Jo’s Monday walk : Daffodils in Farndale

Burning the heather on Farndale

Burning the heather on Farndale

Carrying on from my last walk, at Rievaulx Abbey in North Yorkshire, I would like to take you over the Moors to Farndale. It’s always a dramatic sight when you crest a hill and see the heather smouldering, but the burning is done on a carefully controlled basis to keep the heather young and vigorous.

I had read that medieval monks from Rievaulx planted the first daffodil bulbs in the valley, but the petite wild daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) is one of our native plants.  In any case, I’ve known of the Daffodil Walk at Farndale for as long as I can remember.  It’s coming to the end of the season now but, 2 weeks ago, when I was there, we admirers were out in earnest.

Mind you, you need to tread carefully!
The walk follows the River Dove
Through gentle woodland

Old and young, and many a happy dog, ambled or scampered along the well trodden path- each at his own pace.  The common factor?  A smiling face!  The tiny, nodding yellow folk and the enfolding warmth of the sun seemed to create a special world.  No frowns or scowls allowed!

The tiny, yellow folk

The tiny, yellow folk

Such a joyful sight!

Such a joyful sight!

The river scurries past, unheeding
Intent on its own reflections
While the daffodils nod, understandingly
The sheep have their own world
And there’s a bench or two, of course
But the daffodils are the stars of the show
Time to cool off!

Time to cool off!

Oh, no! Come back!!!

Oh, no! Come back!!!

Some of us aren't so badly behaved!

Some of us aren’t so badly behaved!

On the lead, or off- I guess that’s the difference.  With barely a cloud in the sky, it was an English day to be in love with.  And I was!

Such a tidy Winter's hedge!

Such a tidy, bare hedge!

And then a low-flying plane drones past

Then a low-flying plane drones past

Such crisp shadow in a peaceful scene

Disturbing the peace, but not the shadows

Are you feeling thirsty yet?  We’re approaching The Daffy Caffy.  Yes, you read that right!  Only in England?  But first we should inspect the pretty window box.

Full of Spring flowers, of course

Full of Spring flowers, of course

Perfection in a tub!
The Daffy Caffy!
It’s appropriately lemon yellow inside
With more than its share of clutter

But the good news is you can have everything from a bacon sarnie (jumbo size!) to a cooked meal, or just a naughty piece of tiffin or cake.  Go the whole hog, if you must!

And then there are choices to be made.  I don’t mean sitting in the garden or indoors, but that’s a choice too, so long as there’s space.  You can now either retrace your steps, beside the river, or you can carry on, on a circular route which will make your total walk about 3 and a half miles. Well- ‘in for a penny, in for a pound!’  It’s too nice a day to waste, and there’s the added enticement of St. Mary’s Church.

If you haven’t already got one, pick up a Farndale leaflet before you leave the Daffy.  The map will keep you right, but in daffodil season the route is fairly obvious.  The village of Church Houses lies ahead, at the end of a short track.

Looking back at Church Houses

Looking back at Church Houses

Just beyond Church Houses you cross a stream, beside which the Church of St. Mary’s is signed. Dating from 1831, it’s worth a closer look.

St. Mary’s churchyard
And the stone church and cross
Sunlight plays through the windows
And the stained glass
Onto a few more daffodils
While outside, in the sunshine, they thrive

I hope you’re in the mood for hopping over a few stiles, because that’s what comes next.  They come in all shapes and sizes as you cross the fields.

I think this suggests ‘keep out’!
But doesn’t the cottage look inviting?
Or maybe this one?

Or maybe this one?

Complete with stile!

Complete with stile!

But you have choices!
Like this one
And this too!
Last but not least...

Last but not least…

Safely back to earth, I hope you enjoyed our wander.  Maybe it’s one to bookmark for next Spring?  Already the tulips are rampant and I found some shy fritillaries in our garden.

If you’re driving into Farndale there’s car parking at Low Mill, but it might be possible to catch the Moorsbus during daffodil season, from March to April.  This map will help you with location.

walking logo

I won’t be publishing a walk next Monday because I’ll be in Poland, so you have the Bank Holiday to roam at will!  I’ll be back with you on Monday, 11th May, when I hope to settle back into my usual pattern.  Thank you for your tolerance in the meantime.

I have so many walks to share with you this week that you might need a very large teapot at your elbow! Grateful thanks, as always, to all my contributors.  My Jo’s Monday walk page will tell you how you can join me.

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It’s always a pleasure to follow Debbie. Where she leads, I’d just love to follow!

A Walk around Historic Corstorphine

Waltzing across the floor would be a dream in this place.  I might give up walking!

If walls could talk

A UNESCO Heritage Site always has plenty to offer :

Georgetown in Penang 

This might appeal to those of you who like a shorter walk (and a bit of shopping) :

A small stretch of our legs in Moncarapacho

Amy captivates this week with a romantic meeting of deer :

Back to the Trail

And the wild flowers tempted her to Monday walking last week too!

