I’ve often heard the phrase “hill and dale”, but never put much thought into a dale, prior to moving to a place called Nidderdale. A dale is basically a valley. According to the dictionary, the term is used most frequently in the Lowlands of Scotland and in the North of England. North England is where I now live.
Dales are usually named for the rivers or streams that run through them. Unlike the United States where the word River follows the actual name (as in Mississippi River), here the word River comes before the name. The River Nidd is at the bottom of our dale, thus its name – Nidderdale. We are located in the county of North Yorkshire; hence this region is referred to as the Yorkshire Dales.
The region is a series of steep sided valleys. Many of the roads feature 15 to 20% grades. It’s not the Rocky Mountains, but these hills humble many of bicyclists and will make most mortals feel the burn while walking up them. Being England, there is nary a straight road in this place and “switch backs” and blind corners are common, many of them on single lane roads that provide the occasional wide spot for passing. Driving here requires focus!
Yorkshire Dales are an iconic part of the country. People visit here simply to take in the natural beauty and walk the thousands of miles of public foot paths (psst.. Americans, this means walking trails not paved sidewalks.) Nidderdale is one of only 46 area in Britain to be designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The AONBs are considered national assets containing a wide variety of attractive landscapes and like National Parks, AONBs are very much living and working landscapes that have been, and continue to be, shaped by nature and human activity. AONBs are designated in recognition of their national importance and to ensure that their character and qualities are protected for all to enjoy.
Nidderdale AONB covers an area of 233 square miles. It is an absolute joy to live in such a scenic place. It has certainly made moving here extra special. Here are the highlights of why Nidderdale is so special: (Taken from the AONB website) Being anywhere in Nidderdale AONB means you are surrounded by fascinating heritage, which draws on thousands of years of human activity.
Landscape character is what makes an area unique. The landscape of Nidderdale AONB is rich and varied, from the tranquil expanses of water, open heather moorlands and rolling pastures, to stone walls, farm buildings and villages.
The underlying geology of this area of the Yorkshire Dales, with gritstone overlaying limestone, is fundamental to how the landscape has developed and fascinating to explore. Nidderdale’s large areas of open moorland and small, remote villages mean that light pollution is minimal, and it’s night skies are classified as some of the darkest skies in England. Nidderdale is home to a wonderful array of natural heritage with an amazing variety of wildlife and habitats. From the high heather moorland with its pockets of blanket bog to rare hay meadows in the valley bottoms, Nidderdale supports a great diversity of species. Historic parks and gardens distinguish Nidderdale AONB from some of the wilder parts of the Pennines range. #Nidderdale #NorthYorkshire
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