The most Open Crumb of Sourdoughs

 From Bread Every Day and  having refreshed my rye sourdough starter the night before, I followed the timings given in the recipe and starting at 3:30 p.m., pulled two fabulous loaves out of the oven at around 9:00 am the following day.  There is an online tutorial by Jack, and if you search he has the recipe on line but this one is for one loaf only.

Usually I amend recipes to fit the size of bannetons I have and since I only had one oval banneton of the right size, I was totally amazed that when I walked into my local independent hardware stone, there was the twin of mine at a very reasonable price...and no I did not get the small hand sprayer for the water, so must go back for that soon. 

This is the first time I have made a totally no knead sourdough, as I usually do a ten minute knead as well as the stretches following the hours of rest.

These are the loaves as they came out of the fridge on day 2, ready for baking.  After about 10 hours uncovered in the fridge they had developed a good outer skin, and were easy to turn out and score.

                                    

These days I drape some muslin across the banneton rather than risk them sticking and with a new one this is even more likely.  I quickly found a spare piece of muslin from my cheesemaking kit, the whiter one. I do reuse baking parchment several times as it is not recyclable. 

Sourdough turned out and ready to be slashed

There was plenty of oven lift, 

and what is called a good ear on both the loaves.

Here with the open crumb one can see the effect of a no knead bread with large holes evenly dispersed.  The whole wheat rye gives a light brown colour and a great taste. On the whole I prefer the type of dough which has smaller holes and will incorporate a few minutes proper kneading when I next try this same recipe.  

I do enjoy trying different techniques and also improvising.  Although I already have a large round Welsh Baking stone or griddle which I can put in the oven for pizza or a large round sourdough, I don't really want to buy another one or two oblong baking stones.  Instead I put in two of my very heavy and strong Silverwood baking sheets, the first of which I acquired over twenty years ago.  I add these to the shelves when I am preheating the oven.  Turn the dough onto a piece of parchment, slip it onto another upturned but cold tray, then slide the loaves and baking parchment onto the preheated trays.  It does the job for me and I don't need a peel as the cold tray acts as one.  

When I looked at the picture with the muslins, I had a slight niggle or rather an embarrassment that they were rather untidy with frayed edges on both the new and the old one which had been washed a number of times.  I remembered my friend Kay who patiently over several years brought out some needle skills in me, and using Youtube found a good one demonstrating how to sew a rolled edge. Resting up, I found the repetitive action and concentration needed rather therapeutic.  I found that I wanted to make the muslins as square as possible and found drawing through one of the threads left me with good cutting guide line.  Here are the cloths now newly washed but unironed.  

Rolled edged banneton cloth linings.

 

Tree Appreciation Tuesday - The 'Adam and Eve' Yew Tree at Bishop's Palace Wells

 I've been delighted by this Yew Tree from the day I first saw it. 

The 'Adam and Eve' Taxus baccate

I had imagined this as a very old tree, with aged boughs removed,  standing there perhaps centuries before the Bishop's Palace and this wall were ever built.  Just how many times have I squeezed myself to look through the 'eye' from the other side?  Not through the hole but round the tree! The saying from the bible sometimes floats into my mind when I see this tree about a camel going through the eye of a needle. I tried this time looking through the  hole to see if I could see something interesting: there they are The White Angel Wings by Edgar Phillips.

Last week I went to a talk for members, and happened to get chatting to one of the group.  As we walked back I found out that she was a volunteers guide, we stopped and chatted by the treen and Diana explained that they used to call this the Adam and Eve Yew, because there used to be a sculpture of Adam and Eve at about the spot where the wings now stand.

A few days earlier on one of my morning walks round the grounds I happened to see James Cross: Head gardener since 2004, and asked him if he knew how old the tree was.  I was quite shocked to hear that he believed it only about 200 years old, so much younger that I thought.  He showed me a tree which was slightly bigger than he knew had been planted around that time too. Further more he explained that the tree by the door to the outer garden was two trees: a male and a female, that had fused together, but he did not know if that had been by design or not.

