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Photos of the Month 2018
Elmet Farmhouse Photos of the Month: 2018
A choice selection of photos featuring views from Elmet Farmhouse at Pecket Well above Hebden Bridge and snapshots of the surrounding countryside and wildlife in and around the Upper Calder Valley
December 2018
The famous River of Mist from Elmet Farmhouse at Pecket Well above Hebden Bridge with Stoodley Pike and Heptonstall poking through the cloud on 4 December 2018
Sheep on Shackleton Hill on Christmas Eve with the converging valleys of Crimsworth Dean and Hardcastle Crags below
Slack Top and Stoodley Pike on a frosty Christmas Eve morning
Sunny winter’s day on Walshaw Moor with the purple hills of Widdop in the distance
Crimsworth Dean resplendent in the December sunshine
Grain Farm and Cross Ends in Crimsworth Dean
Lumb Falls in Crimsworth Dean in full flow after heavy rain
Near Stone Booth Farm in Crimsworth Dean
Haworth Old Road to White Hole Farm and Thurrish at the end of Crimsworth Dean
Frosty Christmas Eve views from Elmet Farmhouse at Pecket Well with pockets of mist in the valley
Christmas Eve mist in Hardcastle Crags
Frost and mist on the bracken-covered slopes of Crimsworth Dean
© Photographs copyright Lesley Jackson
November 2018
Everlasting autumn in Crimsworth Dean and Pecket Well Clough
Heptonstall and Stoodley Pike with autumnal colours in the wooded valley of Hardcastle Crags
Old Town Mill above Spring Wood in Hardcastle Crags
Looking across Hardcastle Crags from Walshaw towards Slack Heptonstall and Stoodley Pike
Path down through Hardcastle Crags from Walshaw
Looking up at Hardcastle Crags
Gibson Mill in Hardcastle Crags
View from Elmet Farmhouse at Pecket Well above Hebden Bridge on 15 November 2018
Looking along Crimsworth Dean towards Stoodley Pike from Grain Farm
View from Walshaw Moor towards Widdop
On the tops above Crimsworth Dean
Sun streaming through the clouds onto the hilltop meadows of Crimsworth Dean
Dramatic shifting winter light effects on the tops at Walshaw and Slack above Hardcastle Crags
Serene sunset at Elmet Farmhouse with Heptonstall and Stoodley Pike on the horizon on 24 November 2018
© Photographs copyright Lesley Jackson
October 2018
Dawn breaks in Hardcastle Crags singeing the rocky outcrops at Blake Dean
Frosted bracken and russet trees at Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
Fiery autumn colours in Hardcastle Crags
Sun rising over frosted bracken at Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
Alcomden Water meets Graining Water to form Hebden Water at Blake Dean
Beech leaves turning from green to amber to burnt gold
Dazzling autumn colours at Blake Dean
A blaze of colour at Blake Dean
Mellow autumn scene in Hardcastle Crags
Early morning sunshine spilling over the steep slopes of Hardcastle Crags
Graining Water just before it merges with Alcomden Water at Blake Dean
Hardcastle Crags autumn sequence
Wooded knoll with rocky outcrops, hence the name Hardcastle Crags
Autumn treescapes – aerial views from Hardcastle Crags
Footpath up to Hardcastle Crags
Bracken, moss and autumn leaves in Hardcastle Crags
Gibson Mill and autumn trees reflected in the dams at Hardcastle Crags
A carpet of beech leaves at Hardcastle Crags
Cascading waterfall at Hardcastle Crags
Messing about by the river – an autumn walk by Hebden Water through Hardcastle Crags
Tree-mendous autumn colours this year in Hardcastle Crags
Pecket Well War Memorial on Smeekin Hill above Crimsworth Dean
Autumn glory in Crimsworth Dean
Packhorse trail through Pecket Well Clough from Crimsworth Dean
Looking along Crimsworth Dean from near Grain Water bridge
View towards Blake Dean and Widdop from Walshaw Moor
Multicoloured autumn landscape from Walshaw Moor
Kestrel at Walshaw above Hardcastle Crags
Trees turning autumnal in Hardcastle Crags, Stoodley Pike on the horizon
Slack Top and Stoodley Pike from Walshaw with Hardcastle Crags below
Green sward on Shackleton Hill above the converging valleys of Hebden Dale and Crimsworth Dean
Cow doing a meet and greet near Abel Cote in Crimsworth Dean
Early morning vista from Elmet Farmhouse: autumnal tones in Pecket Well Clough, pink sky behind Stoodley Pike
Pinkish hues on the moor above Crimsworth Dean
Early morning sunshine bathing the hills above Crimsworth Dean
Looking down on Stairs from the uplands above Crimsworth Dean
Far end of Crimsworth Dean with Thurrish to the left, White Hole Farm to the right
Early mist morning clearing in Crimsworth Dean
Hazy autumn light in Crimsworth Dean with Stoodley Pike on the horizon
Autumn trees lining Crimsworth Dean Beck
