A MALHAMDALE TALE
When we think of Malhamdale, most of us think of the glorious and famous Malham Cove. Almost 80 metres high, this incredible limestone cliff is mesmerising; and the views from the top are breath taking! With Malham Beck eerily emerging at its base it has a magical, other-worldly quality.
But I quickly decided not to paint the Cove to represent Malhamdale; it felt too obvious and dominating and didn’t seem to represent the Dale as a whole, as per my Quest.
And it has already been painted by many other excellent artists! My recent favourite being Kerry J Stoker’s depiction shown here and available from her website...
I began searching the map for other views, and headed to the hamlet of Kirkby Malham hoping that the footpaths radiating from there would offer slightly elevated views of the whole Dale.
It was a lucky choice and I found much more than I bargained for: a perfect view and an intriguing tale about Bill Bryson!
This famous writer (whose work I very much enjoy) lived in Kirkby Malham for quite some time, it was here he wrote Notes From a Small Island, a book which revels in the fabulous quirkiness of England. With my map flapping in the breeze I was looking for the start of a path: the right path would take me out of the village, over a stream, through some trees and up onto a nearby field. A local resident was walking his dog and asked if he could help…
To my amazement, he began telling the tale of Bill Bryson’s time nearby, pointing out the house he lived in, explaining what he was writing at the time, describing his favourite walks. It turned out Bryson’s most favourite was up the very path I was trying to find!
On the final pages of Notes From a Small Island, Bryson describes how a particular view helps him realise how much he loves England, and Yorkshire, and the quirkiness of our country. He declares how he loves ‘all of it’.
But he is taking artistic licence! The view he describes is indeed of Malhamdale, the distant fells and the rolling fields, and includes the church tower; but he implies that all of this can be seen from the nearby lane to Settle. Wherever you stop on that lane, you cannot see the church tower! I later tried by driving up and down the lane several times but to no avail. My newly found friendly resident had explained: Bryson is in fact describing the view from the field path: his favourite view.
I struck out to find it, and within minutes in was laid out in front of me.
It is magnificent. Malham Cove is tucked out of sight to the left: because it doesn’t distract us, we can drink in all the beautifulness of this glorious place. Distant fells draw the eye, shaped by the familiar entrance to Gordale Scar. Groups of trees below indicate the location of Janet’s Foss. Fabulous green fields roll in every direction; clusters of trees, walls and tracks blend in wonderful synergy.
I wait for the clouds to move, shadows glide across the scene. My mind soaks it in, my camera clicks madly
I know I will strive to capture the exact contours of those fells, the exact position of the church tower; I expect I will move the track a little, I might reduce the number of trees, I might augment the pools of light….
I certainly agree with Bryson and his use of a bit of artistic licence; but I don’t need to alter much. This view is magnificent, the composition is offered to me on a plate. I finish my walk and find no better view; I have been lucky indeed, I have already seen ‘All Of It’.
‘ALL OF IT’.
(available as a fine art print in bespoke sizes as well as a mini-print! See my website for more details)