So much for opening my eyes: I had not realised that there were male and female trees!  I went back to look more closely at the tree.  When you have this knowledge you look at the tree in a different light.  Yes there were branches with the ripening fruit, that was growing from the female part.

Arils bearing the seed on a female Yew Tree

The branches from the male tree had none, with the tips where the male flowers that will bear the pollen which the wind will carry are starting to form.

Tips of branches on a male Yew Tree

The bark of the tree is beautiful and I  noticed the characteristic shedding of small flakes.

The trees are fused at the lower parts, and also higher up.

Finding out a little more about this tree in particular and Yew Trees in general has increased my appreciation of this tree even more.

Just by coincidence when I popped into the library on the way home after taking pictures of the tree, I happened to see a book on the shelf, it was called The Treeline by Ben Rawlence.  The very first page of the book starts off with a description of the Yew behind the author's house. That author describes the trees wonderfully.  Another example of serendipity.

I have been asked since posting this about how to tell the age of Yew Trees.  At the start of his book, Ben explains:

"Dating yew trees is notoriously hard.  This is partly because there is no upper age limit.  They grow rapidly in youth, steadily in middle age, and can survive in senescence for an apparently unlimited period,  Sometimes growth can stop and the tree can stand dormant for long periods, possibly centuries.  Tree ring analysis fails with yews." 

If you would like to join in and post a good tree on your blog, and link it in the comments, you can find some guidelines here: https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2023/10/tree-appreciation-tuesday-participant.html

New and Old Scarves - Serendipity

 I cherish and use the lovely white raw silk scarf on the right hand side, it is as if I have the kind thoughts of my sister giving me a hug.  I don't know how long I have had it: I must ask her.  It is one of two she brought back from Nepal, the other one was a pale green.  I shall ask her about how long it is since her visit to India and Nepal.  I use it Summer and Winter, anytime I need to keep the chill off my neck or even protect it from the sun.  Each time I carefully hand wash it, I wonder whether it will be the last wash.  It washes up fairly crisp but after a little handling it softens and drapes beautifully.

Earlier this month we stayed in Dartington and walked  into Totnes along the river, and made for the market on our way to explore the town.  There was one stall which particularly caught my attention, as it was very attractively set out with merchandise of beautiful natural fabrics and yarns.  I used to buy many of my 'casual clothes' back in those days from a Company called Bishopston Trading, and found the soft Indian fabrics to my liking.  I was the only company I was aware of  selling organic cotton clothes with this 'provenance' direct from the makers.  I still have some of the cloth bags they put larger purchases in, yes years before the 'bags for life', I had my cloth bags, and lined reversable skirts, checked trousers etc.  I still have and wear and find the best for gardening now it is old, my heavy cotton Cornish Smock type top.

From Totnes, I remembered touching the scarf, still folded, admiring its quality and craftmanship.  I didn't get it at the time, but it came into my mind several times floating in and out, and the memory of the beautiful textile, if one can call hand knitting a textile, consigned to the category of 'what a beautiful thing I had seen, I did not get it at the time, but it had been created, and skilfully made, and  still as a beautiful thing which was maybe being cherished by someone somewhere.' I have a few of these...

On Wednesday, market day in Wells, we decided to sally forth together, partly just for a little 'outing' and also to view a temporary exhibition, of which more perhaps in another post. The exhibition was on the other side of Market Square and therefore we walked up one side of the market, and having seen the exhibition, walked down the other side just because it which was less crowded.   

I don't really 'browse', I'm not much of a shopper really, I see only what I want, so I usually just make straight for my usual food stalls. However I was stopped in my tracts I had a strange sense and looked to my right, and there was what looked like a very similar stall to the one in Totnes.  A moment of serendipity there was the scarf/stole.....I found out that this was the Vendor's first visit to Wells Market, and it may be the only one.

The scarf is made from Giant Himalayan Nettle  in Nepal, which is where my sister bought the raw silk scarf. To think in Nepal this plant grows to around 3 metres in one season before being harvested.

