Mallerstang, Yorkshire Dales, Spring
It’s getting hot in here.
The MetOffice confirmed that Spring 2020 has been the sunniest UK spring on record. By 27th May, Spring in the UK had already recorded 573 hours of sunshine, beating the previous record set in 1948 of 555.3 hours.
We set out for a hike recently in the expansive and quiet valley of Mallerstang, in the northwestern corner of the Yorkshire Dales. The day started out overcast and cooler, so we originally planned out quite a long route, hiking up towards the Pennine Bridleway to get the views and check out the Bridleway’s sculptures. But soon the clouds cleared, the temperatures rose to around the mid-20s, and the wind died so we broke the hike in half.
Mallerstang is a favourite of ours. It tends to get overlooked by many folk, who are often attracted to the main honeypots of the Yorkshire Dales, such as Ingleton’s waterfalls or the Ribblehead Viaduct. Mallerstang is a fairly long valley, about 6 miles long, and features two prominent ridges on each side of the valley: Mallerstang Edge (660 m/2,165 ft) to the east and Wild Boar Fell (708 m/2,323 ft) to the west, both distinctively flat-topped and beautifully sculpted. The valley’s also full of fascinating waterfalls including Hellgill Force, the biggest one.
All photos shot on a Fujifilm X-T2 with a 16–50mm f/3.5–5.6 lens using a customised Classic Chrome film simulation.
The Settle-Carlisle railway line travels through Mallerstang. Would love to take a train ride along this scenic route some day. A simple composition, utilising the rail track as a leading line to point straight towards Wild Boar Fell.
Hellgill Force, normally a thundering roar, reduced to a couple of rivulets dribbling down to the gorge.
Further up Hell Gill Beck the views really open up looking towards Wild Boar Fell.
Up on Pennine Bridleway, our goal is in sight. Overhead the clouds dissipate and we clearly make out the escarpment of the Northern Pennines.
This sculpture, found on the Pennine Bridleway, is called “Watercut” by Mary Bourne. The watery gap that divides the sculpture utilises the changing sky to echo the ever-changing flow of water. To the right is the flat-topped Mallerstang Edge.
It’s a brilliant concept.
Looking down the Pennine Bridleway as it descends into Mallerstang. One day, we’ll finish the route.
The sky clears, the temperatures rise, but we’ve made back to the road towards the car. A classic Yorkshire Dales composition featuring a narrow road, dry stone walls, and a shapely fell.