2026-feb

The weather forecast was heavy rain and 40mph winds, so we decided not to be out in that! The Dales Museum in Hawes is beautifully organised & presented, and gives an overview of how all aspects of life have changed over the centuries. A fair amount does seem to be, “What shall we do with… Read more

Tuesday 24th Robin Blackbird Curlew Oystercatcher Hen Harrier Swan Canada goose Greylag goose Little egret Pied wagtail Chaffinch Mallard Shellduck Jackdaw Crow Wood pigeon Black-headed gull Short-eared owl Tawny owl (heard) Red kite Buzzard Kestrel Grouse Pheasant Wednesday 25th Nuthatch Great spotted woodpecker Mistle thrush Blue tit Great tit Chaffinch House sparrow Read more

The forecast for the morning looked OK, with maybe rain after lunch. We headed out of the village along the beck and through the woods – plenty of snowdrops, and bluebell leaves (but no flowers yet). and wild garlic starting to show through as well. The first waterfall was a cascade down, from a gaping… Read more

The Astronomer was Dr Rob Cockcroft, a Yorkshire chap who had ended up at McMaster University in Ontario. In the end, the skies were very clear, and the moon was almost exactly half full, so we could see Jupiter, Sirius, Orion, and many more stars than we can usually see in York. He focused his… Read more

We left home around 10.30. The plan was to go to Dent for lunch, but this early in the year, nowhere was open there! So we stopped in Hawes instead, where we were spoilt for choice. So instead of exploring Dent Dale, we drove up to Semerwater and walked along its south-eastern edge, and through… Read more