I asked my Sister about the scarf, and she had completely forgotten about it, as it is years and years since her great expedition.

Cheddar Pinks at Cheddar Gorge

 

Cheddar Pink  - Dianthus gratianopolitanus

Having seen the Cheddar pinks recently at Bristol Botanic Gardens, I realised that when I  had visited the Gorge previously, it would have been either too early or too late to even catch a glimpse of the flowers.  Yesterday I did, and I reckon they will be even better in a week's time as there were still many in bud. 

 

Half along the eastern edge of the gorge, we happened to come across a ranger whom I asked about the Cheddar Pinks.  I think he was a little wary of pointing them out and he did caution me to take extreme care as they are at the top of the very highest cliffs.  They are just over the lip of the cliff up to about one metre down. Mr S was panicking, but I advanced prostrate, crawling on my belly to spread my weight, and also to avoid the strong wind being funnelled up the side of the cliffs. 

I had taken my smaller camera a Canon IXUS 12x, but it is probably better at the macro pictures that the other camera.  It was extremely windy at the very edge of the cliff and these are the best I had.

On the way down towards Jacob's ladder, the rock roses were just starting to open.

In the shady damper areas there was an abundance of Valerian just coming up to flower, it is the pale flowering native Valerian Officinalis that is coming out.  In a week or two the scent will be all around.  On some of the cliffs Centranthus ruber has gained a foothold and again both pink and white flowers were out.

Coming down Jacob's Ladder, we got into conversation with a young man and soon the Creole was flowing...the second Mauritian I have met in a matter of days.  This young man who is an accountant in 'defiance' of his family's medical heritage, was born in England to Mauritian parents, but going to and fro to visit Grandparents and family, had picked up Creole! 

                             

We walked back up to the car which was parked up at the top of the gorge, up the central road and as it was after five, the road was fairly quiet.   I did use my stick to wave down some cars that were being driven far too fast, certainly for the feral goats and Soay sheep who had their young with them and were crossing the road or even browsing the grass on the road side.

One gets more spectacular views of the Gorge from walking along the road, in either direction, far better  from either of the cliff top walks, but from those there are splendid views across the surrounding country, down onto Cheddar reservoir and beyond. It was amusing to see people driving down or up using their cameras to capture the changing cliff faces along the zig zagging road. If only they would get out of their car to enjoy the walk.

Visit to Derry Watkins

I first heard Derry Watkins talk at Wells gardening club about two years ago.  We had had snowfall the previous week, and even though the snow had melted elsewhere, her lane was still snowbound, but non the less, she had walked across fields, before being able to get into transport to bring her across the Mendips.  We chatted, and brought up the subject of my hobbies...

Derry said in her typical friendly way: 'Well if you ever come to visit, do bring some of that lovely bread!' How could I forget that!  

Sally Gregson has been suggesting an outing there, and we had been considering this on and off over the Summer...then she received one of those special invitations to Sunday tea.  As Peter was not going, she said that I would love this as there would be other well known people from the gardening world there too....Naturally I baked a good Sourdough and took a jar of Lime Marmalade too.

I thoroughly enjoyed our visit...and just 'au hazard', I mentioned this to another friend, and she had been invited as 'companion' to by another of Derry's friends...and since we four live within minutes of each other...I suggested going together.  A foursome of plant lovers...a dream excursion, to a dream destination.  It was however a blisteringly hot day.....

This was a proper afternoon tea party..a private affair.  I did not feel that taking many pictures of either her home, garden, or friends was quite in order!  However I shall be sure to visit on an 'Official Open Day', and pictures will be taken under the different circumstances.

Derry was the kindest and most attentive of hosts as was her husband Peter.  He cracked open some of his home made apple juice from their orchards, when I asked if there was anything cool to drink, like water...super delicious, Peter..and Derry had baked a couple of gorgeous cakes.  I was most impressed by Peter's work studio in the garden, which of course, had its roof fully planted!

