My first holiday after lockdown was a week in Kettlewell which is in the heart of Wharfedale. I love Wharfedale with it’s beautifully defined valley and small villages peppered along it’s length. The views from the hillside are also spectacular as it enables one to see the dry stone wall system which hasn’t changed in over a hundred years. Keith Melling’s painting of Kettlewell and Wharfedale, (“Above Kettlewell”) from the Cam Road is a really accurate depiction of how it still looks today. It also happens to be my favourite view in the Yorkshire Dales.

At the north of the main valley the River Wharfe turns sharply west past Hubberholme and Yockenthwaite. This is a gorgeous area as the road passes right by the river and there is ample room to park and then wander about taking photographs. When the river is high it is a roiling mass as it rolls over the limestone underneath and in dry periods it is possible to see where the water has worn away the limestone into perfectly formed bowls.

I visited Langstrothdale twice as the area started to fill up with picnickers but that was fine as I was able to experience different conditions. I discovered that the water often got caught up in the limestone “bowls” and with a long exposure I was able to capture the water gently rotating. After a night of rain the water also turned the distinctive brown which enhanced the details of those limestone rocks bold enough to stick up above the surface of the river.

These are my favourite photographs from Langstrothdale.

Also See my Yorkshire Dales gallery