Fiery bracken on the ascent from Lumb Falls in Crimsworth Dean
Glorious autumn colours at Wheat Ing in Crimsworth Dean
Autumn colours in Crimsworth Dean
Late afternoon sunshine splashing the hilltops above Crimsworth Dean
Fungi in Crimsworth Dean
Views across Hardcastle Crags towards Stoodley Pike on a bright autumn day
The snaking wooded valley of Hardcastle Crags
Stepping stones in Hardcastle Crags
An autumn stroll through Hardcastle Crags with Hebden Water racing through Hebden Dale
Crescent moon rising over Stoodley Pike
Autumn is golden at Elmet Farmhouse – looking across the meadow towards Hardcastle Crags with Heptonstall and Stoodley Pike on the horizon
Elmet Farmhouse bathed in autumn sunshine
© Photographs copyright Lesley Jackson
September 2018
Moorland ablaze, aesthetically rather than literally, on Wadsworth Moor above Pecket Well
The last of the heather and the first of the autumn hues on Wadsworth Moor with Stoodley Pike on the far horizon
Stoodley Pike and Heptonstall from Elmet Farmhouse at Pecket Well above Hebden Bridge, with Hardcastle Crags in the valley below
Early morning sunshine picking up the purple hues around Stoodley Pike on Langfield Edge
The ancient village of Heptonstall illuminated by the early autumn light
The tranquil valley of Luddenden Dean
Luddenden Dean in the September sunshine
Gatekeepers’ lodges from the Castle Carr estate in Luddenden Dean
Handloom weavers cottage in the ancient hamlet of Wainstalls above Luddenden Dean
Two baby tigers on the loose above Wainstalls at Fly! Kite Festival
Aquatic creatures take to the skies at Fly! Kite Festival on the tops above Luddenden Dean
Deep sea diver in a flap at Fly! Kite Festival
Surreal and saucy – stockinged legs on the loose above Wainstalls
Wallace and Gromit join in the fun at at Fly! Kite Festival
Squid’s in- cruising above the hilltop meadow at Fly! Kite Festival
A trio of snakes crusing above Wainstalls at Fly! Kite Festival
Hardcastle Crags, the National Trust estate running through Hebden Dale
Hebden Water, the river running through Hardcastle Crags to Hebden Bridge
One of three footbridges crisscrossing Hebden Water in Hardcastle Crags
Trees spilling over the river banks in Hardcastle Crags
A canopy of green in the beautiful wooded valley of Hardcastle Crags
Bracken on the turn in Hardcastle Crags
Hardcastle Crags is internationally renowned for its fungi
The gorge-like valley of Hardcastle Crags provides the perfect breeding ground for fungi
Late September and October are the best time for a fungi foray in Hardcastle Crags
Colourful and characterful fungi sprouting up everywhere in Hardcastle Crags
Bright cloud bubbling up above the foaming woodland of Hardcastle Crags
The hilltop village of Heptonstall directly opposite Elmet Farmhouse at Pecket Well
Stoodley Pike lording it over the Upper Calder Valley
Bucolic view along Crimsworth Dean with Stoodley Pike in the distance
Crimsworth Dean from Grain Farm
Early morning sun spilling over the steep sloping meadows of Grain Farm in Crimsworth Dean
Looking towards Stairs at the far end of Crimsworth Dean
Looking towards Hardcastle Crags and Stoodley Pike along Crimsworth Dean
Crimsworth Dean
September sunshine on the sensuous contours of Crimsworth Dean
Looking across to Slack Top across Hardcastle Crags
Looking down on the dense woodland of Hardcastle Crags
Hardcastle Crags. Slack Heptonstall and Stoodley Pike
Sheep grazing on the hilltop meadows above Hardcastle Crags
Stoodley Pike from Shackleton Hill
Mown hay meadows on the tops above Hardcastle Crags
Late silaging at Shackleton to compensate for the lack of hay during the long hot summer
Haymaking above Hardcastle Crags
Vibrant green hilltop meadows at Shackleton with Stoodley Pike in the distance
The chimney of Old Town Mill above the steep wooded slopes of Crimsworth Dean
View from Shackleton Hill, where Crimsworth Dean merges with Hebden Dale
View along Crimsworth Dean from Shackleton Hill
Woodland and meadows in Crimsworth Dean
Old Town Mill on the hilltop at Wadsworth with Crimsworth Dean in the valley below
Farms strung along the shoulder of the hills in Crimsworth Dean
Augurs of autumn below Widdop Gate in Hardcastle Crags
Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
View towards Blake Dean from Widdop Gate
The precipitous slopes of Hardcastle Crags at Widdop Gate
Early morning on Wadsworth Moor
Rocky outcrops on Limers Gate on Wadsworth Moor above Pecket Well
View across the Upper Calder Valley from Wadsworth Moor towards Stoodley Pike
© Photographphs copyright Lesley Jackson
August 2018
Dramatic rocky outcrops on Great Edge above Widdop