 Scree garden in late summer

 Grass with reflections

 Shady view point on a sweltering day

 Full sun terraces

Some of the tools of the trade - Just because I love baskets...........

Special Plants Nursery:  for special and unusual seeds

Late August Break

Right at the end of August we had three nights away, taking ourselves away from bare floors, and the smell of fresh paint.  The weather was still ridiculously hot, dry and sunny, and a little rest and recuperation was needed.  I was a little below par and was not in the mood to take many pictures.  

However there were some lovely moments.  Our drive down to Topsham entailed a drive through glorious quiet Somerset and Devon countryside.  Our first stop was at Illminster, where we stretched our legs, had a little look around some antique shops, and admired some of the local architecture, built in honey coloured limestone, of which this is an example.

Fairly centrally placed was 'Ilminster Art Centre' called the Meeting House. We approached  the building as it looked open, and enjoyed looking round their gallery.  Here I found the book set for our reading group, right in the middle of the book selection, so bought it!  It was a strange moment, I wasn't really looking at the books, they were set out randomly, and I hadn't any idea what the book looked like, and my memory for names and titles of books is such that I have to write things down, yet my eye caught it.  I felt it was a moment of serendipity.   It was order from the library, so later went on line and cancelled it.  

At Topsham we soon settled in our very large room at the Globe, overlooking Fore Street. From our comfy chairs in the bay, we had good views out towards pretty buildings and trees and the Church. Streets with fine merchant houses, meant evening and morning strolls were a sure success, and at one stage we were followed by a cat for several streets.  We enjoyed watching the sun go down along the shore front as we decided what to do for dinner.

Towards the south part of Topsham, walking out along the Strand past the excellent Museum, at which we spent a lovely afternoon, no photographs allowed, we came on a circular walk.  I love peering over walls, when they are sufficiently low, and was delighted to see the little copse full of cyclamen.

Mr S fancied taking the train from Topsham to Exeter.  The station was easy to walk to, and we could spend as much time as we wanted to in the City.  There was a little rain at first, but it was lovely for a change!  We had a walk down to the Quay and mooched around Antique shops etc, and bought some local honey from a friendly very elderly gentleman sitting by his table.  What a lovely person, we heard his story of how he had retired and moved down many years previously and had several beehives on his flower rich meadows jjust up the valley, and just loved coming down to meet and chat with people.  His honey is lovely by the way.

In Exeter, the Cathedral green has a low wall by Cathedral close...Mr S was walking slightly ahead, when I decided that I would stand on top of it, to take this photograph.

But with shopping bag, camera, umbrella and handbag I felt hesitant about jumping down.  A gallant Japanese tourist, out with his young family, came to my aid.  I wonder whether he has a mother who does the same sort of thing?  Anyway he bowed as he let go of my hand, and I bowed too in thanks.  What added to the moment was this inscription at our feet.....we both smiled.....

I think I shall have to read again,  a few more of his poems, and a little more about William Blake.  A few years back I had a little period of reading some novels in which William Blake featured. 

He who binds to himself a joy
Does the winged life destroy
He who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity’s sunrise

After a good lunch, we set forth in search of the 'Turkish Deli' to get some Turkish Delight...the sort I had at the Cafe at Bideford Pannier Market on our holiday in the Summer.  The owner has given me a piece, but only bought to give out with coffees, he did not have any boxes for sale, but he was happy to tell me where he had bought it..in Exeter!  Of course there was Pomegranate and Pistachio Turkish Delight, and we added some large juicy dates to our basket too.

The Museum in Exeter is another must, and after a little while there, decided to return another time, out of School holiday time. It was packed with families. 

On our home-bound journey we stopped off at Bicton Botanical Gardens.  Maybe it was the time of the year, or our moods, but we were on the whole underwhelmed by the Park.  Yes, it had its long vistas and is well set out with the Italianate garden.  The tree collection is worth walking around.  The iconic silhouette of its curved roofed glass house with its palms is fine, but I felt the planting in the borders rather lacked luster, and the collection of Pelargoniums meager and plebeian.  The place seemed to concentrate on being a 'Venue', and a place to take children for things like soft ball, train rides etc, and the Museum needed a good clean and dust....

