Signpost to Keld showing the way along the barely worn grass
Moss encrusted gate-less wall
At the northern end of England's Yorkshire Dales is Swaledale: steep sided valleys, singing streams and birds, and those famous barns standing as reminders of the wealth of the area when sheep ruled. This page is composed of photographs taken on two walks along the same path near Muker. Each walk was on a perfect early May morning in successive Mays. Some flowers were at different stages, but not enough to dwell upon the differences, so the two sets of images are treated as one, both showing the small valley to the north of Muker where the River Swale makes its way from Keld.
The River Swale running low after a dry spring
Gate simpliciter
A lichen covered stone - testimony to the air quality
The way here narrowed to a distinct path
Mid May sees the slight shade given by the trees here encouraging the profuse flowering of garlic, and the accompanying heavy perfume...
...which is not at all indicative of the wild variety's weak taste
Garlic flowers fringing the view of a valley barn
An amethyst haze above the...
...woods turns to a field of bluebells when approached
And getting down to bluebell height allows the camera to find some of the deeper shades
Knurled bark with first leaves showing
Dyke with a clear function...
The pattern of dykes at the Muker end of the valley
...dyke with less clear function
The sun plays on the surface of a barn wall...
These three shots were taken at 20 minute intervals
Showing the sun reaching out across the surface of the wall, first catching the projecting stones
...interacting with the lichens
and then picking out stones over the whole surface
Essential Swaledale: stone barn with buttercups
A Barn and tree, so late to leaf, maybe an ash..
..or now dead, sit centrally in the valley
Barns. Rafts of bluebells run down the slopes
Lambs gambolling...
...approaching...
...questioning...
...and now unsure. Maybe six feet away is a bit too adventurous
Trailers...
The next page
goes from this untrammelled world to some highly intellectual exercises at Portrack Gardens.
The next page
of the Mosaic Section is headed: 'Self'.
Or go to the contents of the Mosaic Section.
The last page had images from a walk in Chennai
To a page on a comparable valley in southern Scotland - minus barns
To a page on a very different sort of valley in Vietnam
