I enjoy walking, especially through a garden or in the countryside, but words (as so often) matter: you’ll find me less keen to set out if the journey might best be described as a climb or hike. So it took my sister (for whom hills are little more than hiccups) several seasons to get my sweetheart and me to accompany her to this point, where we could look out over the edge of a broad expanse of limestone pavement above Malham Cove in Yorkshire. Thanks little sis – it was fun and you know I’d never have done it without you!
You might recognise the pavement from scenes in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows if you’re a fan. I was fascinated by the pavement itself: its deep cracks and the odd bits of ferns and wild flowers that somehow have a foothold on life within it.
If the first view gives you a slightly giddy feeling, you might prefer to look from this more gentle slope, taken on the way down towards the village and my belated ice-cream reward. I ought to confess that my sweetheart tells me that there is ice-cream van at the top of any mountain he wants me to climb and I typically believe him, having once happened upon one on a seemingly remote hillside. If your friends and family try to tell you the same, do not believe them without photographic evidence – there usually isn’t.
Susan Rushton 
I’m with Anne Copeland. What. A. View. Thirty years ago, I visited North Yorkshire and immediately knew it was my heart’s home. Unfortunately, I have never been back, and it is highly unlikely that I ever will. So thank you very, very much for that breathtaking shot of the magnificent countryside.
My pleasure Laurie – I’m glad to have been able to take you back there for a few moments.
Many, many thanks!!!!
I knew nothing about the Yorkshire Dales, so I appreciate the introduction. We recently bought (and ate) some Wensleydale cheese with cranberries in it.
I love that cheese. There’s an apricot version too. The plain version is great as a filling for potatoes in their jackets (twice baked potatoes). All three types of Wensleydale are widely available in the UK. Is it a luxury where you live? I have seen the cranberry version offered for sale in Mississippi for $11 for quite a small piece which was more than a bit steep.
There’s a large warehouse store here called Costco that carries the Wensleydale with cranberries for the holiday season each year, starting around October. It comes in 400g packages, which I think cost only $6. One disadvantage of Costco is that it doesn’t carry the full line of each kind of item, so no plain or apricot version of the Wensleydale cheese is available.
That first picture is stunning. And I like the ice cream story!
Thanks Cynthia. I can hardly believe I fell for it.