When I started this daily blog I promised "365 Ways to Discover the Dales". It's easy to assume that means lots of descriptions of places to go, things to do.
Sometimes though that's not the best way to enjoy a place.
There are days when everything seems too much. When the world is in turmoil, or your brain isn't quite connected to your body. When the outlook seems grey or even black. When you just need to Get Away From it All.
The holiday adverts would have you believe Away From it All means getting on a plane (with a lot of other people) to a sunnier country, to sit on a beach (with a lot of other people), or in a restaurant (with a lot of other people).
On days when I can't bear to hear any more news, when I want to turn away from a world that just feels too crowded, my solution isn't to get on a plane although I do like to get closer to the sky. Retreating from the world can simply mean climbing a hill, sitting in silence, and turning to nature. A few moments outdoors in quiet contemplation can do wonders for the soul, particularly when it's away from the hurly burly.
I don't think anyone has ever counted all the hills in the Yorkshire Dales. All I know is that there are plenty of them. Some areas are easy to define as MAMBA country - "Miles and Miles of Bugger All". Views stretch into the distance, lanes wander aimlessly through the countryside without any obvious destination. The air is clean and pure, giving at least the sensation of fresh thoughts. I can't promise you silence - lush countryside means a rich habitat so there's almost always birdsong, wind blowing through the grass, farm vehicles. At least it's not the insistent chatter of bad news and politics.
I could give you a long list of hills to sit on, places with a good view, benches on which to sit and contemplate life. But that would defeat the object - we all need to find our own calm place. Few of us want to give away our secret spots to others.
If what you really crave is the chance to escape the news, to hide away where there's no phone signal and terrible wifi then we do have a few suggestions for you. They can come in quite handy if you have teenagers who're supposed to be revising too. Of course you could just turn off your phone but sometimes it's easier to blame the signal. Here are some places where locals bemoan the lack of connections. But be quick - even in the Dales things can change!
Keld, Muker, Gunnerside, Reeth in Swaledale
Cracoe near Grassington
Semerwater and Raydale
Langstrothdale and Upper Wharfedale, especially Hubberholme, Cray, Starbotton, Buckden
In caves deep below the Dales - try Stump Cross Cavern!
Sometimes though that's not the best way to enjoy a place.
There are days when everything seems too much. When the world is in turmoil, or your brain isn't quite connected to your body. When the outlook seems grey or even black. When you just need to Get Away From it All.
The holiday adverts would have you believe Away From it All means getting on a plane (with a lot of other people) to a sunnier country, to sit on a beach (with a lot of other people), or in a restaurant (with a lot of other people).
On days when I can't bear to hear any more news, when I want to turn away from a world that just feels too crowded, my solution isn't to get on a plane although I do like to get closer to the sky. Retreating from the world can simply mean climbing a hill, sitting in silence, and turning to nature. A few moments outdoors in quiet contemplation can do wonders for the soul, particularly when it's away from the hurly burly.
I don't think anyone has ever counted all the hills in the Yorkshire Dales. All I know is that there are plenty of them. Some areas are easy to define as MAMBA country - "Miles and Miles of Bugger All". Views stretch into the distance, lanes wander aimlessly through the countryside without any obvious destination. The air is clean and pure, giving at least the sensation of fresh thoughts. I can't promise you silence - lush countryside means a rich habitat so there's almost always birdsong, wind blowing through the grass, farm vehicles. At least it's not the insistent chatter of bad news and politics.
I could give you a long list of hills to sit on, places with a good view, benches on which to sit and contemplate life. But that would defeat the object - we all need to find our own calm place. Few of us want to give away our secret spots to others.
If what you really crave is the chance to escape the news, to hide away where there's no phone signal and terrible wifi then we do have a few suggestions for you. They can come in quite handy if you have teenagers who're supposed to be revising too. Of course you could just turn off your phone but sometimes it's easier to blame the signal. Here are some places where locals bemoan the lack of connections. But be quick - even in the Dales things can change!
Keld, Muker, Gunnerside, Reeth in Swaledale
Cracoe near Grassington
Semerwater and Raydale
Langstrothdale and Upper Wharfedale, especially Hubberholme, Cray, Starbotton, Buckden
In caves deep below the Dales - try Stump Cross Cavern!
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