For some time now I have been planning to get out and have a good walk in the Yorkshire Dales …. and, incidentally, to do some plein aire sketching. As forecast, today has been an absolutely wonderful opportunity to do just that. So I drove to the village of Grassington this morning, and having parked the car there walked to a place I’ve been promising myself another visit for some time. To the north-west of the village is a deep, rocky cleft called Coniston Dib, which on a previous visit struck me as having pictorial possibilities.*
I thought that I had remembered the route accurately, but it turned out that there are two similar paths leaving the main Dales Way. Of course, I took the wrong one. It wasn’t long before I found myself peering over more than 10 metres of vertical limestone with no evident way round it. Not surprisingly, I decided that this was probably not the route I had in mind. Adopting “Plan B”, I did manage to get myself to the village of Coniston, and approached the Dib from the bottom end rather than my original intention to enter it from the top.
I had not been walking for many minutes when I abandoned any intention of sketching. Despite the fact that today was warm and sunny, at the bottom of the Dib it was like being in a deep-freeze. I doubt that the sun ever gets down there. The thought of sitting still for an hour in that temperature with no gloves on detained me for perhaps thirty seconds. Instead I decided that photographs would have to suffice. Tomorrow I will have the chance to look at these to see whether there is anything that might be adapted as a painting. I’m hopeful.
With parts of the floor of the Dib coated in ice the ascent to the top of the moor, and my path back to Grassington in the sun, was moderately adventurous. Anyway: here I am to tell the tale. I do feel a great deal better for my day out, even ‘though I have ended with a slightly strained left foot. The sad fact of the matter is that after such a long lay-off I am not as fit as I used to be. The walk was only about 11 km. in length, but I’m very glad it was not longer! As I drove home I reflected ruefully on the fact that many years ago I completed the famous “Three Peaks of Yorkshire” walk, which is three times longer than today’s effort, with a great deal more ascent. Ah well! Where indeed are the snows of yester-year?
*No: I’ve no idea what a “Dib” is, and I’ve never encountered the term elsewhere.