We stopped off at Ilminster again and had a nice lunch set in the garden area of the Meeting House..and then off home.  Back home I spent a couple of days resting........feeling much better at last.

Teucrium Hircanicum

Having seen Teucrium Hircanicum growing in at least two gardens, one of which is Alison's, over the last couple of years, I was delighted when Alison brought me a little plant.  She brought it over on the day we went to the Bishop's Palace Rare Plant Fair.

It will be cosseted, which means watched, watered when needed etc.  and has plenty of space to grow.  Yes I have noticed I mispelt Hircancicum on the label, and it will be corrected. Today it was planted out in the space vacated by a plant which today was planted in the front garden.

I went on the hunt for more information on this plant and came across an interesting post which just happened to have a Forest Bug on the same post.  Another example of serendipity....another interesting and informative blog on plants and insects.

Whilst I was out in the garden I noticed a pretty 'Shield Bug' on the Fuchsia...From my Complete British Wildlife and also 'Nature Spot' I was able to pinpoint this as a 'Sloe Bug.

If anyone thinks it is something different, please do comment....I like to observe, and don't have much knowledge in the area.

Garden addition

Its never envy:  only admiration.....

When you visit a great garden, and you see one plant performing beautifully.....

Read up about it, study its requirements and cultivation, and find the ideal spot....

Salix gracilistyla 'Mount Aso'

Then a few days later on a visit to one of your bestest fruit and vegetable stalls which at present is up at Rocky Mountain nurseries....

And you bump into the friend who took you to see this wonderful garden and its creator....

Then before you choose your fruit and veg, you pop into the nursery, for a quick tour, and see the plant your friend had also admired: the plant you both wanted....

And you rush back, and they are just reversing out of their parking space.....

Its no wonder that you both go and get yourselves one.....

I call this Serendipity


Later my friend tells me that she liked it so much, her husband was going to get her a second one.......





Willow

Camera Obscura effect in the bedroom

Stirring this morning...and turning over...this is what was being beamed onto the wall opposite the window.  There was just a chink in the drawn curtains.  The sun was very bright even at 7 am...and it was shining off the house opposite.  In full colour an image of our neighbours' house projected upside down onto our bedroom wall.

In a Vase on Monday: Seeds shared

Cathy who hosts this meme is quite in agreement with this seed sharing habit: I have a few packets waiting to be sown...and I wonder how many blooms Cathy has grown from seed in her very pink vase this week?  Do go and have a look there, and also through the comments at what other contributors have come up with.  Do take your time, dip in during the week..there is so much of interest.

Looking back its nearly a year since I posted a vase with Nasturtiums.  If you would like to learn about one of their other names: Lark Heels, go there and have a look.  I had thought to make up a vase with quite different flowers, but it is on account on an amazing encounter and gift yesterday, that I have decided to first show my little grouping of flowers, branch with lichen, and seed packet.

Mr S and I went out yesterday to Upton House principally to donate a collection of vintage cookery books, some dating back to 1850 to the National Trust.  We noticed that they had many old ones available for people to look through, as well as a section when some were for sale.  The little branch covered with three types of lichen came from a pile of rubish in the garden, and it just matched the glaze on my little vase.

These nasturtiums just grew themselves from seeds which had dropped out in the patch where they were growing last year.  I also had packed many and given them away last autumn.  I love both the form of the leaf and also the seed head.

It was going to be some time before we could enter the house with our timed tokens, and thought to see what was going on in the courtyard.  I got chatting to Lynda who I believe is a volunteer gardener, also promoting Grow Organic which I remember as  Ryton, and of which I used to me a member.  Lynda also works with some people with special needs on gardening projects.  We talked about composting and about my 'late' wormery.  When we talked about growing food, I forgot to say that I did have a couple of gooseberry bushes, some blackcurrants, an apple tree, and blueberries!  I did however tell Lynda about our In a Vase on Monday, so I hope she will read this some day, and maybe even contribute with others.

