From Marfield to Masham

Sunday afternoon. Sunny, warm, breezy. Just the time for a bike ride (‘im Indoors) or a solo walk (me). Marfield Wetlands suited us both as a starting point, though we went our separate ways after that. These reclaimed gravel pits, scattered with ponds, just by the River Ure are at their busiest in the autumn and winter months as a stopping off point for migrating water birds. Less variety here just now. But blue skies, blue waters greeted me: plenty of geese – Greylag, Canada and Barnacle, the odd cormorant and swan, and beyond, oystercatchers hectoring me from above, and more tuneful skylarks.

A walk along a brookside, then farmland with drystone walls.

Here are young cattle; sheep with their now-skittish lambs.

Primroses, celandines, willow catkins dusted with yellow pollen, blackthorn blossom.

Turn right through a field of cows, and reach the river banks, high above the river itself at first.

Right again, through pastureland with characterful trees, woodland, always with the river, sometimes still, sometimes chattering and clattering its way over its stony pathway.

Touch into the edge of Masham, then more fields with open views and here I am. back at Marland Wetlands again. Only four miles, but enough to send me home refreshed and content.

For Ann-Christine (Leya)’s Lens-Artists Challenge #343 – Seen on my Last Outing

And Jo’s Monday Walk.

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Author: margaret21

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

56 thoughts on “From Marfield to Masham”

  1. A lovely bucolic stroll. You don’t bike, then? Not so easy to take photos from a bike. Does himself go a longer route or sit and wait for you when he’s back? Pub lunch or sandwiches in the open air? Heck, I’m nosy! I feel quite relaxed now. Thanks, Margaret! Enjoy your company today xx

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    1. I can’t ride a bike, as I didn’t learn as a child (London childhood). Come on Jo, how can something less than two inches wide stay upright? It doesn’t, for me. No, we do our own thing as bike and walking routes are rarely compatible. It was only 4 miles, so out after lunch and home in time for a cuppa. No company yet. Monday’s the day.xx

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  8. Another gem in your area that we haven’t explored! We’ll be staying in Masham on this year’s August break so may investigate these wetlands. Your photos have sold them well!

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  10. A delightful spring walk. We don’t seem to get the wild primroses in our lanes, lots of Alexanders though and the lesser celandine and blackthorn. In fact I am sure I noticed hawthorn yesterday which seems a tad early. And sadly no lambs.

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    1. Wild primroses are easily the commonest wild flower hereabouts, quickly followed by celandines and wood anemone. We’re awash in blackthorn too (sloes later, hooray!). I had to look up Alexanders – not so much here. And no hawthorn yet. But lambs, lambs, and more lambs.

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  20. Pingback: Jo’s Monday walk : Passadiços do Barranco do Demo | Still Restlessjo

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