Yorkshire Traveller

"Tell a Yorkshireman how beautiful his county is and you will get no more than a shrug in reply. Like the Texan he already knows and believes implicity that this is God's own county. Grander, more dramatic and undeniably more spectacular than the puny hills of those not lucky enough to have been born in Yorkshire."

Bolton Abbey.

The Yorkshire estate of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, Bolton Abbey and it's surroundings inspired Wordsworth, Turner and Landseer with its romantic and varied landscape, providing 75 miles of footpaths through some of the most spectacular scenery in England. Wander beside the River Wharfe, cross the exposed purple heights of heather moorland or simply relax and just enjoy being here. The soaring ruined arch of Bolton Abbey's east window which dominates the wide sweep of the River Wharfe, is the result of the Dissolution by Henry VIII in 1540. Until then it had been home for a small community of Augustinian Canons since 1154. Obeying a life of chastity and poverty, the monks, or more correctly Black Canons, came to this delightful spot after living for 34 years at nearby Embsay. Each wore a black cassock and a sleeved surplice with a hooded cloak fastened only at the neck; a black square cap covered their heads. Even though the order prospered from extensive lead mining and wool interests, the monks spent most of their day in prayer, or looking after the needs of the local people.

Photograph with the kind permission of Eagle Intermedia Publishing Ltd

Our travels now take us to the town of Skipton.

Skipton Castle......................Courtyard.

Over 900 years old - one of the most complete and best preserved medieval Castles in England. You can explore every corner of this impressive history-rich castle, which following the Battle of Marston Moor in the Civil War, and being the only royalist stronghold left in the North, and after a three-year siege, a surrender was negotiated in 1645 and Oliver Cromwell ordered the removal of the Castle roofs. Ten years later the Castles owner Lady Anne Clifford was allowed to replace them, and in 1659 she planted the yew tree in the central courtyard to mark the Castle's repair from its Civil War damage. She also erected the parapet above the gatehouse, with the Norman-French motto of the Clifford 'DESORMAIS' - Henceforth!

Visit the Banqueting Hall, the Kitchen, The Bedchamber and Privy. You can climb from the depth of the Dungeon to the top storey of the Watch Tower.

Malham

Malham, a village small in extent yet known far and wide as a base for the exploration of its fascinating natural surroundings of limestone hills, a wonderland of remarkable rock formations in a landscape of emerald green and dazzling white. Crowds pour into Malham throughout the summer, brought in by cars and coaches, and walkers come her at all seasons of the year.

Dales barn, Malham

There is a Youth Hostel, an information centre, and private and hotel accommodation. Visitors who come not to walk but merely to potter around the village, find much to interest them and their needs are catered for by shops and cafes. Malham has a charm that draws people not once but often.

Malham Tarn

Set high above the village on Malham Moor, Malham Tarn is a large lake formed by glaciation in the last ice age. Despite the wildness of its location, Malham Tarn attracts many visitors to its nature reserve, and a short walk from there leads along the shoreline to Tarn House, a remote country house which now houses a National Trust visitor centre.

Malham Cove

Malham Cove sits on a faulted block of impermeable slate beneath the limestone, and its outlet water is lost at the Water Sinks, just after crossing the North Craven Fault on to the limestone. The sinks are choked with stones, and the cave below is unexplored, but the water re-emerges largely at Aire Head, downstream of Malham village, and also partly at the foot of the cove. In the melt stages of the Ice Ages, the caves were still blocked by ice, and meltwater cut the Watlowes, a beautiful rocky valley which is now almost permanently dry. Its water cascaded 230ft (70m) over Malham Cove and must have made a splendid sight at the time.

It is a complicated history, but perhaps that is the main reason that Malham Cove is unique.

Kilnsley Crag

The limestone cliff of Kilnsey Crag rises sheer above the floor of Wharfedale, and looks across the river to the stone houses in the village of Conistone.

The variety....is between man and nature. Ice Age glaciers fashioned the dales, scoured their broad, level floors and trimmed the fringeing scars such as Kilnsey Crag. But it was man who dressed the landscape with two thoushand years of arming to clear the ancient forest and nurture the mosaic of meadow, pasture and open fell. And then for garnish he added the villages of stone, and achieved a perfect harmony where a tiny hamlet nestles deep into the toe of a massive fell.

Grassington.

Often described by the locals as a "village", Grassington is in fact a small town, as indicated by its name and the fact that it was granted a Charter for a market and fair in 1281 wich continued to be held until about 1860. With a cobbled square and picturesque historic streets and buildings it has a wide range of interesting shops and accommodation, surrounded by the beautiful limestone country of Upper Wharfedale.

Upper Wharfedale.

Our journey now take us to what I regard as one of the prettiest of villages,Burnsall.

The glory of Burnsall lies in its riverside position and its attractive bridge completes the picture. Built in 1612, it is still strong enough to stand frequent batterings by the River Wharfe when in spate. The present one is the gift of William Craven, a local boy who made good and became, like Dick Whittington, a Lord Mayor of London. The primary school was once an endowed grammar school and was built in 1610, adjoining that is a church with Anglo Danish crosses and tombs and a Norse font.

Entrance to Mother Shiptons Cave, Knaresborough.

To further add to the attractions you will find Mother Shiptons Cave and the Petryfying Well.

Mother Shipton was born in 1488 and named Ursula Sontheil. From the moment she came into the world it was clear she had strange gifts. She grew up and married a local carpenter but she was not destined to lead a normal life. Her power to see into the future became known across England. Mother Shipton predicted important historical events many years ahead of their time - the Great Fire of London in 1666, the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 - as well as the advent of modern technology. She even forecast her own death in 1561. Today her prophecies are still proving uncannily accurate. Many have been fulfilled - perhaps you will understand these extracts:

"Carriages without horses shall go. And accidents fill the world with woe. Around the world thoughts shall fly in the twinkling of an eye,Under water men shall walk, Shall ride, shall sleep, shall talk:In the air men sha ll be seen in white, in black, and in green. Iron in the water shall float. As easy as a wooden boat.

Mother Shipton is the world's most famous prophetess and every year more than 100,000 people visit her birthplace, eager to share her story.

Knaresborough.

Knaresborough has been touched by many of the pivotal events of English history, and remains today, as for centuries past, attractive and interesting in its proud setting on the River Nidd. You can relax in one of many pretty riverside cafes, or if your feeling energetic, you can hire one of many boats that you can row up and down this gentle river. After that you can climb the steps up the hillside and view the ruins of Knaresborough Castle, sit awhile (you will need too, I can vouch for that) amongst the beautiful floral arrangements there, and gaze at the stunning views below. And when your completely rested you can then visit the many shops in the town itself.

Our next visit is the the delightful spa town of Harrogate.

Valley Gardens.

Harrogate.

Harrogate is a beautiful town in one of the most beautiful areas of the British Isles. Sophisticated and grandesque, yet it still retains its small town homely charms. It can be serene and peaceful and picturesque place but is also lively enought to be one of the premier Conference venues in the World.

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Malcolm
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Date Last Modified: 31/07/09