This is my last week here at Scargill. I cannot believe how fast the time has flown by. I plan to send lots of posts this week to finish journaling my adventure and posting photos. But for today, I want to show you more of this beautiful area in Northern England called the Yorkshire Dales.
The Yorkshire Dales National Park was designated in 1954, and was extended in 2016. Over 20,000 residents live and work in the park, which attracts over eight million visitors every year.
Many people come to the Dales for walking or other exercise. Several long-distance routes cross the park, including the "Dales Way", an 84 mile long footpath that also passes through the Lake District National Park, and winds all around the 90 acres that belong to Scargill House today.
Walking on public footpaths is very popular here in England, in a way that is different from American walking. In America, we might drive to a public park and "go for a hike" for a while. But in England, there are public rights of way all over the countryside that often pass through private property
and over stone walls ...
through pastures...
and farms...
and through tiny stone villages that look like scenes from a fairy tale book....
Where you can stop for a cake and cup of tea...
Here in the UK, you can easily walk gently for an hour or so without having to share the way with cars, and many of these walking paths are very old; some were even established in Pre-Roman times. Its a lovely way to get fresh air and enjoy beautiful views, and it seem like EVERYONE gets in on it.
I've done lots of walking while here and taken many photos, so enjoy this stroll with me through the lovely Yorkshire Dales. (By the way, I saved the best photo till last, so don't miss it.)
This area has lots of exposed limestone rocks, many of them form vertical walls or short cliffs.
We lead weekly walks for our guests here at Scargill to a rock formation called "Conistone Pie" because it looks like a big round pie from a distance...
Everyone always climbs to the top...
and the view at the top is worth the effort!
And I have saved my very best photo till last...
This photo was taken while emerging from a small grove of trees, after a brief shower, so everything was washed clean, the grass and ferns were glistening, the rocks were shiny with rain, the air was cool, and the valley below was misty. Can you smell the sweet aroma of the earth?
YES, IT REALLY IS THAT BEAUTIFUL. Ahhhh. And I say to myself, what a wonderful world!
Thanks for walking with me.
If any of you would like to come visit this place in the future, I will be very happy to escort you. Seriously.
Until next time, deep peace to you.
Audrey
