Yorkshire Blues and Greens
Frequent visits have coloured my idea of walking in Nidderdale with vast sky over wild moors.
Peat bogs and tussocks,
dramatic drops and rocks
and cries of curlews and grouse.
There is another side to the dale. After an extravagant day in genteel Harrogate an equally genteel walk was requested and to my surprise I found one. With five villages. Five villages must have tea rooms and pubs, I suggested. So lunch would not have to be carried, as refreshment would be frequent and abundant. How happy everyone was when my vague promises were fulfilled – almost.
Ripley with its story book Castle and picture postcard grounds kicked us off across the river
and around the garden wall.
Deep rich greens stretched away to meet the blue horizon, more Darling Buds of May than Bronte.
Though there was a crazy touch.
Almost imperceptibly, we gained height until the new industrial landscapes of wind power interrupted the horizon. There was even a small hill to climb on the way to Burnt Yates.
But then it was all down hill.
Birstwith
Past geometrical houses displaying generational wealth and opulence.
There was food !
Down to the river Nidd and lunch. In the highly recommended Station Inn Birstwith
Suitably replenished we followed the Nidd and its Way
over flower strewn paths
back to Ripley
and its visitors.
Our route, 9.1 miles
