Yorkshire Technicolour

From being lost in monochrome mist of Malham moorland to glorious Technicolor green white and blue summer sunshine on Malham cove within a day.

 

 

 

Taking an unplanned, I missed a sign, detour round the foggy moorland around Malham tarn convinced me there would probably be no point in taking a camera, or at the very least we may as well walk in the valleys around Malham.

Thankfully, when I arrived, only half an hour late, my friends convinced me otherwise.

Even the beginning or the route showed signs of promise.  An easy meander through deep green woodlands adjacent to Gordale Beck up to Janet’s Force, with light filtered through young green leaves adding depth of colour not yet available up on the moors. Though not quite so spectacular as the waterfalls of Croatia, the white strip of water plunges over the rocks with a satisfying roar, and added another tone to the day’s pallet.

 

Up the valley a little way and we joined the scramble trying to see Gordale scar and more water plunging over limestone.  You can complete the scramble to the top, but even with her harness Rosie declined that particular route.

So back out of Gordale, to the bridge and a gentle climbed up to open moor line via Ing Scar and touching on the edge of Malham Cove en-route.  Following the Dales Highway, yet another long distance route to add to  the list.

Not long after signs for this ‘new to me’ route, we joined the Pennine way heading north to Malham Tarn.  With some interesting wildlife observations.

Hazy greens and browns hovered over the tarn as the sky showed some sign of cloud break,

but then, out on the open moor again, a white colour wash had been applied.  The usually green moor was covered in sea of cotton grass.  Captivating.  Worth getting lost in the mist.

For a while there was a bit of a battle between the white and blue, lines of green and grey sharply etched in the horizon,

then, as we reached the other side of the Cove, the canopy finally broke,

and within the time it takes to descend to the valley floor there was the perfect blue backdrop behind the cliff.

Even the Peregrines came out to play.  Just visible as black dots in the sky.

Pubs, cafes and parking all easy in Malham.  Couch potatoes note, worth a trip just to see the village.  More pictures  here.

Download and view route details here.