A myriad of winding paths take visitors up and down hills, in and out of woods, and around the three lakes, As you follow the paths, it's noticeable how the planting and even the temperature changes, with different areas of interest through out the opening season.

In early Spring you'll find early flowering Rhodos and lots of spring flowers such as wood anemones and primulas, with about 150 varieties of magnolia.

​In May the ferns really unfurl and the bluebells bloom. From then on the colours through out the Garden get stronger and stronger. 

In my mind what makes the Gardens really special are the sculptures. When I first visited a few years ago there were many of them, pleasingly scattered through out the gardens so there was plenty to interest at every turn, some more dramatic than others.

We visited again today. There are now 80 sculptures to find and enjoy, and plenty of 'wow' moments as so many are surprising, huge, dramatic, and beautiful. Some appear to have been made specifically for the site, such as the elongated and elegant Still Sitting by Helen Sinclair by Magnolia Lake. Judging by the gorgeous lichen growing on her back, this stone woman has already been patient for some time. 

Some of the sculptures are very simple like the stone circle made of old gate posts, a mini version of Stonehenge or nearby Druids Temple. From a little distance away the stones look like dancers in a circle joining hands - or maybe that's just in my mind. 

Others are beautiful and thought provoking such as Contemplation Circle by Liam O'Neill whose work even played a role at a difficult moment in the 2007 peace process in Northern Ireland. Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern made a highly symbolic presentation to Dr. Ian Paisley of a vessel made from walnut which had grown on the site of the Battle of the Boyne. The gesture promoted Paisley to shake Ahern's hand, calling for continued talks. ​

​We enjoyed watching and speaking to local sculptor Anna Whitehouse who was finishing work on her sculptural spheres, inspired by pollen grains and clay collected from the gardens.

As the weather gets better and better and the Yorkshire Dales come alive with their incredible greenery, it's increasingly tempting to spend time outside.

​You could set out on a challenge like conquering each of the Dales 30 but there are other easier, simple ways to enjoy nature, that we often forget to do.

Here are a few ideas for those who relish the idea of taking life a little more gently. 

Sit on a hillside and whatever the weather, turn your face toward it. Feel the sun on your face or the wind bashing your cheeks for a few moments. Enjoy the simple contentment of absorbing what's happening in that special moment. 

Collect treasure. As you walk look around the ground, on the walls and in the trees. What can you find? Pick up whatever catches your magpie eye - sheep's wool caught on a fence, a curiously shaped pebble, a feather, a conker, a small stick. Keep a few precious treasures in a post on a window sill or in a coat pocket so each time you come across them you're instantly taken back to the place you collected them. 

Splash in a stream, gaze in wonder at a waterfall.

Take a photo of every wildflower and type of grass you see, with the date you first see them and keep a record over a whole year. Once you start to look out for them, you'll be amazed how many you can find. 

Make a date to climb a hill and silently watch the sunshine. Go back later to watch the sun set. 

Sit by a fallen log for a few minutes, perhaps roll it over slightly, and count how many insects you find. When I discover a hidden world like that, I start to wonder about all the life going on around us and under our feet that we don't normally notice. 

Collect some cones, sticks, leafs and create a nature table, remembering the wonder you felt as a child. 

Make a collage or a model out of your nature treasures (we used to call them 'muddles'!).

Wait for the rain. Look out for it after a few dry days and then go out in the rain. Breathe in the fresh smell of petrichor - that wonderful earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil. 

Walk around in the rain, watching the rain drops as they fall and gently balance on the grass or leaves, before plopping to the ground. Relish the idea of the water soaking into the ground, nourishing the earth and making the grass even greener. 

When you're completely soaked to the skin, enjoy that wonderful feeling of putting on dry clothes and going in search of a cosy cafe or country pub!

I still remember the pain I felt when the precious small wheel of Wensleydale cheese I was carrying was confiscated.

​I was outraged at the idea that the East German border guard considered my piece of cheese to be somehow suspicious and subversive and therefore not allowed into the country. I can still feel the abrupt loss of pleasurable anticipation of munching the crumbly cheese on my way towards the unknown in Magdeburg. 

