G0d's Own Country
I was born and bred in Yorkshire. Lofthouse, where we lived, was not "God's Own Country". A mining village, in the 1950's it was dirty and the air was thick with coal dust. If my mum put her washing out to dry it came in dirtier than before it was washed! Our house was next door to Oldroyd's farm, right in the middle of the famous Yorkshire Rhubarb Triangle.
My dad was a salesman for S & U (Sports and Utilities) Stores and had use of an Austin A35 van. This meant that we could drive out to the nice bits of Yorkshire on a Sunday. In winter, we would drive out to Ilkley, for a walk on the moors followed by fish and chips at Harry Ramsdens, spring and autumn would find us in the Bronte country of Haworth or the dales and in summer we would head for Whitby. We would have a fry up on the camping stove at the Hole of Horcum, park at the top of the 199 steps and walk down into the old town. The day ended with fish and chips and return home. Arriving at the 1 in 4 Blue Bank at Sleights, I would get out, along with my mum and sister, and we would help push to get the van up the hill!
My dad was a salesman for S & U (Sports and Utilities) Stores and had use of an Austin A35 van. This meant that we could drive out to the nice bits of Yorkshire on a Sunday. In winter, we would drive out to Ilkley, for a walk on the moors followed by fish and chips at Harry Ramsdens, spring and autumn would find us in the Bronte country of Haworth or the dales and in summer we would head for Whitby. We would have a fry up on the camping stove at the Hole of Horcum, park at the top of the 199 steps and walk down into the old town. The day ended with fish and chips and return home. Arriving at the 1 in 4 Blue Bank at Sleights, I would get out, along with my mum and sister, and we would help push to get the van up the hill!
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Now most years, we spend a week or two in spring at Brown Moor Caravan Club Campsite in Hawes. There are lots of walking opportunities right from the campsite and it is a pleasant stroll into Hawes for shops and pubs for an evening meal. Our friends, Jenny and Jeff often come up with their caravan to join us.
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We drove up to Yorkshire in July 2009 in order to spend a couple of weeks walking in the Yorkshire Dales. Jenny and Jeff came up with their caravan and, more friends, Stuart and Rosemary rented a cottage in Hawes for a week. Started off with a few gentle walks in Wensleydale and Swaledale, sticking to the valleys and staying close to tea rooms and pubs!
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Our return to the campsite invariably took us to the Green Dragon Inn for a pint of Black Sheep.
Behind the pub, in a wooded ravine is Hardraw Force. Comprising a single drop of 100 feet from a rocky overhang, it is the highest unbroken waterfall in England.
Behind the pub, in a wooded ravine is Hardraw Force. Comprising a single drop of 100 feet from a rocky overhang, it is the highest unbroken waterfall in England.
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The triple flight of waterfalls on the River Ure at Aysgarth have always been a favourite place.
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From Simonstone, we took the footpath over Great Shunner Fell, the third highest mountain in the Yorkshire Dales, towards Thwaite and Muker, ending up at the Buttertubs, seventy feet deep limestone potholes. It is said that the name of the potholes came from the times when farmers would rest there on their way to market. During hot weather they would lower the butter they had produced into the potholes to keep it cool.
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The great fell walker Alfred Wainwright is best known for his Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells, but in 1972 he published "Walks in Limestone Country". Jenny and Jeff found an early copy in a second hand book shop and gave it to me as a birthday present. We set off from Ribblehead on walk 22, crossing the limestone pavement and the erratics, transported by a glacier and then left behind after the glacier melted. At the footbridge over Thorns Gill we met a lady, sat on her camping chair knitting and reading a magazine. Her husband had set up his tripod and camera nearby, waiting for the perfect picture!
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From Redmire we walked to the 14th century Castle Bolton.
Mary, Queen of Scots, after her defeat in Scotland at the Battle of Langside in 1568, stayed at Castle Bollton for six months.
Our ladies wanted afternoon tea in the castle tea room but this was unfortunately closed. Much to our relief, Jeff and I had to settle for a beer in the local pub!
The tiny hamlet of Yockenthwaite is one of my favourite places. I just love the sound of the name!
A Viking place name, it means Yoghan's Clearing.
A Viking place name, it means Yoghan's Clearing.
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On our way home, we stayed a few days at Whitby before going to Scarborough to visit my sister Jenni.
Situated at the mouth of the River Esk, Whitby is famous for Jet, its ruined abbey and its association with Captain Cook and Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Situated at the mouth of the River Esk, Whitby is famous for Jet, its ruined abbey and its association with Captain Cook and Bram Stoker's Dracula.
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