Swaledale
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Swaledale is the most northerly of the Dales and has perhaps the wildest and unspoilt scenery in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
The villages - such as Gunnerside (Gunnar's saetr') still carry the names given to them by Viking farmers who settled here over 1,000 years ago.
The heart of the dale is the river Swale, one of the fastest rising flood rivers in England and in full flood is a fearsome sight and has washed away bridges and unwary travellers in the past.
We do not put ourselves in any danger when we visit Wain Wath, one of the many waterfalls on the Swale.
Mainly the Swale flows through traditional hay meadows, bursting with wild flowers in spring against a backdrop of carefully preserved stone barns and walls.
Spring sees the Lapwings and Curlews flying back from the mudflats to breed. The Dale resonates with the sounds of 'pee-wits' and bubbling 'curleees' as they perform acrobatic courtship displays. And then there are the lambs bleating, playing king of the castle and generally being cute.
Summer the fields become an impressionistic canvas, full of buttercups, vetchs, scabious and grasses that make hay meadows.
Autumn shadows stretch across memories of ancient ploughs lines, the smell of peat fires mixes with heather burning hangs in the air and the bracken turns golden.
Winter snow and frost glistens and sparkles, catching breath in very clear light.
The hills above are dotted with the remains of the once thriving leadmining industry.
When the industry collapsed in the 19th century up to half the population left, some to Lancashire and others to new lives in America. This process was repeated after the disatrous outbreak of foot and mouth with many farmers emigrating to Canada and the Americas.
Swaledale is famous for its namesake sheep with associated knitting industries as well as locally made cheeses. It is also very much a working dale and if you would like to stop at any of the local craft shops, I'm sure we can make time.