This was a long a time ago, in 1984, and you might have thought the shock of seeing someone drop dead in front of me on the same day would have obliterated the memory of the lost Wensleydale, but then that would mean you perhaps don't appreciate Wensleydale cheese as much as you should.

To this day, Wensleydale cheese plays an important role in my life. Half a pound never lasts more than a couple of days, as it's my go-to snack. My family laugh at me because I differentiate between lunchtime and snack cheese and dinner time and treat cheeses, but they're all important. 

So why am I waxing lyrical about this dairy delight in a blog that's supposed to be about ways to discover the Yorkshire Dales? The Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes is a popular destination for many visitors, and a good place to go to learn more about the art of cheese-making and to watch Wensleydale cheese being made. There's plenty to keep children occupied, including 'driving' a mini milk tanker and clips of Wallace & Gromit films. 

A lot has happened since Cistercian monks first made Wensleydale cheese at Jervaulx Abbey around 1150. Over time farmer's wives made it too and it became a mainstay of the Dales diet. An enterprising corn merchant Edward Chapman built the first creamery in Hawes in 1897, buying milk and making Wensleydale cheese on a larger scale. Perhaps the most famous character associated with Wensleydale cheese is Kit Calvert who helped to rescue the Creamery in 1935 after the 1930s depression. He eventually sold it to the Milk Marketing Board (any of you remember their milk and nursery rhyme cookery book distributed to children in the late 60s/early 70s?) and it was passed on to Dairy Crest. Dark times followed and Dairy Crest closed the Creamery in 1992 with the loss of over 50 jobs. Even worse, they moved production to Lancashire! Luckily a team of plucky ex-managers joined forces with a local businessman in a management buy-out.

Now Wensleydale Creamery is the Big Cheese (sorry, that was a very cheesy joke...), sourcing milk from more than 40 local farms, and exporting across the globe. They've won more than 700 awards and accolades, and after a seven year struggle managed to achieve European Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status in December 2013. This is seen as a guarantee of quality and authenticity, and recognised worldwide. 

They now make Yorkshire Butter, Yorkshire Yogurt and Yorkshire Brie as well as what I think of as their mucked-about-with-cheese containing cranberries and other fruit. 

If you visit the Creamery you can often see cheese and butter being made, as well as taste it in an imaginative selection of dishes in the cafe. If you do go to Wensleydale Creamery, don't forget to explore the rest of Hawes, a really attractive Dales market town with a huddle of good independent shops. Pop into Elijah Allen's excellent grocery shop and make sure you buy some cheese made by the other cheese-maker in town, Iona at Ribblesdale Cheese. They make delicious cheeses in their small dairy at the other side of Hawes (unfortunately too small for a visitor centre). Don't miss the Dales Countryside Museum to discover more stories about the life, landscape and people of the Yorkshire Dales. 

As any local will tell you, there are two breweries in Masham - Black Sheep and Theakstons, and woe betide anyone who shows favouritism. But only one of them has a small pub area where you can see the last apprenticed craft cooper in England, Jonathan Manby, at work. The apprenticeship lasts four years. Theakstons have employed coopers since they were founded in 1827 and still sell some of their beers in hand-made wooden casks. 

Visitors love the brewery tour at Theakstons (and Black Sheep of course...). You can also just pop into the Black Bull in Paradise for an "early doors" pint.

It's a small, cosy setting with flagstones, an open fire and wood furniture made from or inspired by beer barrels. The curious name comes from the Black Bull pub in which the brewery was founded, and the Paradise Fields that Robert Theakston bought to build his new brewery in 1850.

The Black Bull in Paradise is part of the visitor centre so closes early, at 4.30 or 5.30 depending on the season. After hours, it can be hired for private celebrations so you can organise a 'party in a brewery'...

There are artefacts on display telling of the tradition of Theakston brewing. Go through to the back of the pub and you can look through windows into the cooper's workshop where you may spot Jonathan at work. He demonstrates the precision of his craft at events such as the annual Masham Sheep Fair. 

