Brimham Rocks

We’ve had quite a weekend.  Our vaguely organised daily lives, with plenty of chances to stand and stare, or at least sit down with a cup of coffee and the paper have been shot to pieces by the arrival, for two days only, of our twin nine-year old grandsons, Alex and Ben.

We had a busy Saturday, full of pancakes, playgrounds, and Ripon’s Prison and Police Museum (recommended).  But the highlight of the day was Brimham Rocks.P1150790

It’s an extraordinary place.  There, slap-bang in the middle of the rolling and verdant Yorkshire Dales, is a 30 acre fantastical landscape.  Dry-stone walled fields and charming villages are suddenly replaced by an odd collection of weird and wonderful shaped rocks.  Brimham Rocks.  These are formed from millstone grit: glaciation, wind and rain have eroded them into extraordinary formations, pierced by holes, balancing apparently precariously, or stacked into tottering towers.  Geologists study them, rock climbers scramble up them, but above all, families come to let their children become impromptu explorers, mountaineers and adventurers of every kind.

We’ve only chosen quiet times to visit here in the past, but with Alex and Ben, we had no choice,  We wanted to take them there, so a brisk and breezy Saturday slap-bang in the middle of the school holidays it was. The car park was overflowing .  Oh dear.

But it was fine.  The space is big enough to provide room for all.  And it was fun to be amongst children from the smallest toddler to the tallest and lankiest of teenagers, all having an equally good time: all exploring, all testing themselves physically, weaving their own adventures.

Alex and Ben take a pause at Brimham Rocks
Alex and Ben take a pause at Brimham Rocks

And besides, we didn’t come home empty-handed.  August is bilberry season.  Alex and Ben, particularly Ben, rose to the challenge of stripping the small and rather hidden fruits, becoming ever more purple as time passed.  Teeth turned blue, hands indelibly stained, fingernails beyond help from any nailbrush: it was so good to see my grandchildren discovering the pleasures of food-for-free.  Bilberry pancakes for Sunday breakfast then…..

Rock climbers
Bilberry gathering.
Bilberries.

 

Author: margaret21

I'm retired and live in North Yorkshire, where I walk , write, volunteer and travel as often as I can.

14 thoughts on “Brimham Rocks”

  2. Our children loved to visit there as well. Bilberries are a sore point at the moment as something has got into our fruit cage and demolished our blueberries which we look forward to and can usually be relied on for a 4 week season. Just back from A-V and missed you. The weather was wierd ranging from tropical to autumnal. Our plums were at their peak and fantastic, they travel well!

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    1. I hear that summer has been odd in our part of France. But so sorry about your pesky visitor. Some creatures really take advantage, don’t they?

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  4. A natural fantasy land for the young at heart – a wonderful looking place! Pity the poor kids who don’t get to experience the outdoors this way… Your two grandsons look a delightful handful.

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    1. It’s a wonderful place for all the senses to get recharged. And yes… we love having those boys …. and also the peace and quiet as they depart 😉

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  5. what a wonderful space to spend an afternoon with two young children – I am sure you were exhausted when you were done and they were, too. There is nothing like being outside to wear a person out. have a wonderful week and weekend to come.

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  7. That looks fun! Although not on the same acreage I have childhood memories of a similar landscape in Tunbridge Wells. Although when I moved there as an adult they were much smaller than I remembered.

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