Fishink Walks around Settle, Yorkshire. Part 2

I woke up early, alongside the chorus of farm animals and bird twittering. A cooler start than yesterday but no rain, so that was a good start. After a quick shower we popped back to the cafe and had a good cup of tea and some toast to get us in the walking mood. Starting this time in the lovely village of Austwick we set out past the house with a face and off down a walled path, busy with Cow-parsley.

Stepping over the flagged bridge, then onwards and upwards to Oxenber and Wharfe Woods.

Luckily for us the bluebells were still out and they looked amazing. I can’t remember the last time I was surrounded by a sea of blue flowers.

Once at the top you find more of the characteristic Limestone Pavement. Parts of the rock looked to me, like back-bones. Whitely protruding through the soil they jut out of the earth like some gorgon from Jason and the Argonauts that is just about to erupt from the ground and challenge us to a fight. We luckily managed to pass unscathed on this occasion !

Wildflowers again were everywhere.

Wild garlic and mossy walls.

I loved this tree which had divided and was happily hugging itself. At the base of the division you can just see the door to the Elves kingdom ! Further on there were some daredevil sheep, scrambling around on the cliff edges. I’m sure the grass didn’t taste any better there than anywhere else, why risk the chance of falling, I wondered, are they really that dumb or practising for the sheep circus !

The cows seemed chilled and happy and the wonderful dry stone walls and landscape, again made me gasp as we descended into the valley.

Even the mown fields appeared to be full of colourful stripes.

Back into Austwick Village with it’s pretty, well groomed cottages.

This was definitely one of my favourite fields from the weekend. Just look how the grass sparkles with colour and how the field becomes a solid yellow, furthest away from the eye. It was like a green canopy of buttercup stars !

After lunch in Settle, we drove on a little further and walked up to Catrigg Force and spent the afternoon lying in the sunshine by the river, reading a book, with only the Swifts and Curlews for company. What a great weekend and a true place of natural English beauty.