Norber Erratics

Above the village of Clapham, on the southern flanks of Ingleborough, there's an area strewn with huge glacial erratics: boulders of gritstone, perched on the underlying limestone, known as the Norber Erratics. They were deposited by melting ice sheets at the end of the last ice age some 12,000 years ago. The boulder field is a spectacular sight, with far-reaching views across to Ribblesdale. Certainly worth the climb up.  

It was a bright but overcast day, which brought out all the subtle, pastel colours in the rocks and walls, fields and sky. So beautiful; it was a day to enjoy. 

St James Church, Clapham

There has been a church in Clapham since Norman times but the present structure is mostly late Georgian/Regency (1814) apart from the tower which dates back to the 15th century. It's quite cavernous inside and quite plain too, with only a couple of stained glass windows. 

The interior is relatively light, as the rest of the windows are frosted or clear glass, through which you can see the trees outside, which is always lovely in a place of worship.

The most decorative thing in the church seemed to be the fine set of painted organ pipes:

Clapham

Clapham is a pretty little Yorkshire Dales village, set along both sides of Clapham Beck and nestled at the foot of Ingleborough, one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks. It's a popular spot for walkers and cyclists as you can ascend the mountain (723m) from here. For some reason, I have never visited the village before. It has a by-pass and so I've always just driven past. It turns out that I'd missed a treat as it is very attractive, and also has several excellent cafés, including the Old Sawmill where I had lunch. 

One of its claims to fame is that the writer Alan Bennett keeps a second home here, though he mostly lives in London. Bennett was born in Leeds and is still very much a Yorkshireman at heart. 

The stream, running through the village off the slopes of Ingleborough, tumbles over a waterfall from a man-made lake on the Ingleborough Hall estate, which provides some electricity through a turbine.