Wigtwizzle - Norman Smith's Travel Blog.: appletreeewick

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Winter photography in Wharfedale

Saying winter arrived was a bit of an exaggeration as there was only a couple of inches of snow in the fields and the roads were all clear. I know everyone says we don't have the winters and snow like we used to have but its true, we don't. I'll grant you that last year was bad when the Beast From The East raised its ugly head but that was just a one off occurrence.

My day was another day when I wish I'd have taken a zoom lens with me. I would have loved to have got some close-ups of those three trees in the enclosure but unfortunately I only had my 24-70mm lens. The 70-300mm would have been ideal and also it would have given me the opportunity to get some close ups of the trees on Barden Fell too.

For the most part it was a cloudy day but the sun did break through later in the afternoon when I was up near Kettlewell. This gave some good light but even so, I still prefer the shots I took earlier in the day near Appletreewick. There's a certain simplicity and minimalism to them which I really like, especially the ones I took of the clump of trees and dry stone wall.

In future when I go out for a drive, I think my best bet will be to have both lenses in the car so I can chop and change when the need arises. If I had been going for a walk then I would have had my photography rucksack with me which would have had both lenses in anyway.

It's very frustrating thinking that you have missed out on a opportunity through your own bad decision making.

Howgill, Wharfedale

Barden Fell Plantation

Barden Fell

Enclosure

Disappearing Act

Near Appletreewick

S Bend

Trees near Appletreewick

Break in the wall

Close up on nature

Stangs Lane, Appletreewick

The River Wharfe at Kettlewell

Lambing time approaches

Wharfedale trees

The Wharfe between Barden and Appletreewick

It's unusual to get a parking spot at Barden Bridge, especially on a warm sunny day like the one I had but, as luck would have it, I bagged the last free place. The bridge was built in 1659 at a cost of £300 and was swept away in a flood in 1673 and had to be rebuilt. The parapets also had to be renewed in 1856 and again in 1956 after more flood damage. The bridge we see today dates from the 17th century but there was certainly a bridge here as early as the 14th century, and probably much earlier than that.

You have two walking options, you can head either south to The Strid and Bolton Abbey or you can head north to Appletreewick or Burnsall. Both paths form part off the Dalesway Long Distance Foorpath and are equally beautiful to walk. I plumped for heading north to Appletreewick, mainly due to it being the quieter route.

The route is flat and follows the banks of The River Wharfe all the way. The first part is through pasture land and gives great views up the dale. Then as it nears Appletreewick, it enters a wooded area where the River Wharfe gets quite choppy as it flows over a series of cascades. Then, once out of the confines of the woods, it is back to its original benign flow.

If it had been summer, I would have walked up in to the village and called for a pint in The Craven Arms which is one of the best, if not the best pubs in The Dales but, due to the shortness of the days at this time of year, I just turned round and followed The Dales Way back.

On my way I bumped in to a couple who said they had seen a kingfisher further along the river but, as per usual, it was long gone by the time I got there. I just don't seem to have much luck spotting Kingfishers.

As I got back to the bridge, the sun was low and the shadows were long which enabled me to get some cracking photos. This ended my afternoon perfectly.

Bolton Abbey Estate

Barden Bridge

Bolton Abbey Estate

River Wharfe at Barden

River Wharfe near Appletreewick

Dales Way

River Wharfe near Appletreewick

Dales Way near Appletreewick

River Wharfe

River Wharfe near Barden

Tree near Barden Bridge

Dead Tree near Barden Bridge

Norman Long Legs

An unsociable and miserable git above Wharfedale!

I don't think I can ever remember The Yorkshire Dales being as dry and as parched as they are at the moment. I bet you can count on one hand the number of times it has rained over these last couple of months and there isn't much forecast either. We dont just need the odd shower or the odd day to fill up the reservoirs and put a bit of green back in to the landscape, we need a prolonged spell.

This little stroll was above Appletreewick and can be made in to a nice round which conveniently allows you to stop off at The Craven Arms for refreshments if required. It was the opposite way round to most walks because I started on the moors and then drop down to the valley and then back up again.

It is an area where many old bridleways cross so, if you have a map, you can basically walk as far as you want for as long as you feel fit. One of the tracks takes you down to Hartlington Bridge and from there its only a mile or so riverside walk in to Burnsall and The Red Lion. Another takes to Dibble Bridge and Grimwith Reservoir which would be a much longer walk.

Despite all the tracks, the area is very quiet because everyone heads down the main Wharfe valley and its honeypots. In fact I only met a few people the whole of the time I was out walking but I could hear and occasionally see the masses below. Burnsall looked particularly busy.

Being an unsociable and miserable git, I did turn around shortly before I reached valley level but on a midweek day I would have gone into Appletreewick and popped in The Craven Arms for a pint. I'm not one of those people who moans about how busy a place is but I do tent to steer clear of those places or go on quieter days.

I am a great believer that everyone is entitled to enjoy the outdoors as long as they leave the place as they found it and take their litter home which, sadly, is not always the case.