Today was another beautiful day and I promised my wife a day out walking in Malham. I reasoned we could kill two birds with one stone as it would allow me to shoot the wild garlic near to Janets Foss waterfall. If you don’t know the area, there’s a woodland leading up to the falls and the slopes are coloured bright green by the garlic. Around this time of year, the garlic flowers and the woods are filled with beautiful white flowers.
Unfortunately, I was about a week too late and the garlic was past its best. It was though quite smelly.
When I suggested this walk, what I hadn’t realised was that it’s half term. Malham and the surrounding areas was heaving with cars and people; definitely not what I had in mind. When we ventured up to Gordale Scar, it looked like a long line of people queuing for a view. Rather than try to get past everyone to climb the waterfall at the end, we backtracked to the road and took the path across the fields towards Malham Cove. After about 400m there’s a path to the right which leads up onto the top of the scar.
It appears the climb on to the top of the scar puts most people off, which is a real shame because the views are stunning. The image above was taken from the top of the short (but steep) climb. What I like about this scene is the light mist (not haze, it was actually misty) which softened the fields and gives a nice feeling of depth to the image. I tried to retain this in processing as well as retain a natural feel to the image.
And for those of you who aren’t familiar with Malham, it’s famous for its cove which dominates the landscape and can be seen below.
The Lightweight Photographer 
Very nice – as always.
Thank you
A painting of the bridge in Malham was on our walls for many years. A lovely village when quiet.
Top photo is all a bit ‘rolling hills’, quite unlike my Yorkshire 🙂
Good one of the cove though
I know you like the hills a bit more rugged. I have a few saved up that might please you.
I’m sure if you’d lived in Bedfordshire & Cambs you’d yearn for the hills of Yorkshire 🙂
When people show images of Malham it’s always of the steep wall. The reverse view – the view out – is such a refreshing change. And what a beautiful scene, the light was perfect and the haziness in the distance holds the eye in. We have a lot of wild garlic not far from our house, the smell can get a bit pungent at times. I was amused by your mention of ‘Half Term’. Ugh! Suddenly there are twice as many people everywhere – in London, crowding the trains, filling the car parks, making noise. And small boys can’t leave home without a football to kick about. Am I becoming a curmudgeon?
A little possibly!. It iseven worse on a sunny day on the Burbage and Longshaw moors and Padley Gorge, with long lines of cars, many parked illegally where there are double white lines. However, one advantage of being retired is that your grandchildren give you advance notice of when there are school holidays and we do have the huge advantage of being able to visit hot spots in the week when it is quiet – well almost – the place is cluttered with all these retired folk in large walking groups enjoying themselves, but spoiling your preferred shot! It must take one curmudgeon to recognise another. But, the schools are back next week, so not long to wait to get out with our cameras.
I’m retired too but my wife still complains, when visiting National Trust places, that there are far too many ‘old’ people around. I point about that we are the same age as some of them but thankfully we both agree that we feel and act ‘younger] than our chronological age!
I don’t think you are. There’s just so many people about. At Malham the usual parking was full and the field opposite had been opened. I would estimate that would hold around 7-10 times the cars of the parking. By the time I got back from the walk around 4pm, that was also full. It’s becoming increasingly hard to get away from people in the towns but fortunately, a steep hill seems a pretty good cure (at least whilst I can still climb them). I don’t mind people enjoying these areas, in fact, I think its great. What I don’t like is the interruptions when I’m trying to work from people asking me to take their photo and then complaining if I ask them to wait just a moment whilst I take my shot. Now I sound really bad 😦
The interruption that really gets me is the one along the lines of “What are you taking?” when you are on a ridge overlooking a great view in gorgeous light. Then when you reply pointing out the view, which is presumably why they were also there, you either get a blank stare, as if you are slightly bonkers, or “Oh, I thought you had spotted a rare bird/animal!”. I think this puts me in the curmudgeon++ category. Any advances?
Yes, I seem to get that one as well. 🙂
It’s one of the perils of carrying a quality camera! Walking and climbing in Switzerland I frequently get asked to take pictures for other people.
I don’t mind taking the photo, it’s when they expect me to immediately stop what I’m doing to take it.
You just reminded me I need to do more in Switzerland. Last time I was there was 2012 when I walked the Haute Route.
Something else we have in common – I did the Mountaineer’s version of the Haute Route from Chamonix as far as Arolla where I unfortunately succumbed to Gastro-Enteritis and had to stop, so missed the climb to the Bertol hut and the final day’s route over the Col d’Herens into the Zermatt valley.
The Mountaineer’s version is a little too tough for me I’m afraid. I do though enjoy the overnight stays in the huts. There’s nothing like seeing a sunset or sunrise from a mountain hut. Perhaps there’s something else we had in common as well. My wife also came down with food poisoning and we had to rest up in a town near to Arolla and then ended up doing that section in reverse, walking up to Arolla. That was an amazing walk with the path in parts completely covered in butterflies. Now I want to go back!
I’ve lost count of the times we have been to Switzerland – we will be back there this summer.
Hi Robin
Glad to see the photos of Malham. The last time I was there was probably fifty years ago and all I could remember was the tarn and Malham is much more.
Cheers
Ian
Thank you. It’s a lovely place.
Very nice… the mist and light were very similar on Monday morning from the top of Mam Tor, we were up there early before the hordes…
Is it possible to get up Mam Tor before the hordes?
Dear Robin,
I’ve just watched your video on perfect prints, and know I’m being let down by the quality of my monitor – even after calibrating it with the Camera Club’s Colormunki. So the only solution is a new monitor. Do you have any recommendations regarding brands etc. My budget is only about $300 Aust. I think that’s about 170 pounds.
Any advice would be most appreciated. And thanks for your wonderful books and videos.
Best wishes, Lorraine.
Sent from Samsung tablet.