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. Pingback: Rome by Sunset and Night Walks | indahs: travel story & photography

  2. Slowly catching up on the people and posts I’ve missed recently!
    This looks a marvellous walk Jo and who could resist the Daffy Caffy!

    I hope you’re having a great time in Poland.

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  4. So many treasures to enjoy! I saved this treat for the bank holiday. The stained glass window is breath taking. You capture the colours so clearly. The daffodils look so fresh and uplifiting. The way you compose the photo makes the nature reserve come alive on the screen and look so fragrant. Thank you for this blast of fresh air! I appreciate your visits to my blog so much.

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  6. G’day Jo, I’m back home and loved my cyber walk with you, England at its best. I love how they put all the stiles to make it easier to scramble over walls and fences. I did a few walks over in NZ so will now have time to sort a few out for next week or two. Enjoy Poland I’ll look forward to following you over there…

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    1. I’ve brought the rain with me to Krakow, Pauline, but it’s still a lovely city. Family BBQ today. Looking forward to reading about New Zealand x

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  9. Love the setting in which you photographed the beautiful daffodils. You found them in their natural habitat and in window boxes. How beautiful!
    You have the gift of telling a story via photos. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Just crash landed back to earth in England and the washing 🙂 🙂 I managed to keep up with some of my comments from Poland but unfortunately missed yours. I will be visiting as soon as I can get there. Many thanks!

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  12. Dear Jo,
    One of the loveliest things about England in April is the profusion of daffodils. My daughter Bea is studying at Oxford this quarter, and was in Bath yesterday. She has commented upon the daffodils too. Thanks for taking me along on another lovely walk!

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    1. Always wonderful to have your company, Naomi 🙂 Are you likely to be able to visit Bea over here? Oxford is a lovely city. Is she enjoying it? Another fledgling leaving the nest 🙂 Take care!

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      1. Dear Jo,
        She is LOVING it! We had a two hour Skype call yesterday after her weekend in London and yesterday’s day trip to Bath, which she really enjoyed. (She loved playing dress up in the Fashion Museum there).
        I would like to visit her there, but am planning to rendezvous with her this summer in Eastern Europe, and must decide if I can make two trips so close together, especially on the heels of our trip to Turkey. She says if I go, she will take me punting in the canals there, and that is a tough offer to pass up!
        All the best to you, Jo!

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  13. Thanks, dear Jo, for taking me on that wonderful walk. Especially as we don’t have such opportunities here, with all the land in private ownership and no right to roam. Roaming might end with “lead poisoning” 😉 hereabouts. What I can do to see some nice views is bicycling, and I like to do that.
    Have a great time,
    Pit

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  14. Oh, this has to be one of my favorites, Jo! I love daffodils, the harbingers of spring. You’re right, they are such happy flowers. Who doesn’t smile when they see one?

    The sweet dog paddling away in the stream reminds me of my dog Reggie bounding into a pond after some ducks on our recent trip to New Orleans. He is a springer spaniel, after all. 🙂

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    1. The dogs were fun, Jackie, but I was surprised at how many people had turned out to see the daffodils. Mind you, the weather was well nigh perfect 🙂 Thanks, hon! Glad you enjoyed it.

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  16. Pingback: Recipe: Red Lentils | Colline's Blog

  18. ti ritrovo in una splendida giornata di primavera, in piena luce in compagnia di persone e amici cari, il verde dei prati fa risaltare la bellezza dei luoghi e i timidi narcisi che sìaffacciani ovunque la delicatezza del tuo pensiero
    grazie per questa tua meravigliosa e stimolante compagnia
    Annalisa

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