Dave Hilditch's photos

I'd love to ask them when they were built, how long it took to build them and why the fields they enclose are the shape they are. Field patterns near Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales.

A lone tree clings to the hillside at the entrance to Gordale Scar in the Yorkshire Dales.

The mighty bulk of Ingleborough looms over the fields near WInterscales.

An image typical of the Yorkshire Dales with its limestone escarpments contrasting with the green landscape. On the left is Warrendale Knots and ahead is Attermire Scar in which there are several caves including Attermire Cave. Our walk took us down the dale from left to right and through the gap in the far stone wall where we turned left beneath Brent Scar and Victoria Cave. Texture is Winter Texture by Kirstin Frank.

A dry stone wall meanders it's way over the landscape to meet up with it's companions in the valley below. This is an area known as Norber which is famous for the large rocks balancing on much smaller rocks (one of which can be seen in the centre of this shot). There are two explanations for this phenomena. The first is that many years ago a giant lived here and his hobby was stone balancing. The other is that the larger rocks were transported here by glaciers and were deposited on the smaller rocks when the glaciers melted. You can believe whichever you want but i know which one I prefer. Texture is "Winter Texture" by Kistin Frank.

A lone tree clings to the hillside in the Yorkshire Dales near Settle. Despite the thin soil, rock ground and the exposed conditions it flourishes amongst the rocks. It might be small but it has the heart of an oak.

I could use a drop of this in the garden!

Thornton Force in the Yorkshire Dales. We've not had any rain for eight weeks now since this picture was taken. I suspect there is far less water flowing over it now.

As we continued on up the River Twiss we came to the Pecca Falls tumbling through a steep, wooded ravine. Doesn't falling water make a lovely sound?

In my travels I have visited two places that call themselves "God's Country." One is Kerala in Southern India and the other is here In Yorkshire, UK. They are very different but I reckon that they both have a legitimate claim to the title,

Continuing our walk up the River Twiss we came to Pecca Falls. Not too much water flowing here due to the current dry spell but a lovely spot all the same.

It's been a long time since I posted anything here. Partly due to inactivity and partly because I wanted to see how the site settled down after the change of ownership. Hopefully it is the same as it always was. I have also been fairly inactive physically. I had hip problems three years ago which ended with a replacement. After a long period of recovery and exercise I can now return to hill walking and this was my first serious attempt in one of my favourite places; the Yorkshire Dales. The hip stood up very well with no problems at all though one or two other body parts suffered a little. Maybe, I should get those replaced too. This is Swilla Glen on the River Twiss in Ingleton in North Yorkshire and is part of a beautiful circular walk which passes several lovely waterfalls.

Actually a barn in the Yorkshire Dales near Malham Tarn.

I find the high moors fascinating places not just for the natural beauty and weird rock formations but also because, many years ago, they were a hive of industry, principally mining or quarrying. This was taken on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, close to the hamlet of St. Breward. As well the moorland scenery it shows a cheesewring which although resembling a man made object is actually a perfectly natural rock formation created by erosion. Close by can be seen the remains of an old mining building which overlooked an open cast mine where, probably, tin or copper would have been extracted. It is likely that the miners walked several miles to and from their homes to this mine in all weathers. I visited on a fine day but it was still a bleak and windy place. Truly, those miners worked between a rock and a hard place. Thanks to Alice Popkorn for the use and abuse of her texture "Magic Veil". The news about Ipernity is looking good Let's hope the deal can be closed without further delay.

A corner of the Ashridge Estate in Hertfordshire taken recently. Let's hope those golden tones turn green soon. Let's also hope that the Ipernity that we all know and love can continue. Thanks to SkeletalMess for the texture Rustic Charm 3 and Max Williams for his texture The Dead Marshes.

An image that sums up how I feel this morning. Blue at the approaching end of Ipernity but Springlike at the thought of new opportunities on another site and the possibility of new friendships. I can still be found on Flickr (though I really don't like it especially after the Ipernity experience) and I'm trying out 23hq which, though small as yet, seems much more like Ipernity. Maybe I'll see you there.

Well, actually it's the only street. Sad news that Ipernity is about to close. As we all go our separate ways, inevitably some friendships will drift away too which is the saddest part of the whole thing. I'm looking at various other sites but none great appeal and I may go back to Flickr. When I have decided what to do I'll post it on here but if anyone can suggest a similar site then, please, let me know. In the meantime have a great weekend. My Website Getty Images.