Monday walk : Texas Countryside

Come on a twilight adventure with Cherry Blossom.  Thanks, Yvette- it’s a beauty!

Walkin in DC- part 1

And talking of the extraordinary, have you ever ‘walked with swans’?  A delight from Violet Sky :

Salute to Spring

I am honoured to share with you Suzanne’s beautiful venture onto a laptop :

Uncertainty and the Great Ocean Road

When Cardinal Guzman shares you can always expect a great photo!

Acores 5341

Whilst this post has Jude stamped all over it, even though there’s a boat or two :

Messing about on the river

Lisa is more often to be found afloat, but managed to catch up with some great Street Art!

Walking the All Fresco Street Art Festival

A Scottish walk is often bracing but no worries- there’s fish and chips!

A short walk along the promenade in Largs

Could anywhere be more different?  Pad Thai, anyone?

Soi 81, Bangkok

And some thoroughly English gardens!  Do you know this one, Jude?

Hall Place and the Queen of Beasts

Rounding off with Tobias.  Don’t miss the Art Deco!

A Walk to Kurhaus

That should be enough to keep you all going while I’m gone!  Once again, many thanks, and happy walking!

172 comments

  1. I haven’t hear of this place – it’s beautiful. I love walks where you happen upon a teashop! I have been on several walks recently which I haven’t written up because of the A to Z Challenge. Maybe by the time you come back I will have something – enjoy Poland.

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    1. Spring is gushing out all over the place at present, Lynne! It’s a bit cool sometimes but so long as those skies are bright everything’s looking beautiful. 🙂

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  3. it’s so beautiful and pastoral! there were many moments when i wanted to step into the page!

    what is it about stiles that are so inviting? my heart always smiles when i see one, whether it’s a rustic one or a well-made one!

    thanks for a great outing!

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    2. Our walking group is getting increasingly elderly, Lisa, and there are lots of groans when we come to a stile, so I was glad it was just me and Mick that day. 🙂 I loved having your company too!

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      1. i needed the leisurely walk! yesterday i walked to town in the afternoon, and i had worked upu a healthy sweat by the time i reached town. i was carrying a box of art supplies, my computer/camera, overnight bag… am still in town and will spend another night.. several painting projects are in progress – timeout for art and art and more art!

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  4. What beautiful weather for a walk, Jo, and the daffodils certainly do make you smile! I love all the different kinds of stiles in England. When I was there, ages ago, we were amazed at how many different types there were. Nothing better than a walk in the English countryside. 🙂

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  6. Aah, I haven’t climbed over stiles in a fair while, and that felt good Jo. And what could be more lovely than a window box full of cheerful spring flowers? Thank you for a most delightful walk!

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  11. The Daffy Caffy is truly a wonderful name. It looks like you walked through some gorgeous countryside on a beautiful spring day. Yorkshire is a place I would like to re-visit I spent a short holiday there decades ago and I loved it. 😉

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    1. Thanks, Viv 🙂 I’m meeting myself coming back at the minute and Mick is super busy with the business so he’s just as bad. Glad you enjoyed this. I did too! 🙂

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  13. Inspiring but also another amazing connection as my Aunty Freda grew up in Farndale in the 1920s and have just been to see her daughter. Freda ran away to be a nurse. Life was very hard in the country then and she was an adventurous soul!

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  16. Brill’ walk and bright blue sky, I really would love to visit that Daffy Caffy… great name for a cafe’. All these walks will make me fit.

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  18. What a wonderful walk Jo! The flowers were so enjoyable as summer has turned to fall in New Zealand. And the cottages were so beautiful and inviting. I’d never seen a Stile before. Clever idea! Have a wonderful visit back in Poland. Looking forward to seeing you back on the 11th (although I may be underway to Fiji by then so may need to catch up when I arrive).

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      1. 🌞 I hear it is an incredibly beautiful. place. Any chance you’d be going there for a visit in the next few months. I missed you in Christchurch but it would be lovely to meet up in Fiji 🌴

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      3. 😊 I hope to. I hear that Fiji has good and affordable WiFi. Excited to hear you are planning a trip to Fiji! Unfortunately, I will likely be in New Caledonia by the time you arrive so will miss you.

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    1. Fabulous, Meg! Thank you so much 🙂 The sun is beaming in through the window (though I expect it’s a bit nippy- yesterday I was greatly daring and had a late breakfast in the garden, but I ate swiftly 🙂 ) and I’m off with my walking friends soon, to Moors territory again, so all’s well with my world. Hope yours is fine too. 🙂

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      1. Monster hailstorm on Saturday, so dealing with insurance and repairers for solar panels, and owning up to J. That his ute, in my care, acquired a cracked windscreen and a broken side mirror. Oh, and packing for Poland.

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      2. Eek!!! This weird and wonderful world 😦 Haven’t started packing yet. Still recovering from having ‘the boy’ home at the weekend 🙂

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