The Yorkshire Dales is an upland area of the Pennines in northern England in the historic county of Yorkshire, most of it in the Yorkshire dales national park created in 1954. The dales comprises river valleys and the hills, rising from the vale of York westwards to the hilltops of the Pennine watershed. In Ribblesdale, Dentdale and Garsdale the area extends westward across the watershed, but most of the valleys drain eastwards to the vale of York, into the Ouse and the Humber. The extensive limestone cave systems are a major area for caving in the UK. The Yorkshire dales spread to the north from the market and spa towns of Settle, Skipton, Ilkly and Harrogate in north Yorkshire, to the southern boundry in Wharfdale and Airedale. Most of the large southern dales , Ribblesdale, Malhamdale and Airdale, Wharfedale and Nidderdale run roughly parallel from north to south. The more northerly dales, Wensleydale and Swaledale run generally from west to east. The characteristic scenery of the dales is green upland pastures separated by dry-stone walls and grazed by sheep and cattle. Many upland areas consist of heather moorland. The dales are u and v shaped valleys enlarged and shaped by glaciers, mainly in the most recent Devensian ice age. Here are some of my photographs I have taken while driving through this beautiful county and some of the buildings and castles etc I saw.
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AYSGARTH FALLS.
Aysgarth Falls are a triple flight of waterfalls surrounded by forest and farmland, carved out by the river Ure over an almost one mile stretch on its decent to mid-Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales of England, near the village of Aysgarth. The upper and middle fall was featured in the film Robin Hood prince of thieves. The falls are at their most dramatic after heavy rain.
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BOLTON CASTLE.
Bolton Castle is a 14th century castle located in Wensleydale, Yorkshire, England. The nearby village of Castle Bolton takes its name from the castle. The castle is a grade 1 listed building and a scheduled ancient monument. The castle was damaged in the English Civil war, but much of it remains. The castle was built between 1378 and 1399 by Richard, 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton and is an example of a quadrangular castle.
The church which is at the side of the castle is called St Oswalds Church.
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MIDDLEHAM CASTLE.
The castle is situated in Wensleydale, in the county of north Yorkshire, England, was built by Robert Fitzrandolph, 3rd Lord of Middleham and Spennithorne commencing in 1190. The castle is a compact, massive structure and although ruinous, most of the walls are intact. A simple rectangle in plan, the castle consists of a massive Norman keep surrounded by a later curtain wall, to which were then added extensive palatial residential ranges. The castle is an impressive ruin and the sense of its original strength and grandeur remains.
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RIBBLESHEAD VIADUCT.
The Ribbleshead Viaduct in the Yorkshire Dales is an example of Victorian engineering at its very best. At 1,320 feet long and 104 feet high, this spectacular viaduct spans the Ribble valley and can be seen from miles around. It is one of Yorkshires most distinctive landmarks. The viaduct carries the Settle-Carlisle railway. The viaduct was built by the Midland Railway and is 28 miles north west of Skipton and 26 miles south east of Kendal. It is a grade two listed structure. The land underneath and around the viaduct is a scheduled ancient monument. The remains of the construction camp and navvy settlements are located there, but cannot be seen from where I took this photograph.
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TAN HILL INN.
Tan Hill is a high point on the Pennine Way in Richmondshire District of north Yorkshire, England. It lies north of Keld in the civil parish of Muker, near to the borders of county Durham and Cumbria and close to the northern boundary of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It is an isolated location, with the nearest town of Kirkby Stephen being an 11 mile drive away. The Tan Hill Inn is the highest Inn in the British Isles at 1,732 feet above sea level. The building dates to the 17th century. I had to take this photograph of Tan Hill Inn from inside of car, as it was blowing a gale outside and I was unable to stand still to take a photo. That is why the photo is of poor quality.
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While we where driving around the dales we encountered these.
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WOW!!! Of course all one can do when you run into livestock like that is laugh. In Texas it is usually cattle that you encounter. This is some beautiful country, my friend. And, of course I love the castles. The viaduct is interesting as well. Sort of has a Roman appearance to it. For unknown reasons I like the Bolton Castle best. I do like the rock walls. Shows that man used whatever was abundant to accomplish a task. And, that falls is beautiful! Just makes you want to just sit and watch it. This is beautiful country and you did quite well with the photos of it. Great job, Les!!!
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