Day out at Hardcastle Crags

Spent yesterday doing the Red walk at Hardcastle Crags.  Thank you to Kath my walking companion for suggesting the trip as I had forgotten what a lovely place it is.

We started our walk from the lower car park after we had walked up to the OFFICE to get ourselves a map.

The photos here are entered in the order taken on the walk so it should show how beautiful it was - well worth a visit if you are ever in the area.    The walk itself is not a difficult one but it took us 2 hours to get to the cafe at the mill (the half way point of the walk)  because I kept stopping to capture shots of the area it would probably only take half that time if you were just walking at a steady pace. The second half took about 50 mins.

I hope you enjoy this photographic record of our walk.

This is the start heading down from the car park.

Then you take a right just before this building to follow the Red walk

Beautiful autumnal colours everywhere

I had come to practice my photography skills and the river was the perfect place.

A momentary break from the river revealed this rather reptilian like tree branch.

But I was soon back to the river.

 Rivulets to be found everywhere due to the wet weather we have had lately.

Eventually I found my other hoped for subject - mushrooms!

I even tried to catch the tiny trickle in this little "cave" .

But the river was the main attraction.

I think this is my favourite of the day so far.

I really liked the colours in this newly chopped tree.

But the river was the winner.

The leaves on this rock were not being swept away by the river - how was that possible?

And then I spied these beauties!

But I think maybe this one is my favourite of the whole day.

At this point we realised that unless I stopped trying to take a photo of every step we would never reach the half way point so a pact was made " no more photos until the cafe was reached!

So after a lovely lunch at the Mill cafe we set off on the return leg of the walk - this would be quicker as we were further away from the river (but I was hoping for more mushrooms).

This shot is a look back at the mill as we started the ascent .   This was to prove rather precarious due to the wet conditions and my slippy trainers (better buy some proper boots).  I plunged to the ground desparately trying not to get mud on the camera (at which I was successful but alas my trousers were caked in mud causing a rethink on the planned visit to Ruby Shoesday in Hebden Bridge at the end of the walk)!

We finished our walk by following the vehicle track back down to the car park.  A wonderful day out. And thankfully no aches and pains this morning as a result of the walk or my tumble.