One day in 2014, whilst looking through photos scanned from my old films, I had found a photo of Malham Cove. It was a photo I’d taken when I’d last been to the Yorkshire Dales, 20 years earlier!
After that I’d started looking at holiday cottages and found a nice looking one in Langcliffe on the side of the Ribble. But it was a long time since I’d been on holiday and I’d never been on my own – I deliberated, kept putting it off, and then it was 2015.
Malham Cove back in 1994
Then when I returned from Norfolk I had a different feeling, all my previous apprehensions were gone! I also still wanted to go back to Yorkshire, so almost as soon as I was back home I had booked the holiday cottage on the side of the Ribble.
So at the end of September I was off to Yorkshire!
Yorkshire
The end of September brought with it the holiday that I’d booked back in July. So, full of excitement and one 4 hour drive later, I was in the Dales! Home for the week was cottage in a small cluster of houses just outside Langcliffe, on the bank of the Ribble. A lovely place and being on the river bank meant I got to see my first dipper (and later in the week, a harlequin duck) from the back door!
Morning sun lighting up the hills over the River Ribble at Langcliffe.
Surprise morning visitor to the Ribble in the form of a Dipper.
Another surprise morning visitor to the Ribble, this time in the form of a resplendent Mandarin drake.
One of the things I really wanted to do whilst here was try out a new ND filter doing long exposures of a waterfall, so on the Sunday I went for a walk from the cottage up the Ribble to Stainforth Force.
A Log-tailed Tit perched high up on the top of a dead tree. Saw quite a few of these today.
A narrow packhorse bridge over the Ribble at Stainforth.
Long exposure of the top of the waterfalls at Stainforth Force. Making use of my 10 stop ND filter.
Sunday night into Monday morning was a super moon and lunar eclipse. I saw the super moon in the evening, but as I was planning an early start the next morning I didn’t get up at 3am to see the eclipse. Having seen other photos of the eclipse, some from the same area, I wish I had. In hindsight it would have been nice to get a solar and lunar eclipse in the same year too, but never mind – it’s too late now!
Last night’s supermoon, shining through a thin layer of cloud.
On the Monday I headed off over the border into Lancashire to RSPB Leighton Moss. Situated in the Arnside and Silverdale AONB, Leighton Moss was another place I wanted to visit and the former home of BBC Autumnwatch. I saw marsh harriers here again, a much better view of them than previously in Norfolk, and encountered a very tame and inquisitive pheasant. As I hadn’t been there before the friendly staff at the entrance told me I had to go up the Sky Tower, so I did. I absolutely recommend this to anyone else heading there: the view from the top is fantastic.
Quite a few pheasants around the reserve, they seem very tame. This one casually ambled right up to me. Photos from a trip to RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve in Lancashire.
Marsh Harrier over the reed beds, seen from Lower Hide. Photos from a trip to RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve in Lancashire.
Long-tailed Tit perched in a mossy tree. Photos from a trip to RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve in Lancashire.
Heron hunting in the open water between the reed beds. Photos from a trip to RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve in Lancashire.
Another robin, perched on a lichen covered branch. Photos from a trip to RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve in Lancashire.
A Nuthatch eating seed that had been put out on this tree trunk. Photos from a trip to RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve in Lancashire.
A Great White Egret hunting for food out in the water. Photos from a trip to RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve in Lancashire.
Red Admiral butterfly on verbena bonariensis, nicely backlit by the sun. Photos from a trip to RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve in Lancashire.
View across part of the reserve from the top of the Sky Tower. Photos from a trip to RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve in Lancashire.
Leighton Moss is in two parts, in addition to the main reserve there is another much smaller coastal section looking out over Morcambe Bay. There are a couple of bird hides here, one of which is the Eric Morcambe Hide.
The Eric Morecambe Hide at RSPB Leighton Moss.
A redshank wading through shallow waters near the Eric Morecambe hide. Photos from a trip to RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve in Lancashire.
Some more Redshanks near the Eric Morecambe hide. Photos from a trip to RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve in Lancashire.
View across the costal lagoon in the lower part of RSPB Leighton Moss, the view from the Eric Morecambe hide. Photos from a trip to RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve in Lancashire.
Tuesday started off quite grey with low cloud and fog, so I decided to head over to Wharfedale for a wander round Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Grass Wood.
Moss growing on a drystone wall, and the landscape beyond. Photos from a morning walk round Wildlife Trusts Grass Wood in Yorkshire.
Many of the lovely pink flowers of Herb Robert flowering throughout the woodland. Photos from a morning walk round Wildlife Trusts Grass Wood in Yorkshire.
Conservation work in the wood is going on to remove confiers to make room for the native broadleaf trees that should be growing there. These are the trunks of felled conifers, currently providing a haven for minibeasts and small mammals. Photos from a morning walk round Wildlife Trusts Grass Wood in Yorkshire.
