Monday 8 August 2011

A Day Out.







Yesterday the farmer and I had a day out - going over into Lancashire. I took a few photographs on the way but the weather was very changeable. One minute there would be bright sunshine and the next it would be cascading with rain which made driving quite difficult.
We went through Wharfedale which is the most Southerly of the Yorkshire Dales. Leaving Wensleydale we turned off into Bishopdale and climbed high up to Kisdon, the highest point from where we could see over the whole dale and beyond. From there it is all downhill to Skipton (the gateway to the Dales).
Turning right just this side of Skipton we then journeyed through the Trough of Bowland, beautiful agricultural countryside, towards Preston, our destination. We passed Pendle Hill where in 1652 George Fox had a vision on the summit which led him to preach and form the Society of Friends. On the more macabre side, in 1612 nineteen witches were tried at Lancaster Castle, all from the area of Pendle. Ten of them were hanged. When we went to Preston the hill was covered in low cloud and looked very ominous but on our return journey it was bathed in sunlight which made it much more pleasing, so you could say we saw it in both its moods.
On the way back we stopped for a walk at Buckden in Wharfedale so that Tess could have a drink in the river and we noticed these Swaledale rams all in one field, all being cosseted and well fed so that they would be completely ready for their 'ramifications' (for want of a better word!) in a couple of months time.
It was lovely coming home after a nice day out; back to the area of little traffic, open spaces and hills.

13 comments:

jeanette from everton terrace said...

That simply sounds like the most wonderful kind of day. We don't get much rain here in the desert so rain, to me, is such a delicious and welcome sight. I love the smell after a rainfall.

Gwil W said...

Don't suppose you saw any fell runners training on Pendle Hill* or around that area. There was a race at Worsthorne Moor nr Burnley.

*the finest view in all of England (from Downham) according to Queen Mary (plaque inside church door) ,
I'm not sure I'd agree with that observation ;)

Heather said...

Such wonderful scenery no matter what the weather Pat - rather like a stern face when the clouds are low and then a lovely smile when the sun comes out. Glad you enjoyed yourselves.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

I just love those gorgeous changing skies! Sounds like the perfect day out.

Pondside said...

What a beautiful drive!
'Ramifications' - love it!

MorningAJ said...

I love that area. I know lots of people would have been jealous of my day out in Derbyshire yesterday - but give me the Dales any day!

Pomona said...

Some wonderfully dramatic skies there! The weather has been much the same here, with fronts coming over, and all a bit unpredictable.

Pomona x

ArtPropelled said...

" ...back to the area of little traffic, open spaces and hills"... sounds idyllic. Home always feels so much nicer after a day out.

angryparsnip said...

I would love to come and visit for a week and supposedly help with the farm work but think I would be sitting in the fields looking at you gorgeous scenery every hour of the day.
A wonderful post today that would only be better if one photo had one of your darling baby chickens in it !

cheers, parsnip

John Going Gently said...

and NOT a car to be seen!!!!

Dartford Warbler said...

I love Pendle Hill and the villages in the Trough of Bowland. A favourite day out from our Yorkshire days. The first time our two boys, then very small, climbed the hill was a real achievement, and what an amazing view from the top!

That sounds a wonderful day out.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thank you for your visit and the comments. I wish you could have all come on the day out.

mrsnesbitt said...

One of our biking routes Pat!