Widdop Reservoir from Great Edge
Gritstone outcrops emerging from the heather at Widdop
On the rocks at Great Edge above Widdop Reservoir
Upturned rocks at Great Edge
Widdop Reservoir from Great Edge with the road snaking past
Weathered boulders at Great Edge
An elemental landscape sculpted by the weather at Great Edge
Great Edge above Widdop Reservoir
View from Great Edge looking over the moor towards Blake Dean and Hardcastle Crags
Looking back along Great Edge with Widdop Reservoir below
Gritstone rocks scattered along Great Edge above Widdop Reservoir
Low tide at Widdop Reservoir after the prolonged summer drought
Bracken, rocks, heather moorland and high hilltop meadows at Widdop
A blade of gritstone cutting through the heather on Widdop Moor
The beach at Widdop Reservoir exposed after a summer of minimal rainfall
Vibrant purple heather on Walshaw Moor above Hardcastle Crags
Heather-clad clough high up on Walshaw Moor
Heather moorland at Walshaw with Hardcastle Crags in the valley below
Roe deer high up on the moor between Crimsworth Dean and Walshaw
A stag and a hind silhouetted against the skyline
Roe deer on Walshaw Moor
View over the heather on Walshaw Moor
Crimsworth Dean looking towards Stoodley Pike
Heptonstall Church peeping over the hill at the far end of Crimsworth Dean
View along Crimsworth Dean from Grain Farm
Stoodley Pike from Crimsworth Dean
Roe deer in Crimsworth Dean
Much-needed rain greening up the hilltop meadows at Pecket Well, triggering swathes of mist in Hardcastle Crags
Roe deer on Wadsworth Moor
Hare in field above Pecket Well
The last of this season’s lapwings
© Photographs copyright Lesley Jackson
July 2018
Barn Owl on one of his regular dusk hunting missions around Pecket Well
The hay meadows at Elmet Farmhouse provide a rich hunting ground
Field mice and voles offer rich pickings for the Barn Owl, who takes them back to the nest and feed his chicks
July was incredibly dry so the hay meadow at Elmet Farmhouse turned whiter and whiter each day
Kestrel in Crimsworth Dean
Buzzard riding the thermals over Crimsworth Dean
Lapwing chick in Crimsworth Dean, the last of this year’s fledglings
Curlew hidden among the long grass in Crimsworth Dean
Curlew hanging out with the sheep in Crimsworth Dean, the long grass provides cover
View along Hebden Dale and Hardcastle Crags towards Hebden Bridge from Pecket Well War Memorial on Smeekin Hill
Heptonstall and Stoodley Pike from Pecket Well War Memorial during this summer’s drought
Crimsworth Dean looking incredibly parched during the long hot dry summer
Bleached meadows above the green wooded valley of Crimsworth Dean
Sheep sheltering from the sun under a tree at Grain Farm in Crimsworth Dean
Willow warbler catches an insect among the bracken in Crimsworth Dean
Willow warbler with an insect in its beak in Crimsworth Dean
Meadow pipits are ubiquitous throughout the area, particularly in Crimsworth Dean
Meadow pipits are often seen on the high meadows and up on the moorland alongside the skylarks
Meadow pipit with a juicy morsel
Another idyllic summer evening at Elmet Farmhouse, one of many this year
The evening light from the west bathing the hay meadow and spilling over the hills
Highland cattle in Pecket Well – alarming horns but tranquil temperament
Highland cattle near Sprutts Farm in Pecket Well, overlooking Pecket Well War Memorial and Hardcastle Crags
Mini-beasts: Highland cattle calves
Pair of Herdwick sheep on Deer Stones Edge above Pecket Well
A rare sighting of a Redpoll at Colden
© Photographs copyright Lesley Jackson
June 2018
Little Owl giving me the hard stare near Grain Farm in Crimsworth Dean
Ahem, are you looking at me?
Little owls frequent this particular spot below Cross Ends in Crimsworth Dean and even have a cottage named after them
On the wire – kestrel suveying its hunting grounds in Crimsworth Dean
Golden plover on the moor above Crimsworth Dean
Golden plover amongst the bog cotton
Bog cotton near the Haworth Old Road at Stairs above Crimsworth Dean, a haven for Golden Plovers
Golden plovers amongst the bog cotton in the early morning sunshine
Crimsworth Dean is Curlew Country
Curlew in fine voice in Crimsworth Dean
Curlew making a hue and cry
Curlew on a mission, striding through the hilltop meadow at Thurrish above Crimsworth Dean
Oystercatcher stepping out in Crimsworth Dean
Lapwing near Deer Stones Edge above Pecket Well
Recently fledged lapwing chick with small crest
Female pheasant on the moorland near White Hole Farm above Crimsworth Dean
Crimsworth Dean resplendent in the early morning sunshine
Foxgloves in Crimsworth Dean – who needs a garden?