Tiny bracket fungi growing on many of the logs in the pile. Photos from a morning walk round Wildlife Trusts Grass Wood in Yorkshire.
Tunnel through the trees along the meandering path ahead. Photos from a morning walk round Wildlife Trusts Grass Wood in Yorkshire.
Over the years since I’d last been to the Dales I had forgotten how open the roads are, it makes it very easy to stop and photograph the view when you see one you like. I did this a few times whilst driving around.
Pen-y-Ghent from the road to Malham Tarn.
Low cloud around Fountains Fell, view from the road to Malham Tarn.
By Tuesday afternoon the cloud had cleared so I decided to mark off another place on my list and pay a visit to the impressive Ribblehead viaduct.
Ribblehead Viaduct with Whernside in the background.
A goods train crossing Ribblehead viaduct with Park Fell in the background.
Ribblehead Viaduct lit up by the sun.
Wednesday started off with low cloud and fog again, a consequence of warm days and cold nights. I decided to head out of the Dales and pay a visit RHS Garden Harlow Carr. This would be my first visit to an RHS garden, having become a member earlier in the month. Harlow Carr is much bigger than I expected with so much to see and walk round: lots of different parts from woodland and cottage gardens to orchards and large lawns with huge, colourful flower beds. I spent the whole day here and took a LOT of photos!
Walking through a misty Woodland Garden. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
Mountain ash leaves turning golden as autumn sets in. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
A mix of autumnal reds and yellows. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
Looking from the Woodland Garden down through the flower beds and up to The Pavillion. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
Golden autumn leaves shining through the morning mist. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
Metal sculpture of a tree spirit in the Woodland Garden. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
Bright red sunlit autumn leaves against the blue sky. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
Striking bright red chili peppers. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
Cosmos flowers looking lovely in the sun. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
Bright yellow rudbeckia flowers catching the sunlight. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
A honey bee in the gardens, helping to polinate the autumn flowers. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
Little clumps of spikey succulent leaves. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
Succelent stems and leaves looking like tiny trees. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
Pampas grass flowers catching the sunlight. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
Grass flowers glowing in the afternoon sunlight. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
Bright yellow leaves contrasting against the blue sky. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
Acer leaves turning bright red for autumn. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
Another acer changing to autumn colours and catching the sunlight. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
A carper of pink heather in the afternoon sun. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
Contemporary Garden By Diarmuid Gavin. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
Bright and sunny, orange Crocosmia flowers. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
Little apples ripening up nicely. Photos from RHS Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire.
Glorious weather on Thursday made it the day when I made my return trip to Malham Cove. Standing at the bottom and looking up the huge limestone cliff was still as impressive as I remembered it and, having climbed the 400 odd steps, the view from the limestone pavement at the top is amazing. There is also a fascinating array of life in the grykes (the gaps) that run through the pavement.
View of the Cove from the footpath from Malham. Photos taken at National Trust Malham Cove.
Standing at the bottom of the imposing limestone cliffs. Photos taken at National Trust Malham Cove.
Looking out across the limestone pavement at the top of Malham Cove. Photos taken at National Trust Malham Cove.
Looking across the top of Malham Cove from the end nearest the steps. Photos taken at National Trust Malham Cove.
A Hart’s Tongue fern growing in a grike, plants always find a way to grow. Photos taken at National Trust Malham Cove.
Geranium ‘Herb Robert’ growing in soil accumulated in a horizontal crack through one of the rocks. Photos taken at National Trust Malham Cove.
The curving cliffs of Malham Cove, where once a river would have flowed over the edge creating a large waterfall. These days the river from Malham Tarn disappears into underground caves before reaching the Cove. Photos taken at National Trust Malham Cove.
Looking across the cove from the opposite side to the steps, you can see the layers in the rock up the cliffs and also above the pavement at the top. I took a photo from much the same angle last time I was in Yorkshire back in 1994! Unsurprisingly hardly anything has changed, there’s a few more trees now and the others have grown a bit. Photos taken at National Trust Malham Cove.
The valley below Malham Cove, with Malham Beck meandering along the bottom. Photos taken at National Trust Malham Cove.
Malham Beck flowing away from the Cove, alongside the footpath. Photos taken at National Trust Malham Cove.
Staying around Malham on Thursday afternoon, I went to National Trust Malham Tarn: a large lake further up the valley from Malham Cove. There is a nice walk around the edge of the lake from the carpark to Tarn Moss nature reserve and a bird hide I stopped off in along the way although there wasn’t much to see. At Tarn Moss there is a long boardwalk over the peat bog with a nice wooded area near the start which was full of birds. Great to just stand in the quiet shade listening to them singing.