Lynda asked if I used the nasturtium seeds to made 'poor man capers'.  As Mr S isn't keen on them, I haven't, but driving home I had the inspiration to use them in some piccalilli...

Lynda was sporting a very attractive peas in a pod knitted brooch, and I explained that being a knitter I would love to knit some for my gardening friends!  Out came a copy of the pattern which I now have.  Some knitters at Upton House had knitted them for all the volunteer gardeners.  Ought  I to knit one to give as a prize at our Horticultural Club Autumn Show?

This was not the only lovely thing...wait for it...when I explained that I loved wild bees and insects and grew as many flowers as possible to attract them, Lynda reached into her box, and gave me a packet of seeds...I almost felt faint, they were Phacelia.   I had only written about the Scorpion Weed a couple of days ago in the Tatton Park post , and had been wondering in the wee small hours, just a few hours back if I could find someone locally who had been growing these and ask them for some seeds!

I just want to show you how my vase from last week is doing..the clematis in bud is about to open, the Reg Dragon may be rooting...

and this vase which contains a mystery shrub rose...which came dug up from a friend's garden refurbishment 'rubbish' in March, with only the tiniest root on it on a thick stem.  It has been watered and fed, and this is its first flower. Any ideas of a name?  The leaves are acer, and the sedge is the Japanese Carex Oshimensis Everest.  When Liz and Janet came round this was one of my potted plants which was much admired, and it has since been carved into three, and these leaves were salvaged from the operation.  I bought the plant back in January last year, and since then we visited that nursery again recently.  Not many of the other plants have survived, but this one is really lovely particularly in low Winter Sun, when the pot comes to live on the patio.

Short break in the Yorkshire Dales

After our holiday in Gunnerside last September, we thought that another short break in that area was due.  Mr S had missed out on visiting the Ribbleshead Viaduct, and we had just driven through quite close to this area, and found it very attractive.  On the way up we stopped to have our packed lunch, and very much enjoyed exploring the town.

 every looking skyward, they were some interesting ornamentation

 We walked up to the Castle

and had lovely views

As we still had some time and a little energy, we popped into Settle to have a look around.  It was coming to closing time, and the very helpful people at the Tourist Information Centre suggested that as we were interested in architecture and railways, that we walk down to see if the lovely people at The Water Tower had their gate open.  Do go to the link and see what a great up-use has been made of this once derelict building.  We found it and very much enjoyed the walk round the garden, the back of the house, and a chat with the owner, when we told him we were from Kenilworth.  He said we were the first visitors from Kenilworth.  The whole house looked very interesting.  You don't get to look round inside!  However you can tell that it would be very interesting.  We were asked to sign the visitors book.  The reason I am making a particular point of adding this visit to the Water Tower House, is that a friend from Kenilworth visited the next day, and sent me a picture of the visitors book, with her entry just three entries down.

We stayed at the New Inn in Clapham, which was in an excellent location, in a beautiful village, with very little traffic.  It has been nicely redecorated, and has a good car park at the rear.  The public areas were also very attractive.  We had great breakfasts, and delicious evening food.  One evening I had just a seafood salad, which was perfect.

We found out from the village noticeboard that there was a guitar and harp concert at the Local Church that evening, and went out early for that.  If you have the opportunity to going to one their concerts, then you will have a wonderful evening.  They were Máire Ní Chathasaigh and Chris Newman.  What  a great duo, we had such a variety of music and the banter was entertaining too...and how nice to be greeted so warmly by some of the friendly villagers whom we had chatted with just in the last 24 hours.  I did my thing too, by rescuing a bat crawling along the isle.  I took it up in my scarf and carried it outside, so much better for it than getting trodden on!  The wine and home made cheese scones made by the villagers was excellent too.

The village itself had several interesting businesses/shops. There was one dealing in sheepskin gloves, slippers etc, a really lovely wool shop Beckside Yarns, which was full of the most wonderful yarns.  I had a nice chat with the owner, who although has a web 'presence' deals just with the vast number of calling customers.  Just next door is a large shop selling retro items.  I bought myself a couple of old plant pots and a codswallop pop bottle.  The village shop too was well stocked.

