I had an overnight trip to the Yorkshire Dales last week, camping in mid-Wharfedale above Conistone. I’d previously scouted this area and figured it would be a good bet. It’s a beautiful spot with the stone barns so typical of the dales.
I put myself on a shelf above the valley, half way up the hillside. This is where the Dales Way footpath contours along from Grassington to Kettlewell. At this level it is a typical limestone landscape with plenty of exposed limestone pavement. A little way above, higher on the hillside, the ground changes where a cap of millstone grit (known as gritstone to climbers) sits above the limestone. The change in colour and vegetation is quite noticeable.
This time of year is mowing time. The meadows have been full of flowers for a month or so but now the farmers are getting their hay harvest in and the valley is a patchwork of greens and golds.
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