Coming down off Ilkley Moor back into the town, we descended through Heber's Ghyll, an atmospheric ravine where Black Beck tumbles off the moor on its way to join the River Wharfe. Steep, rocky and lush with vegetation, there are ferns and mosses dripping with damp. The path zig-zags over a series of wooden bridges. It's romantic (even Romantic with a capital R) and mysterious, one of those wild places that was 'tamed' to some extent in Victorian times, when Ilkley became a fashionable spa resort and the visitors were looking for amusing places to explore. One expects an elf to leap out or a fairy to perch on the parapet of one of the bridges. Better to be descending rather than ascending, as it is so steep and quite muddy and slippery in parts too.
Such a pity "Cookie" cannot be with you on your fascinating rambles!
ReplyDeleteI love the images of this dark, atmospheric, mossy, ravine, especially the first one, where that shaft of light has created splashes of amber and chartreuse highlights.
ReplyDeleteA magical, mystical haven Jenny, absolutely home to pixies and fairies, probably elves also ✨
ReplyDeleteMagical photos as well!
ReplyDeleteOh, my! Definitely Romantic, fully deserving the upper case R. And your photos are prize-worthy.
ReplyDeleteThe kind of place that might have moved Southey or Wordsworth to verse. Your photos do it justice.
ReplyDeleteIt is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteA magical place!
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