Ribblesdale, Yorkshire Dales, Summer
It finally feels a bit more like summer.
It finally feels a bit more like summer.
After one of the wettest summers I can remember, a bright weekend was looking up. Both feeling the need to soak up some VitD and get some miles in, we made our way once again into the Yorkshire Dales. It’d been a while since we visited the beautiful Ribblesdale area around Stainforth so we plotted a good 10km circular, taking in Catrigg Force, the Winskill Stones Nature Reserve, and Langcliffe.
The views above Stainforth and Langcliffe were just wonderful, and it was nice to explore Winskill Stones, somewhere we’d never been to before. We also came across the Craven Lime Works, which we had no idea existed, and explored a massive Hoffmann kiln!
All photos taken on my Sony α7ii using my Sony 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS lens. RAWs developed in Lightroom, merged in Photomatix, and edited and finalised in Photoshop.
Ribblesdale, Yorkshire Dales, Summer by Ian Cylkowski is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
The Pennine Bridleway from Stainforth up to Catrigg Force is short, but steep. Quickly it allows for wonderful views across Ribblesdale towards the fells above Feizor.
At the top of the bridleway, a small trail veers off towards the wooded gorge that houses Catrigg Force. In the distance, the unmistakeable shape of Pen-y-ghent.
Even though water levels were low, Catrigg Force and its setting is always an impressive sight.
We were able to clamber right to the pool of the waterfall for some closer compositions.
Probably one of the best shots I’ve ever got of Catrigg Force.
Back onto the bridleway, we made our way towards the Winskill Stones Nature Reserve. Turning back, this zoomed in composition of a typical Yorkshire Dales barn with Pen-y-ghent looming caught my eye.
A glacial erratic! In the Dales, the most famous erratics are the Norber Erratics, but it was ace to find another one in Ribblesdale. This glaical erratic boulder is “Samson’s Toe”, approximately 8 foot high and balances upon limestone stilts. Because the limestone has been sheltered from the rain, they have not eroded away. The boulder was deposited here at the last Ice Age 12,000-13,000 years ago.
Oh look, Ian takes another photo of a drystone wall. But they’re so cool! And, in this photo, really aid composition. In the distance are the cliffs of Attermire Scar.
With the clouds racing above, the light was constantly drifting and sculpting the landscape around us. This solitary tree, surrounded by walls, with the fells in the distance made for a captivating scene.
We clambered up around the Winskill Stones Nature Reserves seeking extensive limestone pavements. Whilst they weren’t as sizeable as the likes of Malham Cove, they nevertheless made for nice compositions, especially towards Pen-y-ghent.
We located Henside Lane, which takes you rather steeply back down to Ribblesdale and Langcliffe. In the far distance I noticed the light illuminated Stainforth village nestled in the valley, with dark Ingleborough looming above. I zoomed in all the way to 240mm for this wonderful scene.
Nearer to Langcliffe another pocket of light blasts the face of Stainforth Scar. A gate and some drystone walls helped frame the composition with Stainforth Scar and Upper Ribblesdale.
Bonus
Just north of Langcliffe, making our way back to Stainforth, we came across the former Craven Lime Works area. Here we were free to explore this massive Hoffmann Kiln, such a cool experience! There was no way my Sony, handheld, would be able to do this place justice, so the above image is a quick iPhone snap. Definitely have to come back here with my Sony mounted onto a tripod!
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Catrigg Force, Yorkshire Dales, Summer
With all the rain falling in the North of England at the moment, it seems a good opportunity to revisit some of our favourite waterfalls.
With all the rain falling in the North of England at the moment, it seems a good opportunity to revisit some of our favourite waterfalls.
As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales. In fact, the Yorkshire Dales is home to the highest unbroken-drop waterfall in England, Gaping Gill (if you count the fact that it drops 322 ft into an underground cavern). If you want above-ground only, then the claim is held by Hardraw Force also in the Yorkshire Dales, a single drop of 100 ft.
But there’s plenty of other waterfalls to check out in the Yorkshire Dales. One of our favourites is Catrigg Force, found via a short but steep hike up the Pennine Bridleway east from Stainforth, just north of Settle. Here, Catrigg Beck meanders gently southwest from the slopes of Knowe Fell (593 m/1,945 ft) before plunging 20 ft into a wooded ravine. It’s a magical place.
All photos shot with my Fujifilm X-T2 with a Fujinon XF 18–55mm f/2.8–4 lens using a customised Provia film emulation.
Stainforth is a ridiculously pretty village, in true Yorkshire Dales fashion.
The pull up the Pennine Bridleway from Stainforth begins, where the views quickly open up.
We weren’t the only ones on this hike, and there were plenty of groups—families and friends—hiking up the Pennine Bridleway to see the falls.
Can never resist a shot of the drystone walls of the Yorkshire Dales.
The “nose” in the distance is Smearsett Scar (363 m/1,191 ft).
The copse that hides the ravine where Catrigg Force resides. In the distance the clouds start to lift off one of the Yorkshire Dales Three Peaks: Pen-y-ghent (694 m/2,277 ft).
You can actually get right near the top of Catrigg Force, just before it plunges 20 ft into the ravine below.
Catrigg Force, set in its own beautiful little ravine.
Plenty of people were trying to get closer to the falls, which is tricky because the limestone rocks around here were wet and covered in mud, making them super slippy.
Doesn’t stop people trying.
Back out of the ravine, we rejoined the Pennine Bridleway through Upper and Lower Winskill.
And then started to drop down towards Stainforth, pausing to drink in the views.
After navigating the rather steep and slippery descent down Stainforth Scar, we navigated through the fields back to the village.
A lovely Yorkshire Dales scene.
That’s one happy kitty.