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Tuesday 19 July 2011

Here be trolls.....


I had a day out recently up into the beautiful and wild scenery of the Craven area of Yorkshire, in Lower Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.  It's less than an hour's drive from Saltaire but the scenery is very different.  This is limestone country - with rocky outcrops, disappearing streams, potholes and caves.  Here is the little valley called Trollerdale that leads up to a narrow limestone gorge called Troller's Gill.  Look carefully and you can see a few walkers and people picnicking.  They need to be watchful...  Legend has it that the valley is populated by trolls who hurl rocks down on unsuspecting travellers.  The ravine is reputedly haunted by the Barghest, the terrifying ghostly black hound of Craven, said to be the inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes story, 'The Hound of the Baskervilles'.  It's a very beautiful spot but also quite isolated and it does have rather an eerie feel.  I wouldn't choose to walk up there on my own!

16 comments:

  1. I love the eerie legends surrounding this place. The hairs on my back are all standing to attention right now, whilst gazing at this scene. Another shiver has just zigzagged its way down my spine.

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  2. Looks like a peaceful place for a picnic or stroll, even with the risk of stone-throwing trolls! I would not have seen these people, had you not mentioned them, so your panorama is much wider than it appears at first glance.

    [You must be on Cloud 9 with the good family news... enjoy, enjoy...]

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  3. I didn't see any trolls when I walked up there, but I did once have a large rock thrown at me by a sheep! To be more accurate it dislodged the rock when making off up the hillside. But it goes to show that you can't be too careful in these places!

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  4. Amazing nature and informations. Have a great day, Jenny!

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  5. It has a rough beauty about it and as you say a little bit spooky.

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  6. Beautiful spot, Jenny. I love karst landscapes, even with the risks of Trolls and sinkholes. One of our former houses was slowly sinking into cavern below, fortunately for us after it had long been sold. And I love the stone clearance wall running across the valley. Jim

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  7. Sir Arthur couldn't use "The Black Hound of Craven" as it all looks so nice and sunny and cheerful and friendly. Not a bit like those cold, wet, misty southern moors.

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  8. I would definitely risk being hit from rocks thrown by trolls just to be back in Yorkshire! sigh. :-)

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  9. That's stunning countryside. You really can't beat Yorkshire can you?

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  10. Really? You won't go for a walk up there? I was going to invite you to take a hike with me. I would love to see this.

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  11. Fabulous landscape but I wouldn't go alone either!

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  12. It is lovely, but now that I've heard about all the legends, I think I would be afraid to go by myself too!

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  13. Limestone country - beautiful scenery!

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  14. I just came back from the last Harry potter's movie.. (sigh)So to read you speaking of trolls makes me scary! :o)
    But the place is so beautyful that I'd like to take the risk to visit it..

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  15. Beautiful countryside; similar to some parts of the White Peak. I love the Yorkshire Dales.

    (A girl - how exciting!!)

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  16. Oooh! My kind of place...spooky AND beautiful! ~Lili

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