Yeadon Tarn and the Cow & Calf

More galavanting in Yorkshire. One weekend whilst over on our recent 'jolies' (= hollies = holidays, pour les français) we had two people tell us about Yeadon Tarn, a place we'd never been to. So curious us had to visit.

The big attraction for our toddler grandsons will be the runway of Leeds-Bradford Airport (known as Yeadon Airport locally)

And lots of bird-life, some older than others!

We then drove towards the Cow & Calf Rocks above Ilkley, a very popular spot on a Sunday afternoon but not too busy on our visit.

I loved the silhouette of these random people, forever immortalised on this blog!

The Wharfe valley below (another Harry Potter scene, if I remember well)

Just to prove that graffiti isn't a modern thing!

Ribblehead Viaduct

With the afternoon slipping away we decided to continue onwards to the Ribblehead Viaduct before heading back home to Château Baildon.

The journey over the tops showed snow on the tops...

...and curious sheep.

We THINK we saw snow-covered Ingleborough (but will no doubt be corrected)!

The Ribblehead Viaduct, the construction of which was the setting for the recent 'Jericho' TV serial (which we sadly missed).

Steam trains still regularly use the Settle to Carlisle line, but this one was diesel

Just to give you an impression of the viaduct's height, here's Tine...

...and your faithful blogger.

The return journey now, still with snow-topped peaks

More information on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribblehead_Viaduct

Malham Cove (2)

Continuing our Malham jaunt:  

Here's where the stream surfaces from the cove. Divers have explored 1 mile (1.6 km) of the cave system so far.

Lucky coins gouged into an old branch

Stone steps lead the way upwards to the left of the cove

The magnificent limestone pavement...

...with its 'clints & grykes' (the subject of many a geology lesson)!

Anyone remember the Harry Potter scene here?

Back down below, a very happy duck...

...and an equally happy Tine.

After a satisfying meal in the Buck Inn we wandered about the  village

More info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malham_Cove

Video of the December waterfall on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuU317UzFCQ - the first time a waterfall has been seen here in living memory.

Malham Cove (1)

Here we are again, having a cheeky three weeks back in England. As usual life is pretty hectic but we sneakily kept our arrival fairly secret for the first week and even managed a wonderful day up in the Yorkshire Dales.

Malham is a beautiful village, less than an hour away from our Baildon château...

...and an impressive display of snowdrops.

 

These are for Cynthia, not a big fan of our Yorkshire stone walls

 

 

 

We are!

This is what we came for: Malham Cove

There were a couple of climbers practising their skills

Can you spot them in this shot?

Le Port la Claye

Photos thanks to Tine this time, on her way back from voluntary work in Luçon.

The River Lay is the area's main river which floods very easily

The old bridge is actually more impressive from a distance 

That's the new bridge in the distance, carrying the road from Luçon to Les Sables 

Now looking in the other direction

How come Tine gets the good weather photos?!