The sensuous contours of Crimsworth Dean – a valley that never disappoints
Crimsworth Dean and the uplands beyond
Perfect end to the day at Elmet Farmhouse – Stoodley Pike and Heptonstall on the horizon
Early evening sunshine on the hay meadow at Elmet Farmhouse in Pecket Well
Looking across the fields from Elmet Farmhouse towards Pecket Well War Memorial and Hardcastle Crags
Hebden Water running through Hardcastle Crags towards Blake Dean
Climbing up the steps from Blake Dean through the bracken
Blake Dean at the far end of the National Trust estate of Hardcastle Crags
Looking down on Hebden Water from Widdop Gate towards the wooded section of Hardcastle Crags
Blake Dean from Widdop Gate at midsummer
‘To the Crags’ – the rocky outcrops on the top of wooded knolls that give Hardcastle Crags its name
Gibson Mill in Hardcastle Crags
Gibson Mill reflected in the millpond
Beech grove in Hardcastle Crags
Footbridge crossing Hebden Water in Hardcastle Crags
Hebden Water
Bridges crisscross the river in Hardcastle Crags
Although the river levels are low this summer, these bridges have been regularly washed by floods in the past
Hardcastle Crags in all its verdant summer glory
Bracken-covered slopes of Hardcastle Crags near Widdop Gate
Two small reservoirs on the tops above Luddenden Dean
Sun glistening on the water in the sunken reservoir above Luddenden Dean, a wildlife oasis
Looking down on Crimsworth Dean from High Greave
Hay meadows at Thurrish Farm above Crimsworth Dean
Crimsworth Dean from near Grain Water Bridge
Spring view along Crimsworth Dean towards Stoodley Pike
Big skies above Grain Farm and Cross Ends in Crimsworth Dean
Meadow pipit with a juicy morsel in Crimsworth Dean
Looking up through the hay meadow towards Elmet Farmhouse in early June
Cottage garden at Elmet Farmhouse in June
A constellation of candelabra primulas in the garden at Elmet Farmhouse – pinky orange Harlow Carr just love it here!
Eating out at altitude – dining room with a view at Elmet Farmhouse
Hay meadow at Elmet Farmhouse in peak condition at the end of June
Bleached fields near Heptonstall as the drought starts to take hold
Stoodley Pike and Heptonstall from Pecket Well, with Elmet Farmhouse hay meadow looking more like a field of wheat in the foreground
Lapwings come to breed and rear their chicks on the uplands above Hebden Bridge each year
June is the best time to see lapwings at close quarters as the fledgling chicks are still on the ground
Lapwings abound on the fringes of the moor above valleys such as Crimsworth Dean
Golden plovers are another of the ground-nesting birds that return to the area each year to breed
It’s only when you see them close up that you can admire thee golden plumage that gives these plovers their name
Other coastal birds such as oystercatchers also head inland to the Pennine moors to breed
Bog cotton near Limers Gate on Wadsworth Moor
As its name suggests, bog cotton thrives on the blanket bog on the moor
Curlew among the bog cotton on Wadsworth Moor, another of the ground-nesting birds that favours this area to breed
Snipe at Wilcock Dam about Pecket Well, with its extraordinarily long beak
Lapwing in Crimsworth Dean
Curlew perched on a wall in Crimsworth Dean
A remarkably cooperative curlew posing in Crimsworth Dean
The early morning light and blue sky make for good photographs
The curlew’s long curved beak is ideal for digging into the ground for worms
Curlew at Thurrish, one of the highest farms in Crimsworth Dean
Curlew in the buttercup meadow at Thurrish in Crimsworth Dean
Juvenile pied wagtail near White Hole Farm in Crimsworth Dean
Goldfinch in Pecket Well
Greenfinch in Pecket Well
One of the many warm sunny evenings we enjoyed this year at Elmet Farmhouse
Beautiful soft evening sunshine on the hay meadow at Elmet Farmhouse with Heptonstall and Stoodley Pike in the distance beyond Hardcastle Crags
Roe deer kid born in the field at Elmet Farmhouse at the end of the May, growing fast, changing colour and becoming more independent during June
River of mist at Elmet Farmhouse on 10 June 2018
The swirling mist shifts around in the valley minute by minute, as this photographic sequence shows
Heptonstall and Stoodley Pike hovering above the river of mist
Sun trying to break through, creating a pinkish glow
The view framed by plants in the garden
An atmospheric view of Heptonstall church
Homage to Fay Godwin’s photograph of Heptonstall on the cover of Ted Hughes’s Remains of Elmet
The bigger picture, taking in Pecket Well War Memorial as well as Heptonstall and Stoodley Pike
View from Elmet Farmhouse with cows in the foreground and a river of mist in Hardcastle Crags below Pecket Well War Memorial
Lumb Bank, an 18th century millowner’s house, once owned by Ted Hughes, now the Yorkshire base for the Arvon Foundation
Arched recesses for beehives built into the hillside below stables at Lumb Bank in Colden Clough
© Photographs copyright Lesley Jackson
May 2018
Bluebellerama!