One of Theakston's best known beers is "Old Peculier", which is now sold all over the world. It takes its name from the "Peculier Court of Masham". In this sense Peculiar meant particular. Much of the land around Masham was owned by Roger de Mowbray who fought in the Crusades. He was captured and held to ransom until being freed by the Knights of the Templar. He was obviously grateful for this so he donated the the living of Masham church to the church of St. Peter in York.

This was in the 12th century when the road between York and Masham was even more pot-holed than it is now and the Archbishop thought the journey to the wilderness of Wensleydale was not worth the effort. He established the Peculier Court of Masham, giving it the right to deal with certain offences that would otherwise be dealt with in York. Historical documents outline some of the offences that were dealt with in the court. These ranged from not going to church often enough, to hiding Roman Catholic priests, to "carrying a dead man’s skull out of the churchyard and laying it under the head of a person to charm them to sleep"... Nowadays locals just use the beer...

Did you know that there's a World Heritage Site, right on our Yorkshire Dales doorstep?

The stunning Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal water garden became a World Heritage Site in 1986, recognised as a ‘feat of human creative genius,’ 

The abbey was founded in 1132 by 13 Benedictine monks from St Mary’s in York who decided they'd rather be part of the more austere Cistercian Order. ​It's incredible to think that out of that wish for a more austere life, came the incredible, and ornate structure of Fountains Abbey, together with a very rich business empire!

While the Cistercian monks dedicated their lives to prayer, their lay brothers farmed and worked on other tasks. Over time the Fountains Abbey estate grew, particularly thanks to the wealth created through wool production. Their other commercial interests included horse breeding, lead mining and stone quarrying. 

Wool rich

​By 1300, Fountains Abbey was a leading producer and exporter of wool. Their extensive lands stretched over to Malham Moor, with connections to many well-known spots such as Kilnsey Park where fish were bred for the monks. It's thanks to sheep trading that Masham has such an extensive market place. 

Fountains Abbey had an enormous wool warehouse, a fulling mill and dye-vats, probably using natural materials such as lichen for dye. Over the next years the wool and textile industry flourished. The monks used wool for clothing and bedding and sold it at market alongside lamb, cheese and butter. They even used sheep skins for parchment. 

In the 14th century bad harvests, sheep disease and the Black Death led to a decline in Fountain Abbey's fortunes and some lay brothers left. Over time dairy farming became more popular. 

The Abbey's success came to an abrupt halt in 1539 with the Dissolution of the Monasteries ordered by Henry VIII. After that much of the land was sold off and let to local people. Lowland pastures and arable land were eventually enclosed, leaving the upland hills as pastures for grazing sheep. The common lands were used in “stints”, allowing farmers to graze a number of cattle each year, hence the expression, “have you done your stint?”

Sir John Scrope supported the Pilgrimage of Grace, allowing the Abbot of Jervaulx to use the Castle as a safe haven during Henry VIII's church reforms. The Abbot was eventually caught and executed, and Bolton Castle set alight.

Sir John was pardoned and after some rebuilding the Scrope family was considered trustworthy enough to look after Mary, Queen of Scots. The Castle was held for the King during the Civil War until food supplies were exhausted and Parliament ordered the Castle to be slighted. Luckily although some damage was done, most of the structure survived. 

Bolton Castle has a rectangular layout with five storey towers on each corner. As you approach the Castle you can still see these storeys which give the Castle its strength and dominance. At the time it was built, most castles had separate buildings for functions such as the kitchen, bakehouse and brewhouse. Bolton Castle was unusual because the grand rooms like the Great Hall and more practical spaces such as the kitchen and bakehouse were all integrated into one building. ​

They have several living history events such as Medieval or Tudor weekends, which further bring the castle to life. It's really worth climbing to the very top of the highest tower for one of the best views in Wensleydale.

​In the courtyard you'll find the brewhouse, storerooms and the damp dungeons. There are sometimes opportunities to try activities such as archery. Within the garden there's now a maze, a small vineyard and you may get to the see their wild boar and birds of prey, with regular falconry displays. The tea room has a tempting range of homemade cakes and simple lunches. 

