New Years’ Day and we traveled from Kendal to Ilkley to have lunch with my son and his family. They live in Leeds and we often use Ilkley as a half-way meeting point to have a walk on the moor and then come down to the Hermit pub/restaurant that looks down on Burley-in-Wharfedale.
The River Wharfe is a beautiful river originating within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. For much of its course it is the county boundary between West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire. Its valley is known as Wharfedale. The magical hills of Ilkley Moor looks down the river valley.
The end of the afternoon had the most magical twilight. Tess the collie needed a walk before the ninety-minute journey back to Kendal, so we made our way down through the pretty streets of Burley to the the river Wharfe.
There’s something poignant about the end of the Christmas period. We’re happy to take the decorations down, come the end of the seventh day.
Soon it was time to go. The dogs had been well exercised in the meadows by the river.
Leaving Ilkley on the A65 we passed the edge of Skipton, then on through the lovely village of Gargrave. I’ve often remarked that the iconic Old Swan would make a fine photo if I could capture it from the car’s passenger seat!
©Stephen Tanham 2022
Stephen Tanham is a Director of the Silent Eye, a journey through the forest of personality to the dawn of Being.
http://www.thesilenteye.co.uk and http://www.suningemini.blog