Rain-drenched Kilnsey

A friend and I set off recently, planning to walk along the river in Grassington and then have lunch somewhere... but as we drove up through Wharfedale the rain came down hard. We ended up driving to Kilnsey Trout Farm - a beautiful spot even on such a dreadful day - and had a lengthy coffee stop in the café there. Kilnsey Crag, at the far side of the fishing lakes, is more visible through the trees in winter. The little beck that flows down to the Wharfe was in full spate. 

It was so full that it was flowing over the old clapper bridge, though the more modern wooden bridge at the entrance to the farm park is slightly higher and was just about clear of the water. The fields around the Wharfe were boggy but not completely flooded; a lot of the water has moved further downstream to Ilkley and beyond. As we drove up, the Aire valley flood plain around Silsden and Skipton was saturated. It looks very different - and not unattractive - when fields become lakes and the flood plain does its job of soaking up the excess. There's really nowhere to stop along the trunk road, or I might have taken some photos there. 

It wasn't really the day out we'd planned. I feel I may be turning into my mother, going 'out for a drive' rather than a walk! We even ended up at the Keelham Farm Shop outside Skipton, to complete the 'retired/elderly people' trope! But I am retired and also still trying to return to my usual self after Covid, so there's no point in being sad about it. I don't think I'm really in much danger of becoming 'elderly' yet!