Wharfedale Hoodies

Wharfedale

When I came across this spot, I wanted to stay forever. It instantly became one of my favourite places. I had been walking a route that started in Ilkley, following the river Wharfe up through Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales national park. I had followed it past the ruins of Bolton Abbey, and through the constriction of the Strid; stayed the night at Linton youth hostel (sadly it closed for good days later); passed Kilnsey Crag and its climbers playing on its pronounced overhang; stayed a night at Kettlewell, picking off some moorland peaks; and finally rejoined the river reduced at this point to a gentle rocky stream. This was the last I saw of the river - looking towards its source at the dale's head, as I turned off for a moorland p...

Walking along the country lane between Grassington and Kettlewell, surrounded by the River Wharfe on one side and the rolling hills with iconic stone barns and dry stone walls on the other, all the cares of the world seem, for a moment, a million miles away.

Bolton Abbey an a moonlit night . Bolton Abbey is an estate in Wharfedale in North Yorkshire, England, which takes its name from the ruins of the 12th-century Augustinian monastery—now generally known as Bolton Priory.

I call this painting 'Exit the Strid', as it shows the river Wharfe just as it leaves the constriction of rocks know as 'The Strid'. As it leaves the narrow channel, it slows down to this relaxing pace, with little pieces of floating debris snaking across the river. Surely the most tranquil of scenes! Painted in oil on a 16x12 inch board.

This painting is based on a trip I did walking the length of Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales a few years ago now. I had reached Kettlewell early, and had plenty of time after supper at the hostel to walk up to the peak of Great Whernside behind the village. On the descent a patch of sunlight illuminated the route back down to the village. I've painted this in oil on a 16x12 inch board.

River Wharfe (View Downstream From Aysgarth Falls)

Bolton Abbey is an estate in Wharfedale in North Yorkshire, England, which takes its name from the ruins of the 12th-century Augustinian monastery—now generally known as Bolton Priory.

485m up in Wharfedale, Simon's Seat can reached by a rewarding walk from nearby Bolton Abbey. It offers views across to Skipton. he climb is well worth it as you walk through the scenic valley of desolation on to Barden Fell. At the highest point you reach Simon's Seat. It is a place that offers splendid views of the surrounding area on a clear day. After taking lunch here you can then look forward to descending to Parceval Hall and magnificent Troller's Gill. This is followed by a pleasant walk over to Appletreewick before continuing along the banks of the River Wharfe. Then you finish off with continuing to follow the Wharfe as it becomes agitated in the rapids and waterfalls that are to be found in the famous Strid Wood. This is a bri...