A sequence of photos taken in Hardcastle Crags during May
…when the bluebells were at their peak
This year the bluebell season was short but sweet…
The start of the bluebell season was delayed by the long winter…
… and the length of the bluebell season was curtailed by the extraordinarily hot dry spring
Bluebells amongst the ferns
The dramatic steep wooded valley of Hardcastle Crags in spring
Bluebells aboung on the slippery slopes of Hebden Dale (aka Hardcastle Crags)
Heavenly walkway through the bluebells in Hardcastle Crags
Narrow path through the bluebells on the precarious upper slopes of Hardcastle Crags
It’s the ground that’s sloping, not the camera!
Intoxicating aroma and good enough to eat
A deep pile carpet of bluebells in Hardcastle Crags
Bluebells cascading down the hillside in Hardcastle Crags
Bluebells and stitchwort, the perfect combination
Three views of Stoodley Pike, here with bog cotton in the foreground
You can tell it’s a dry spring – look at this sandy path along the ridge to Stoodley Pike
Blue skies behind Stoodley Pike – the perfect day for an ascent with the reward of magnificent views
Pecket Well Mill across a buttercup meadow
Wild flower meadow in Pecket Well with red clover in the foreground
Green, yellow and white – the multi-coloured meadows of Pecket Well
Wild flower meadow with abundant clover below Purprise Farm on the slopes of Crimsworth Dean
Highland cattle near Sprutts Farm in Pecket Well
View from above Pecket Well village towards War Memorial and Hardcastle Crags
Hilltop hay meadows full of buttercups at Pecket Well with Heptonstall beyond
18th century Elmet Farmhouse with peonies and chaerophyllum in the foreground
Cottage garden in full bloom at Elmet Farmhouse at the end of May with irises and aquilegia
Harlow Carr hybrid candelabra primula coming into flower in the garden at Elmet Farmhouse
Idyllic early evening scene at Elmet Farmhouse in Pecket Well with roe deer in hay meadow
Watchful roe deer hind amongst the saplings at the bottom of the field in front of Elmet Farmhouse
Roe deer hind surveying us from the bottom of the meadow at Elmet Farmhouse, having just given birth to triplets, which she doesn’t want us to find
New-born roe deer kid with beautiful markings no bigger than a kitten, curled up in long grass at the bottom of the field at Elmet Farmhouse
We thought there was only one kid but we later discovered that there were three!
The proud (and protective) mother of the infant roe deer above
Watchful roe deer hind in the meadow at Elmet Farmhouse
Roe deer hind with early evening sunshine on the meadow at Elmet Farmhouse
Triple take – Pecket Well War Memorial on Smeekin Hill in the foreground, Heptonstall Church on horizon and Stoodley Pike floating in the mist
Looking over a buttercup meadow towards Old Town
Disembodied mill chimneys near Lumb Bank in Colden Clough
Stoodley Pike from across the Calder Valley near Blackshaw Head
Stile above Todmorden
Stone-paved causeway through the bilberries and heather above Todmorden
Early morning sunshine in Crimsworth Dean
A perfect spring morning in Crimsworth Dean
Lambs sunning themselves on the steep slopes of Crimsworth Dean
Meadow pipit in Hardcastle Crags
Bridge over Hebden Water in Hardcastle Crags
Cliff-like banks in the river gorge in the heart of Hardcastle Crags
Newly-unfurled leaves on the trees on the riverbank in Hardcastle Crags
Looking over Hardcastle Crags from the Widdop Road
Golden meadow by Pecket Well Mill, just across the road from Elmet Farmhouse
Cottage garden in the spring at Elmet Farmhouse
Geums in the cottage garden at Elmet Farmhouse
Chaerophyllum thrives in the cottage garden at Elmet Farmhouse
Stoodley stoat, spotted on the slopes of Stoodley Pike
Although it’s early May, he’s still wearing his white bib and tucker as it’s been a long hard winter
Stoodley Pike from Mankinholes
Blue skies over Stoodley Pike – spring has finally sprung
