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Returning down the green lane, the shadows
are lengthening over Wharfedale. Here, you are looking due south towards
Kilnsey Crag and Conistone. Great Whernside at 704 metres is to my left and
slightly behind. |
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As the sun heads for the western horizon, the
oblique angle of light reveals interesting texture in a field to my right,
showing the ghost of previous farming patterns. |
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A shot with the macro lens of some lichen on
a twig |
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An old barn near my B&B with traditional
Dales building features |
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| The bike ride begins earlyish the
following morning as I leave Kettlewell in a northerly direction. It's sunny
and quite windy. The roads are quiet. |
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There are many traditional stone barns; not
all are in 'working' condition. |
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A quietly decaying bench in Starbotton. |
One of the many rushing becks on its way to
join the River Wharfe. |
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A typical hamlet in Wharfedale. |
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I think this is the village of Buckden, but
I'm not 100% sure. |
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I experienced quite a lot of aerial activity
on my ride.
Mostly NATO low flying and sheep scaring stuff, but this was a
Turbo prop Tucano RAF plane.
Thanks to Ben Cuming of North Yorkshire for that info. |
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This was the panoramic view from near the
summit of the pass into Wesleydale. Langstrothdale Chase is ahead and to
your left. |
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Eventually, and its a very long climb on a
bike, the summit is reached (almost 2000 feet above sea level) and the
glorious downhill run into Wensleydale can begin. |
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The village of Gayle, just south of Hawes
has this splendid river running right through the centre of the village. |
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A sandwich bought and eaten in Hawes, then its around the
corner on to a small road on the northern side of the River Ure taking me
through Sedbusk and Askrigg. |
The entrance to Hardrow force is guarded by
a pub, and then, it seems, a dangerous horse. |
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This was the first time for at least 30
years that I had enjoyed seeing the Force in full force, as it were. |
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More waterfalls now, but several miles to the
east in Aysgarth. The river Ure rushes over several dramatic, if not very
high, falls. |
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The water is a peaty brown and quite full at
this time of year. |
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| This taken from near the visitor centre in the old mill.
It was quite an interesting exercise getting to this viewpoint, I can tell
you. |
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Cycling south again along the B6160 and climbing once
more. Gently at first. |
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A lonely gate on a high Fell just prior to
dropping down to my day end in Kettlewell. 43 miles and no punctures.
A good day. |
