticed a stone building along our walk - very old and clearly abandoned. It looked like the reservoir keeper's house in your photo so perhaps that mystery has been solved.

[Miss Daisy]

I love going on your walks with you so thanks for sharing . The colors of your moorland blanket really matches the landscape . You must be a proud mama. A sneak peek please and enjoy your week.

[Susan rees]

Sneaky peak please! I love the autumn knowing there is a CAL on the way. I'm working on the dune blanket at the moment. It's cold today and I'm tempted to wrap up in the moorland to keep warm. X

[Heather Coady]

So love walking in the countryside as well and been planning to do the moorland but will wait and see what next cal is! I must keep going and try and finish my version of Dune!

[ipukris]

Please tell us at least if it will be something colorful or something more smooth going? My energy levels would be dying for some colorful right now. I would love to try some colorwash this time, if possible. Yes, colorful is something I am longing for!!

[Janet Clark]

A little peek please, it will give us something to look forward to. Love the Moorland blanket, the colours are beautiful.

[Cathy]

Please keep it a secret, so it will feel like Christmas at the great reveal.

[Sara S]

Please, please, please give us a sneaky peak, the build up of excitement is very much part of the blanket journey (for me at least!) x

[Susan Oliver]

I am hoping it will feature the colour of the berries on the Rowan Tree and the background colours of the blue water and the different shades of green on the moors behind the rowan Tree.

[Camcas]

That house looks like a set from a Harry Potter movie!

[Barbara Buchanan]

Please, please, please tell us! ☺️❤️

[sue]

sneak peek plz

[Sue Boulding]

As a Yorkshire exile living in Kent I love your pictures of this beautiful county . And the blankets of course !

[CJ]

Oh my goodness, it's beautiful up there. And it really is amazing how the colours in your moorland blanket tie in so perfectly. They're beautifully natural. I always want to know everything at once and I'm absolutely hopeless at guessing, so I'd love to know where your next inspiration is coming from. I'm wondering if it's something summery. I know what you mean about the power of something sweet. When we were coming down Snowdon a couple of years ago the littlest boy was on his last legs until we reached the halfway house and I bought him some sweets. He actually ran down the last bit. Amazing. It's a similar transition here, to just three or four people walking at weekends. We're still getting used to it. The littlest boy really likes a brother along if possible, to make it more fun, so it's a bit of a balancing act at the moment. CJ xx