Gadding about at Gaddings – the beach in the corner of the hilltop reservoir
Gaddings Dam, hidden away on top of the moor above Todmorden
May Bank Holiday – blue skies reflected in the reservoir
Stoodley Pike just visible on the horizon across Gaddings Dam
Rushes on the edge of Gaddings Dam
Stoodley Pike on the skyline on beautiful day in early May
Meadow pipit on Wadsworth Moor above Elmet Farmhouse
Glorious early spring view from Elmet Farmhouse at Pecket Well with the leaves just coming out on the trees in Pecket Well Clough and Hardcastle Crags
Swaledale ewe and lambs at Plumpton Farm in Pecket Well
A cosy nook for two Swaledale lambs
The toad he went a-courting
New foliage unfurling on the trees below Walshaw in Hardcastle Crags
View across Hardcastle Crags with Slack Heptonstall on the ridge and Stoodley Pike on the horizon
Hazy May day in Crimsworth Dean with Old Town Mill chimney on the hillside
The first bluebells of the season unfurling in Hardcastle Crags
Bluebells taking hold in Hardcastle Crags
A sea of bluebells in Hardcastle Crags
Beech trees in Crimsworth Dean
A river of ramsons in Crimsworth Dean
Or a gorge of wild garlic, take your pick
Crimsworth Dean, looking towards Midgehole
Fifty shades of green on Shackleton Hill
Tiptoe through the bluebells in Crimsworth Dean
Bluebells on the steep slopes of Hardcastle Crags
Cuckoo flower in Crimsworth Dean
A flotilla of ducklings in one of the dams in Crimsworth Dean
The first cut: early haymaking in Crimsworth Dean
© Photos copyright Lesley Jackson and Ian Fishwick
April 2018
Sun burning off the early morning mist in Crimsworth Dean
Percy the Pheasant on the garden wall at Elmet Farmhouse
Percy’s handsome plumage
Blue skies on a cold frosty morning in Crimsworth Dean
Sheep in Crimsworth Dean
Icy wall in Crimsworth Dean
Crimsworth Dean on a crisp April morning
Valley slopes below Grain Farm in Crimsworth Dean
Ice-coated dry stone wall in Crimsworth Dean
Winter meets spring: frost-coated green meadows
Long shadows cast by a leafless tree in Crimsworth Dean
Snow-capped Stoodley Pike from Crimsworth Dean
Hungry sheep chasing farmer delivering fodder in Crimsworth Dean
Crimsworth Dean with Grain Farm in the foreground and Stoodley Pike on the horizon
Pied wagtail in Crimsworth Dean
New-born lamb in Crimsworth Dean 18 April 2018
Digging in the dugs with their tails wagging behind them
Pooped, one and all!
Blue tit heralding the spring with a good old sing!
Pecket Well blue tit
Stoodley Pike from Wadsworth Moor with early morning mist in the Calder Valley
Skylark with crest, all-pervasive on the moors above Elmet Farmhouse but almost impossible to photograph
Formation lambs at Colden
More of a free-for-all at Colden
New-born lambs at Colden, all present and correct
Twins snuggling up together in Crimsworth Dean
‘I’m all ears!’ Curious lamb at Grain Farm in Crimsworth Dean
Swaledale lambs literally tucking in near Hilltop Farm at Pecket Well
New-born Swaledale lamb in Pecket Well
‘Just stretching my legs’
Billy Goat Gruff in Crimsworth Dean
Oystercatcher in Crimsworth Dean, dirty beak belies a recent spell of digging
Top o’ the world- Big skies on the tops above Crimsworth Dean
From moor to meadow – no mistaking the division with the shift in colour
Bright skies and skudding clouds on the path over to Walshaw from Crimsworth Dean
Yorkshire palette in April: bright green hilltop meadow and bleached tussocky moorland
Crimsworth Dean lambs near White Hole Farm
Mother and child standing their ground in Crimsworth Dean
New-born twins, still a bit wrinkly until their creases drop out
© Photos copyright Lesley Jackson and Ian Fishwick
March 2018
Well, in case you hadn’t noticed, it’s been snowy!
Very snowy!
These are the snowdrifts just outside the door…
And these are the drifts around one of the doorways
The culprit! Also known as The Beast from the East!
