The Photographer's Guide to the Yorkshire Dales

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The Yorkshire Dales National Park is not always the easiest place to take pictures, but it can be just as rewarding as anywhere else, and when you find the right spots, the views are stunning. From the mountains in the west to the limestone in the south to the gritstone in the east to the old mines in the north, the Yorkshire Dales has something for everyone and a lot to offer visitors at any time of the year.

The gear we recommend is a good camera and the holy trinity . A wide-angle lens. 14-24mm or something similar. A 24-70mm or something similar and, of course, a 70-200mm or something similar. During the summer months, this is a must-visit location for nature enthusiasts and photographers; its huge colony of gannets is as spectacular as the scenery.

Yorkshire has many small rivers and streams flowing through woodland. One of my personal favourite locations is Hardcastle Crags near Heptonstall, which is managed by the National Trust. Bolton Abbey is perhaps most famous for its 12th-century Augustinian monastery, a magnificent ruin that has stood the test of time. The area is privately owned and has been featured in the BBC2 series “The Trip,” where Steve Coogan had a memorable mishap on the stepping stones across the River Wharf. Speaking of the river, the Strid is a narrow but extremely deep and dangerous section where the whole of the River Wharf is forced through a six-foot gap. It’s said that no one who has fallen into the Strid has lived to tell the tale. So, as tempting as it may be, don’t even think about jumping over it! Geology: The Making of the Strid I’ve found this method to work early in the morning before other vehicles have disturbed them. Some hares can be remarkably confiding and, on occasions, I have enjoyed an hour or more watching and photographing a hare quietly going about its business, totally unperturbed by the presence of a steel box containing a telephoto-wielding photographer just a few metres away. Gibson Mill is the crown jewel of Hardcastle Crags. Built around 1800, it was initially used for cotton spinning. The mill was driven by a water wheel, harnessing the natural power of the stream. It ceased operations in the late 19th century and was later converted into an entertainment emporium, complete with a dance hall and roller-skating rink. Today, it stands as a testament to the industrial heritage of the area and offers a fascinating subject for photographers interested in capturing a slice of history. Geology: The Valley and Its Secrets

On the day we booked with Paul to do photography in his squirrel hides it was raining hard. When Paul met us, the first thing he said was, 'Are you around tomorrow?' When we told him we were, he immediately offered us space for the following day. The whole day was memorable and rewarding and we owe Paul (and his squirrels) our gratitude for an unforgettable experience." However you choose to photograph brown hares, you’ll need the right kit and, whilst pretty much any camera will do the job, there are few things to consider. From up above, you can use small areas of limestone pavement as a foreground to views of the dramatic amphitheatre of the cliffs beyond. It only takes a hint of cloud-diffused light to enhance an already moody scene. Twisleton Scar, Yorkshire Dales As already mentioned several times in this York series, the city gets extremely busy. Each year, 8.4 million tourists visit York to hit up the top attractions, walk the city walls and take a stroll down The Shambles.

My first walk was a short 8-mile circuit that I devised by studying the OS map. Although I knew some the start of the walk, most of it was new to me. After walking the first couple of miles I noticed the day was feeling easier than usual. This was despite most of the walk having been uphill and often quite steep at times. Caves: The caves are not just historically significant; they also make for intriguing subjects, especially when explored in low light conditions. This offers opportunities for fantastic behaviour-style images. I prefer to visit this location at sunrise when conditions can be very atmospheric, especially if there is a mist rising up the valley, helping to amplify those epic moments. When you consider that, within the national park land alone, there are stunning waterfalls, scenic rivers, mature woodland, dramatic gritstone crags, vibrant heather moorland, beautiful green glacial valleys and hills, more limestone pavement than anywhere else in the UK, and even 45 miles of coastline, you begin to gain an insight into the sheer diversity of the region. Granted, the Wolds might not be the most dramatic of areas. They’re relatively flat and tend to be more agricultural in nature, as opposed to the moodier appearance of the hills, and geology of the dales and moors. However, this is exactly their attraction!