Malham Water and the view across Malham Tarn with Tarn Foot in the middle. Photos from Malham Tarn in North Yorkshire.
Grass-of-Parnassus flowering in the marsh. Photos from Malham Tarn in North Yorkshire.
Sheep grazing the grassland around the tarn. Photos from Malham Tarn in North Yorkshire.
One of the boat houses opening onto the tarn. Photos from Malham Tarn in North Yorkshire.
A pair of mallard ducks out on the water, silhouetted against the bright reflection of the sky. Photos from Malham Tarn in North Yorkshire.
Sunlit trees overhanging water so still it looked like a mirror. Photos from Malham Tarn in North Yorkshire.
A chaffinch perched in a tree at Tarn Moss, amongst the autumn leaves. Photos from Malham Tarn in North Yorkshire.
Common carder bee on a Devil’s-bit Scabious flower. Photos from Malham Tarn in North Yorkshire.
Great Burnet flowers catching the afternoon sunlight. Photos from Malham Tarn in North Yorkshire.
Another view of a male black darter dragonfly basking in the warm afternoon sun. Photos from Malham Tarn in North Yorkshire.
An interesting fact about the streams around Malham: Contrary to what would seem logical, the stream that flows out of Malham Tarn at Tarn Foot and subsequently disappears into Water Sinks at the top of the dry valley, isn’t the same stream that flows out at the bottom of Malham Cove.
Experiments with different coloured dyes have instead shown that the stream disappearing at Water Sinks actually re-emerges south of Malham at Aire Head Springs. Whereas the stream flowing from the bottom of the Cove comes from a different stream that goes into the ground at Smelt Mill Sink, slightly west of Malham Tarn near the remains of an old smelt mill.
Strange but true!
For the final day of the holiday, I decided to head over to Nidderdale and pay a visit to National Trust Brimham Rocks and National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden.
Brimham Rocks is quite a small place but well worth a visit. The balancing rocks are quite astonishing and you wonder how some of them even remain standing!
Photos of the rock formations at National Trust Brimham Rocks in North Yorkshire.
Photos of the rock formations at National Trust Brimham Rocks in North Yorkshire.
Some of the rock formations at Brimham have names, this one is the Blacksmith’s Anvil. Photos of the rock formations at National Trust Brimham Rocks in North Yorkshire.
The round bottomed rock formation on the top here is called The Flowerpot. Photos of the rock formations at National Trust Brimham Rocks in North Yorkshire.
This rock formation is called The Dancing Bear. Photos of the rock formations at National Trust Brimham Rocks in North Yorkshire.
This rock formation, standing with a view over the valley, is called the Druid’s Writing Desk. Photos of the rock formations at National Trust Brimham Rocks in North Yorkshire.
Probably the most famous of the rock formations, this one is called Idol. Photos of the rock formations at National Trust Brimham Rocks in North Yorkshire.
One of the Rocking Stones. Photos of the rock formations at National Trust Brimham Rocks in North Yorkshire.
Photos of the rock formations at National Trust Brimham Rocks in North Yorkshire.
Later in the morning I headed off to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden and spent the rest of the day there. A foggy start in the valley made for an eerie view, the ruins of the abbey looming out of the fog. The weather soon cleared and warmed up though and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the gardens and ruins, also taking in the house and old mill. I finished the day with a walk down to the deer park where I spotted a lone fallow deer stag in the shade of one of the trees.
The tower of Fountains Abbey, looming out of the mist. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
Ruins of Fountains Abbey, shrouded in mist. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
The tower of Fountains Abbey, named after abbot Huby who had it built to replace the abbey’s original tower. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
Looking down the water gardens from the rustic bridge. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
The “surprise view” from Anne Boleyn’s Seat. The name is because you can see the abbey in the distance, although not so much on this day due to the mist! Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
Walking through the woodland, up to the Temple of Fame. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
Bright red berries on a yew tree. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
The Octagon Tower. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
Statue of Neptune standing in the middle of the Moon Pond. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
The Octagon Tower overlooking the Moon Pond and one the long straight sections of the river Skell, with the lake beyond. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
Autumn colours in the trees surrounding Fountains Abbey. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
Inside the Fountains Abbey cellarium. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
Part of the Chapel of 9 Altars at the far end of the abbey church. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
Standing at the bottom of Huby’s Tower inside the abbey. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
The central window arch in the Chapel of 9 Altars. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
Remains of pillars down the centre of the refectory. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
The cloister court in the centre of the abbey. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
Looking down the valley of the River Skell from the abbey towards the water gardens. The ruins on the right are what remains of the Abbot’s house. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
Main doorway into the abbey church from outside. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
Remains of the abbey hospital and guest house. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
Hoverfly on a Calendula flower in the Fountains Hall herb garden. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
Fountains Hall, previously a neighbour to Studley Royal is now also owned by the National Trust. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
St. Mary’s Church near the entrance to the Studley Royal Deer Park. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
A Fallow Deer stag in the late afternoon sun in Studley Royal Deer Park. Photos from National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, in North Yorkshire.