It's best to check opening days and what's on before your visit. www.boltoncastle.co.uk

What's the connection between Sherlock Holmes, the Hound of the Baskervilles and the Yorkshire Dales?

A few years ago I was in Ingleton when Martyn Sutton told me about his research into writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyles' and his possible connections to the area.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's mother, Mary Doyle lived at Masongill Cottage near Ingleton for about 30 years. When Conan Doyle visited her it's likely he'd have travelled by train to Ingleton and then onwards through Holme Head to Masongill. 

One of Conan Doyle's early stories was called Uncle Jeremy's Household, and published in the same year he married. The main character was from Baker Street in London and in the story he comes to Ingleton by train to meet his friend, a chemist. 

There's a stained glass window in the tower of St. Mary's Church, Ingleton which is dedicated to a man called Randal Hopley Sherlock who was killed by lightning at the railway station. His brother was once the local vicar, taking services in Ingleton and possibly Masongill. Was this the inspiration for Conan Doyle's famous character's name? 

Conan Doyle married his first wife, Louisa at St. Oswold's in Thornton in Lonsdale between Ingleton and Masongill, where the Reverend Sherlock also sometimes took services. 

Martyn Sutton also believed that the origin of the Hound of the Baskerville's story was actually inspired by the mythical Barguest who lived in Troller's Gyhl by Skyreholme and who was supposedly a saucer-eyed, wolf-like creature. What do you think? 

Some of you will read this and just think I'm weird. Others will instantly identify with that spark of excitement at the idea of unexpected discoveries.

A couple of days ago in one of my blogs I mentioned the Wombles and their "making good use of the things that they find, the things that everyday folk leave behind" song. But not everything is 'useful' in the Wombling sense.

​I pick up things on my daily dog walks for which there's no obvious use: feathers, attractive stones, bones (I have two friends who treasure them), lichen-covered sticks.

They're beautiful to look at, to treasure for a little while.

Today I spent a short time rummaging around the river-bed with my friend J. I was going to write a different blog today but she's sent me these pictures and I really wanted to record a lovely time spent in the early Spring sunshine, just absorbed in trying to spot treasures.

It wasn't really mud-larking, although I do like the 'larking' bit. It was more pebble-panning. There's a place near my house where the River Ure only flows when the river is high, creating an 'island' for just a short time each year. Most of the time it's a dry stoney area, where wood sorrel, wild garlic and grass quickly grow and green immediately after any rain. It's a perfect spot to hunt little gems carried down by flood water. The water was recently quite high so we looked forward to a lovely mooch of discovery. 

If you've ever travelled along the A684 between Leyburn and Hawes you'll almost certainly have spotted signs for Berry's Farm Shop and Cafe at Swinithwaite. I love that name. Swinithwaite. I always assumed it meant swines or pigs in a clearing, which is now very apt (more of the pigs later) but I just looked it up and apparently it means "clearing made by burning" from the Old Norse, which isn't as pleasing. The location is beautiful though. 

Adrian and Bridget Thornton Berry created the cafe and farm shop a few years ago, bringing ancient but redundant farm buildings back into life. It's a great stop-off point, offering a chance to buy a few provisions as well as lovely loos (I really like the rain maps) and a cafe which is now run by Guy Fairhurst. There have been more additions to the original cafe and farm shop, with the business now known as the Wensleydale Experience so you might want to plan to stay longer. 

Close to the cafe, you'll notice plenty of animals, which I can't help thinking of as "Bridget's Menagerie" as she seems to constantly be adding to the collection. You'll spot pigs, cattle, llamas, hens, goats and sheep in the fields. Adrian and farmer Tim have offered periodic offer have offered farm tours for several years and taken part in the Hay Time festival with tours of the meadow. I remember several years ago that Adrian pointed out the very straight drystone walls climbing the hillside and explained they were probably built by Napoleonic prisoners of war. The farm tours were popular so now this Spring they've got a full programme of both farm tours and farm experiences, mainly led by the very knowledgeable and friendly Tim. Visitors can either enjoy a wander around learning about farming, or spend a little longer with Tim, actually feeding some of the animals and taking part in routine-farm tasks. 