Walking has been somewhat challenging as many pathways were blocked…
But it was a bit more sheltered under the trees
This was the scene at Crimsworth Beck, just along from Midgehole
Hidden beneath the snow and ice is a dam in Crimsworth Dean
View from packhorse bridge at Wheat Ing in Crimsworth Dean
Looking along the river downstream in Crimsworth Dean
As well as the snow, there were some stupendous icicles
Crimsworth Dean near the converegence with Hardcastle Crags
Deep snow drifts against the dry stone walls in Pecket Well
Footpath through the top field at Elmet Farmhouse
Snowy wallscape
Pecket Well War Memorial with yet another coating of snow
Kittling Bridge in Pecket Well Clough
Packhorse track over Kittling Bridge in Pecket Well Clough
Atmospheric misty morning looking downstream in Pecket Well Clough
The dramatic view from Elmet Farmhouse at Pecket Well
Sun breaking through over Heptonstall and Stoodley Pike
Sunlight bouncing off the snow-capped Pennine hills
Finally a thaw. Up on the tops near White Hole Farm above Crimsworth Dean
Ruined barn on the fringes of the moor, looking towards Stairs in Crimsworth Dean
Amidst all the snow, the lapwings are settling into their spring quarters in Crimsworth Dean
© Photographs copyright Lesley Jackson
February 2018
View from Elmet Farmhouse at Pecket Well on a snowy February morning with Heptonstall and Stoodley Pike on the horizon
Sunrise over Stoodley Pike
Dappled pink early morning sun on the snowy ridge of Deer Stones Edge above Pecket Well
Snowy moorland below Limers Gate
Sunrise at High Brown Knoll on Limers Gate above Pecket Well
Gorple Reservoirs from Wadsworth Moor at sunrise
Wilcock Dam above Pecket Well Mill
Stoodley Pike and Heptonstall from Wadsworth Moor above Pecket Well
Pecket Well War Memorial just poking up above the trees from across the fields at Elmet Farmhouse
Elmet Farmhouse with snowy fields and vivid blue sky
View from Elmet Farmhouse over the fields towards Hardcastle Crags, Heptonstall and Stoodley Pike
The same view but a wider panorama, incorporating Pecket Well War Memorial on Smeekin Hill on the right
Spoilt for choice with the spectacular views of snow-capped Pennine hills from Elmet Farmhouse this month
The village of Heptonstall perched on the hilltop opposite Elmet Farmhouse
Stoodley Pike towering over the Calder Valley, as seen from Elmet Farmhouse
Frosty morning in Crimsworth Dean near Grain Water Bridge
Pair of trees in Crimsworth Dean casting spider’s web shadows
Drystone walls running up the snowy hillside near Stoodley Pike with moody skies
Triple whammy: Pecket Well War Memorial echoing the obelisk form of Stoodley Pike with Heptonstall sandwiched in between
Frozen bullrushes on dam in Crimsworth Dean
Sun hitting the steep snowy hillside near Wheat Ing in Crimsworth Dean
A beautifully crafted drystone wall running up the hillside in Crimsworth Dean
A dusting of snow in Crimsworth Dean
Late winter sunshine bouncing off the meadows in Crimsworth Dean
Grain Farm in Crimsworth Dean with heather moorland above
Drystone walls and leafless trees at Grain Farm in Crimsworth Dean
On the tops above Walshaw looking towards Blake Dean at the head of Hardcastle Crags
Gorple and Widdop Reservoirs beyond Blake Dean at the far end of Hardcastle Crags
A row of leafless trees heralding the approach to Walshaw Lodge above Hardcastle Crags
Looking across Hardcastle Crags from Walshaw with Slack Heptonstall on the ridge and Stoodley Pike beyond
Hazy February afternoon in Crimsworth Dean, looking along the valley towards Stoodley Pike
Pair of leafless trees at Grain Farm in Crimsworth Dean
Big sky above the three reservoirs at Walshaw Dean
Snowy hillside on the tops above Hebden Bridge
Sunset from Elmet Farmhouse at Pecket Well with Hardcastle Crags in the valley and Heptonstall and Stoodley Pike on the far hilltops – 27 February 2018
© Photographs copyright Lesley Jackson
January 2018
View from Elmet Farmhouse at Pecket Well
View from Elmet Farmhouse at Pecket Well with Stoodley Pike and Heptonstall Church on the horizon
Crimsworth Dean on a frosty January morning
Grain Farm and Cross Ends Farm in Crimsworth Dean
View from Elmet Farmhouse at Pecket Well with sun streaming through the clouds over Heptonstall
The village of Hpetonstall from Pecket Well
Expectant ewes on Shackleton Hill in Hardcastle Crags
Bracken-covered slopes of Hardcastle Crags at Blake Dean
Roe deer in Crimsworth Dean
Crimsworth Dean above Midgehole
Winter sunshine on Shackleton Hill from Crimsworth Dean
View along Crimsworth Dean near Grain Water Bridge
Afternoon sunshine in Crimsworth Dean – still full of colour even in the middle of winter
Bracken in Crimsworth Dean near Lumb Falls
© Photographs copyright Lesley Jackson
Yorkshire Holiday Cottage
Elmet Farmhouse Holiday Cottage – Hebden Bridge – Haworth – Yorkshire Dales
Breathtaking Views, Inspiring Interiors, Yorkshire at its Finest
Looking for a special place to stay in Yorkshire?
Elmet Farmhouse is a holiday cottage like no other, a truly magical place to stay in one of the most beautiful corners of Yorkshire. So hilly it makes your ears pop!
Perched on a hill above the picturesque town of Hebden Bridge, not far from Haworth, Elmet Farmhouse is the perfect base for exploring the Yorkshire Dales. Surrounded by hay meadows in the hilltop village of Pecket Well, the cottage has breathtaking views across the steep wooded valley of Hardcastle Crags towards the ancient village of Heptonstall. With its bluebell woods, buttercup meadows and rolling heather moors, this is a unique corner of Yorkshire – the landscape that inspired the Brontë sisters and poet Ted Hughes.
