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I am a quilter living in Woodbridge, Suffolk who has made quilts since I was a teenager. I also ring bells! Both are great British traditions....I will try to feature some of my antique Welsh and Durham quilts, the quilts I make myself, my quilting activities and also some of my bellringing achievements. Plus as many photos as I can manage. NB: Double click on the photos to see greater detail, then use back button to return to the main page.













Monday 30 July 2018

Summer Holiday in the Yorkshire Dales 2

For our second walk, we ventured into Swaledale proper, and walked from the village of Keld, to another village, Muker. Tin mining took place here in the past; it must have looked quite different then, and been much more heavily populated.


This barn is noteworthy as it has a stone lintel dating to the late 1600s. A mystery, as most of these barns were built in the mid 1700s - perhaps the lintel was reused?


The weather was fine - very hot and sunny.


The first part of the walk was the steep bit - the valley opened out before us.

This was the famous "corpse path" - the local churches did not have graveyards, and bodies had to be taken down the valley to the church at Grinton to be buried. The path was steep and narrow, and the journey took 2 or 3 days. Eventually, the smaller churches got their own graveyards...


The valley, with a very low River Swale at the bottom...

More fingerposts...


The track as it approaches Muker....we had lunch and a drink at the Farmers Arms there...


Then, back up the other side of the valley, a gentler and more level walk.


More stone barns. These protected stock from harsh winter weather. Many animals were slaughtered in autumn, and the animals to be kept on were fed on stored feed throughout the long winter. Barns in each field ensured that the animals did not have to be moved any great distance.


Another fine stone barn...

The Swale, looking very low...

Former mine workings. The water did not have much life to it, and we wondered whether the toxic minerals leached into the water...


Another view along the valley...


Stone walls must have required much labour to build....


On a hot day, it was fun to swim in the river....


Later, we set out for Sedburgh (where I once took a wholecloth course with Lilian Hedley. And site of the famous kicking incident at the local bellringing practice!) A local music day was taking place.


We also went in search of the famous Ribblehead viaduct. On our visit at Easter, we went on the Settle line, but of course when on the train, one cannot see the viaduct! A drone buzzed overhead, as another group made videos of a train departing the station.

Wednesday 25 July 2018

Summer Holiday in the Yorkshire Dales 1

 
Having gone to the Dales over Easter, I made plans to return again in July. We had a light snow at Easter - but in the midst of a drought, the countryside looked very dry this time around.
 

We drove up on a Thursday evening and managed to take a quick walk around Hawes after some dinner....

On Friday, I planned a walk from Aysgarth Falls to Bolton Castle and back. I had spotted the castle driving along the road the previous day, and wanted to investigate further...The falls were very low, this is the upper falls with Mike trying to take photos.


The day was overcast and there was a bit of rain, but not enough to do any good.


Most of the footpaths are clearly marked by finger posts in the Dales.

 
A few hardy wildfowers, such as this geranium, were to be seen.
 

Just as it started to rain in ernest, we reached Bolton Castle.

This was not only a stronghold, but a family home until a more modern house was built in the 1760s.


We had tea and cakes, then explored the castle, which is partly in ruins and partly restored. Mary Queen of Scots was held here for some months until she was moved to a more southerly location. Of course she was accompanied by a retinue of some 51 persons.


We walked back towards Aysgarth Falls....


The fields were dry, with harvest having taken place..

The lower falls at Aysgarth...


And the middle Falls.....must be very spectacular when there is more water about or after a rainfall.


These falls have been a tourist attraction for many years, and the painterTurner is known to have visited and painted a scene...much less trees then, and fishing allowed...

 
We then visited Aysgarth Church - a wedding rehersal was taking place as we left...
 

In the evening, we made a short walk to Askrigg Falls....very much reduced I'm afraid...