I got back to the cottage as it was starting to get dark and watched the sun set over the Ribble.
Sunset over the river Ribble, marking the end of my final day in the Dales.
And so that was that, my first ever solo holiday was over and I had throughly enjoyed it. I didn’t manage to go everywhere or see everything that I planned to, but you have to leave something for next time!
#MyPatch
At the start of November it was time for BBC Autumnwatch and a new social media campaign for the show in the form of #MyPatch. The weather wasn’t great so on the first dry day I decided to pay an autumn visit to two of my local nature reserves. In the morning I headed back to Summer Leys.
Mute swans taking off from one of the lakes. Photos from Wildlife Trusts Summer Leys nature reserve in Northamptonshire, UK.
Yellow leaves on a field maple. Photos from Wildlife Trusts Summer Leys nature reserve in Northamptonshire, UK.
Tunnel of autumn colour along one of the paths. Photos from Wildlife Trusts Summer Leys nature reserve in Northamptonshire, UK.
Bright yellow leaf of a horse chestnut tree. Photos from Wildlife Trusts Summer Leys nature reserve in Northamptonshire, UK.
Cow parsley seed head. Photos from Wildlife Trusts Summer Leys nature reserve in Northamptonshire, UK.
Pair of sheep grazing on the reserve. Photos from Wildlife Trusts Summer Leys nature reserve in Northamptonshire, UK.
The iconic fruit of autumn. Photos from Wildlife Trusts Summer Leys nature reserve in Northamptonshire, UK.
A hover fly feeding on the flower head of cow parseley. Photos from Wildlife Trusts Summer Leys nature reserve in Northamptonshire, UK.
Then in the afternoon I headed off to Titchmarsh.
The path near the entrance to the reserve, covered in fallen leaves. Photos from Wildlife Trusts Titchmarsh Nature Reserve in Northamptonshire, UK.
Water flowing out the end of the lake and back into the river. Photos from Wildlife Trusts Titchmarsh Nature Reserve in Northamptonshire, UK.
A very dainty pleated inkcap mushroom. Photos from Wildlife Trusts Titchmarsh Nature Reserve in Northamptonshire, UK.
The structure of an umbellifer flower after all the seeds have blown away. Photos from Wildlife Trusts Titchmarsh Nature Reserve in Northamptonshire, UK.
Autumn colours from the other side of the lake, reflected in the water. Photos from Wildlife Trusts Titchmarsh Nature Reserve in Northamptonshire, UK.
Some bushy grey lichen on a tree branch. Photos from Wildlife Trusts Titchmarsh Nature Reserve in Northamptonshire, UK.
Some leafy green lichen on a tree branch. Photos from Wildlife Trusts Titchmarsh Nature Reserve in Northamptonshire, UK.
Autumnal colours in the leaves of this tree. Photos from Wildlife Trusts Titchmarsh Nature Reserve in Northamptonshire, UK.
Both places were looking great with the autumn colours now in full swing.
The End…
So that was 2015, I had planned to get out on a few more weekends but as everyone else from the UK will know, the weather turned pretty bad toward the end of the year!
If you’ve read all the way to the end, thank you, and I hope you’ve enjoyed the photos. Rest assured, future posts will definitely not be this long!
If you’ve got time please take a look at the Flickr albums for the places I’ve been as there are a lot more photos beyond those I have included here.
Links to stuff mentioned here:
BBC Springwatch/Autumnwatch/Winterwatch on Twitter
Local Flickr albums:
Yorkshire Flickr albums:
Local places visited:
Yorkshire Places Visited:
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Oliver Andrews Photography 
I think this has to be my favourite of your three posts!
I have family who live in the Ribble Valley and I love the Yorkshire Dales! I’ve not explored any of the RSPB reserves around there though I always mean to. I’ve not been to Harlow Court either as it never appealed to me before but your photos are so beautiful I might just put it on the list for one day when I’m in the area.
I always enjoy a walk at Malham. I wish I could have gone a few weeks ago when there was water falling
over the cove for the first time in licing memory. It’s a great walk from Malham up to the tarn via Janet’s Foss waterfall. I’ve never explored Tarn Moss though so that’s something else to do one day.
I visited Brimham Rocks for the first time last year and would love to revisit!
I think we all probably plan to do more and get out more at weekends than we actually manage to achieve. I get to
the end of the year disappointed at how many places I didn’t visit or how many things I didn’t do but when you look back, you see that you did actually do quite a lot!
I have really enjoyed these posts and the fantastic photos 🙂
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