River Wharfe at Threshfield

This spring has been very dry and the water level in the River Wharfe has suffered because of this. True to form though, on the day I chose to visit, I got drenched twice and finished off the walk in a hail storm! One good thing about the low water level was that it had revealed the eroded limestone bed of the river which made for a very interesting series of photos.

The stretch I visited was from Linton Falls up to Grass Wood and then back which is only a couple of miles each way and not too far at all but it does feel far enough when the rain is pelting down and you are only wearing an everyday type of jacket with a hood which is about as effective as a chocolate fireguard!

If I'm being honest, I do quite enjoy walking in the rain. I like the sound the raindrops make as they hit the leaves on the trees or as they drop in to the river and then afterwards everything smells so clean and fresh. Plus it tends to keep the crowds away.

I did get about ten minutes of brightness when the sun made an attempt to break through and I was fortunate enough to be in the Ghaistrill's Strid area where the limestone bed is at its most eroded. As the final ten photos show, the place looks more like an alien landscape than a river bed and I should imagine it is a dangerous place to be when the water is high and flowing fast.

Another visit is definitely planned for when there is a bit more water about, maybe autumn when the leaves are turnng.