Another find was the Bunk House....we dropped by after having a chat with the 'Landlord' about the lovely doorway.  We were going to have lunch after our long walk, but arrived later than we thought, so opted to share their Yorkshire afternoon tea for one: a very large sandwich on superb bread, salad garnish, fruit cake and Wensleydale cheese, scone, cream and jam, tea and an extra coffee...well we had been out for about five hours! We sat outside in the sunshine watching the world pass by:  a few walkers and cyclists.

On the ground floor:  half is a teashop and the second half a pub, the uppers are a bunk house for groups travelling through. Looks like the manor house  got a special update in 1701, when this lovely fireplace, front door and dovecote got added.

What a lovely love token...carved in stone and still standing over three hundred years later.

The houses in Clapham are well maintained, and we enjoyed little walks around...here are just a few.  I love the canopies over the doors.

A short stroll along the river and over the little stone Brokken Bridge, found us at the start of the trail through the Ingleborough Estate Nature.  The river which runs down the middle of the village is so pretty and we stopped to watch the birds and ducks, and this little waterfall.

There is a little toll to pay on entry which we were more than happy to contribute to.  There is a leaflet to help point out the points of interest which would be quite easy to walk past.  The former large landowner Reginal Farrer was a botanist and plant collector, travelling in China, Tibet and Upper Burma in the early twentieth century,  and in the woods you could see some lovely specimens, which he planted. 

Along the footpath there are views across the picturesque lake, which was dammed and enlarged and has been producing hydroelectricity since 1893. 

I love geological features and remember this one's name from my Geography Lessons:  The Craven Fault.  Here the fault lies at the head of The Lake, and thanks to the marker we made a stop to enjoy it.

One place we found gave us contradictory emotions. The first one was the wonder at such a beautiful, large, old yew tree, then a feeling of sadness which Mr S felt coming off the tree...he felt it was suffering from all the coins which had been knocked into almost every accessible piece of it. 

It was surviving, but how sad to see such a mutilated tree.

This lovely old stone bench helped to dispel the gloom.

as did the Grotto

As we came out by the Ingleborough Cave, we crossed the stone bridge which passes over the stream which emerges here, having disappeared down the sink hole at Gaping Gill which is further up the Valley.

We followed the track till we came to this narrow cleft in the limestone

Trow Gill was formed by ice age melt waters, and we needed to clamber up some steep stones

and at the top some limestone pavements.  Mr S felt he did some 'climbing', but he is not the one who has crossed the Pyrenees, or done the Tour de Mont Blanc, come moi!

We arrived at our turning point Gaping Gill where the stream falls around 100m then goes through a series of caves 

there were surefooted sheep very close by

on our way back I stopped to admire numerous ferns of which these are just a few

After our Yorkshire High Tea, we set off by car to visit the Ribblehead Viaduct.  The route there and back had the most fabulous of views of the hills, and valleys.  We parked up and enjoyed our walk to the Bridge.  We have traveled across it several times in Steam Trains, but down in the Valley you can easily understand the scale, and the extraordinary feat it was to build this viaduct.

Mr S had to admire the stonework

On the way back, having gazed at the beautiful clouds, I looked down and could not believe my eyes:  small, really small flowers growing in the close cropped turf.  They looked like gentians, but they were mauve, not blue like the gentians on the continent...and both five and four petals in the blooms in the same clump!  Having come home and searched, I find that they are gentians:  Autumn Gentians.

We just stayed a couple of nights, and have much more to go back for.  On our homeward bound journey we stopped at Malham Cove.  The weather was quite different to the previous day, still dry, but with a slight mist in the air.  We made our way along a rather 'too tidy' path, presumably to make access for wheelchairs etc, up to the famous cliff face, where there were several parties of absailers.

The traffic coming home was ghastly!  My hero drove all the way and kept his cool ..