There are also numerous beautiful walks from the cafe, many suitable for young children. I particularly recommend the one down through the undulating meadow which leads down to the River Ure and Redmire Falls, with a short wander through the woods and then back up the steep lane with a wonderful mossy drystone wall, to the cafe for cake! 

Set a little apart from the barns are five yurts, each with stunning views of surrounding Wensleydale. 

It feels pretty momentous to reach my 100th daily post.

It's not been hard because I'm writing about places and things I love, but it does feel like this post should somehow act as a fanfare for something special.

So I'm going to write about Yorkshire Dales farmers. Their work is on display all over the Dales, but we rarely get the chance to acknowledge and thank them for all they do. 

The Yorkshire Dales would not look as they do without farmers. They literally sculpt the landscape. Without sheep, the fields would be very different. Farming in upland areas like the Dales is even more physically and economically challenging than elsewhere. Within the National Park we have many important habitats that are vital for so many species, and farmers play their part in managing this landscape, particularly the rich hay meadows. There are an increasing number of farmers such as Chris and Fiona at Nethergill Farm and Neil and Leigh at Hill Top Farm who are trying to find different ways to increase the sustainability of farming practices, both environmentally and economically. 

Voices From the Land shares the reflections of Yorkshire Dales Farmers about their day-to-day practices and relationship to the unique landscape of fells and dales. It's a wonderful resource and gives great insights into farming in the past and some of farmers' concerns about the future of farming.

One aspect of farming that isn't talked about as much as it perhaps should be is the stress and loneliness many farmers feel. The impact of Foot & Mouth is still felt in the Dales farming community. I know of at least two families who mark the date of their father's suicide every year, remembering some really terrible times. Farming may seem like a dream profession to some - the chance to be active, among animals and outside most of the day. Most farmers genuinely love their farms but that doesn't mean it's an easy life. Mental health can really suffer in rural areas - something that farming charity RABI tries to help with. 

Farmers maintain and build the distinctive drystone walls and barns we see everywhere. Everywhere that is, apart from Swaledale where as farmer's wife, Glenda Calvert will readily tell you it's not a barn but a "cow'us" (cow house).

I'm always surprised by how many women in the Yorkshire Dales describe themselves as a "farmer's wife" or "farmer's daughter", often with a mixture of pride and resignation. How many other professions are there where that happens? They may have careers in their own right, but whatever they do, they are married to farmers and farming life underpins everything they do and is an intrinsic part of their identity. 

Depending on the seasons, such as during lambing or traditional hay making, more hands may be needed on the farm and no matter what other career someone has, the needs of the farm become paramount. When I run marketing workshops or arrange meetings I carry in my head a mental calendar of who is likely to be lambing where and when so I don't suggest dates at the wrong time. There have been a few times I've noticed someone surreptitiously trying to brush off a little blood, milk or iodine from their clothes because they dashed to meet me in the middle of lambing. 

The harsh reality of hill farming means that most farms need to diversify, and it's often thanks to this that visitors enjoy some excellent accommodation whether it's a B&B or holiday cottage. Some farmers have their own farm shops, sell products they make such as Yockenthwaite Granola, or make a little cash by introducing visitors to their hungry orphan lambs at feeding time. 

Young Farmers Clubs are at the heart of many Dales communities, providing youth clubs and social activities. I still remember the talk I listened to about Bibby's Cattle Feeds at the first YFC event I attended, in a desperate teenage attempt to create a rural social life. If a community needs any heavy lifting for an event, or entertainment in the form of a ducking stool, they always call upon the powerful forces of the local YFC. 

Now we're looking forward to the Summer programme of country shows where farmers have the chance to show off their livestock and meet each other. If you see one advertised, do go along - they need your support and it's a good way to see a Yorkshire Dales community from the inside.  

So, thank you farmers. I know they won't have time to read this but perhaps you can join me in supporting British farming whenever you can and perhaps consider making a donation to RABI.