A walk across the North of England – Day 4
Ah, now that’s more like it. Brooding skies, swollen storms clouds ready to burst. We get our Kathy and Heathcliff on as we tramp across seemingly endless moors. Astonishing how it’s still possible to be so alone in a country as populous as England. The rain holds off, the sun breaks through more frequently until, as we reach the second, hillier section of today’s walk, we’re in full sun. The first section was easy going on an old mine railway, the second stage is a series of uphills and downhills that test the knees. Quarter of the way up the second ascent we pass a school group who have thrown down their rucksacks and are complaining loudly about the unfairness of gravity, school, and life in general. We assure them that these are the best years of their lives and pass on. Another broad and gorgeous expanse of moorland and we say goodbye to the North York moors and descend into the Vale of York. We cross some paddocks (with feisty bullocks) to the village of Potto for the night.
Farndale Moor, 2022, acrylic on cradled birch panel, 20 x 25 cm (8″ x 10″) Visit the gallery