If you love the countryside and the great outdoors, you’ll be in your element at Elmet Farmhouse. Set in a walkers’ paradise, the Pennine Way and the Yorkshire Dales are literally on your doorstep. There are fantastic walks in every direction along riverside paths, moorland tracks and stone-paved packhorse trails. With pheasants, deer and owls in our meadows, sheep, cattle and ponies grazing in the neighbouring fields, and curlews and lapwings nesting up on ‘the tops’, Elmet Farmhouse offers a rural idyll in a dramatic landscape which is a haven for wildlife.
Finalist in Welcome to Yorkshire’s White Rose Awards, Elmet Farmhouse is a pure delight. A handsome 18th-century yeoman clothier’s house, it has stone mullion windows, a huge carved stone fireplace and a cosy wood-burning stove. Beautifully furnished and exquisitely decorated, the farmhouse has a wonderful atmosphere. Scandinavian furniture, Midcentury Modern textiles and lovely lamps and wallpapers by local designer Hannah Nunn are just a few of the design delights in store.
With 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, Elmet Farmhouse accommodates 6 people very comfortably so it’s ideal for families and groups of friends. The spacious lounge and roomy farmhouse kitchen have ample seating and the whole house is very well equipped. As well as WiFi, TV, DVD, washing machine and dishwasher, there are maps, walks leaflets and vintage games.
Elmet’s pretty cottage garden brimming with flowers is a wonderful place to sit out and enjoy the fabulous views. There are two outdoor dining areas overlooking beautiful wildflower meadows next to the vegetable garden and historic barn, with plenty of space for children to run around.
Hebden Bridge
The vibrant town of Hebden Bridge is just two miles away down in the valley. Voted Best Small Market Town in the Great British High Street Awards, Hebden Bridge is renowned for its quirky independent shops and its distinctive double-decker terraced houses clinging to the hills. Hebden Bridge has butchers, bakers and designer-makers, as well as a 1920s cinema and numerous cafes and pubs.
Hardcastle Crags
The woodland paradise of Hardcastle Crags – one of the jewels in the National Trust’s crown – is within easy walking distance. You can hike to Stoodley Pike or Top Withins (Wuthering Heights) or explore the intriguing hidden valleys of Crimsworth Dean and Luddenden Dean. The nearby village of Heptonstall with its ruined 13th century church, handloom weavers’ cottages and octagonal Methodist chapel is another fascinating place to explore.
Heptonstall
Haworth
Haworth, where the Brontë sisters wrote their famous novels, is a short scenic drive or hike over the moor. As well as being the perfect base for exploring Brontë Country, Elmet Farmhouse is within easy reach of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, including Wharfedale, Bolton Abbey, Gordale Scar and Malham Cove.
Yorkshire Dales
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltaire, the magnificent newly-restored Piece Hall in Halifax, the elegant spa towns of Ilkley and Harrogate, the award-winning Hepworth Museum and Yorkshire Sculpture Park and the vibrant cities of Leeds and York are all within range so there are lots of interesting things to do.
Saltaire
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Elmet Farmhouse sleeps 6 Sorry, no dogs
Click here for Availability and Prices
Email: enquiries@elmetfarmhouse.co.uk Tel: 01422 842026 Mob: 07910 075952
Walk on the Wild Side at Widdop
Walking on the Wild Side at Widdop
Two hikes near Widdop above Hardcastle Crags in mid August with the heather in full bloom.
First walk along Great Edge, the ridge above Widdop Reservoir, early one sunny morning. Tramping through the heather via a series of rocky outcrops known variously as Slack Stones, Raven Stones and The Scout that lead up to Great Edge. Beyond, a sea of heather on Widdop Moor, sliced through in the distance by the blade-like rocks of Dove Stones.
Returning along a bridlepath by the shores of Widdop Reservoir. The low water levels revealing sand and rocks give the impression of a beach. Looming above, the sheer cliffs below Great Edge. Very few humans, just a solitary buzzard and a few skylarks.
Second walk starting at Widdop Gate and climbing up to Gorple Lower Reservoir via Low Moor and King Common Rough, looking down on the narrow gorge of Graining Water. Ascending over the tussocky slopes of Flask to Cludders Slack, a fine vantage point high up above Widdop Reservoir at 390 metres, with dramatic views towards Great Edge.
Circling the shores of Widdop Reservoir, then cutting across to Alcomden Water and along to Blake Dean at the top end of Hardcastle Crags. A blustery afternoon which started out with dark brooding skies but culminated in bright warm sunshine. Captivating light effects on the purple hills and the steep lush heather-covered slopes of Blake Dean.
© Photos copyright Lesley Jackson and Ian Fishwick