Pry House Farm Shepherd's Hut

09/02/2025

20/06/2024

What do you have planned for the next couple of months? There are so many events happening all over the Yorkshire Dales, you might need to plan some extra trips? Here's a selection of them. Please do add any others - or tag the events you've involved in or enjoy going to:
Skipton Sheep Day: 30th June
Great Yorkshire Show: 9th – 12th July
Settle Flowerpot Festival: 13 July - 1 September
Masham Steam Rally: 20 & 21 July
Ingleton Gala: 20th July
Ripley Show: 11th August
Art in the Pen: 17-18 August
Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival: 10 – 18 August
Gargrave Show: 17th August
Burnsall Sports: 24th August
Malham Show: 24 August
Wensleydale Agricultural Show: 24 August
Reeth Show: 26 August
Hebden Sports: 26th August
Kilnsey Show: 27 August
Muker Show: 4 September
Medieval Music in the Dales: 13 – 15 September
Bentham Agricultural Show: 7 September
Horton in Ribblesdale Show: 7th September
Nidderdale Show: 22 September
Grassington 1940s Weekend: 20 -22 September
Richmond Walking & Book Festival: 20 - 29 September
Yarndale: 28 – 29 September
Masham Sheep Fair: 28 - 29 September
Yorkshire Dales Cheese Festival, Celebrating Local Produce: 11 to 14 October

Which events have I missed? What are your favourite events? Any photos to share?
Image by Stephen Garnett Photography.

03/06/2024

Watch out for the power of ancient graffiti! Why witches can't get into my house... Let's go back in time to the 16th and 17th century... Many people were fearful and suspicious, convinced that witches dwelt among them, that the wrong action might result in a visit from evil spirits. Ritual acts were performed to bring good luck or protect against wicked forces. Cats, shoes and other clothes were concealed within buildings, under floors, in ceilings and chimneys.

Special marks were carved into stone or wood. These protection marks took several forms and resemble carved graffiti. You've probably seen some in old houses or buildings and perhaps not paid it any attention. Many of these 'Marian symbols' were carved as associations with the Virgin Mary e.g. VV - Virgin of Virgins, or AM - Ave Maria.

There's a date stone on the outside of our house. It says Thomas Webster Milner (the old word for miller - it's an old mill), Anno Dom, and then just underneath, 1706. Next to this you can see a flower shape, a daisy. For many years I foolishly assumed this was just a showy flourish the stonemason had carved.

​An architectural historian corrected me: the daisy wheel shape is actually a type of protection mark, known as a 'hexfoil' and carved into walls and wood to ward off evil spirits, keep out witches and bring good luck to the building. So we're fine...

Look a little closer at lintels on old buildings, on beams inside them and you'll notice all kinds of clues that most people miss. I love to find the oldest date stone when I visit villages, often with the initials of the original occupier. It's amazing to see that obvious pride and to wonder about their lives.

What signs from old times have you spotted?

03/06/2024

13/05/2024

A sea of golden Marsh Marigolds. Safe nesting for curlew, oyster catchers, lapwings and redshank.

04/05/2024

Looking for something a bit bigger than the Shepherd's Hut? Hillcrest Cottage, our self catering cottage in Low Row has had an unexpected cancellation. Now available from Saturday 18th May. Great price. Short breaks too. Contact me on [email protected] for details or visit www.upperswaledaleholidays.co.uk

27/04/2024

Hetty the Herdy has a fine gimmer lamb called Hayley.

09/04/2024

Wet Day? No Problem. It no good pretending that you won't have an odd wet day when you are visiting the Yorkshire Dales. Its the rainfall...

08/04/2024

Hillcrest Cottage, Low Row, Swaledale. Hillcrest is almost fully booked for the summer. There's just two weeks left; April 20th- 27th at £630 and July 6th-13th at £700. Please contact me by email [email protected] Full details on the website www.upperswaledaleholidays.co.uk

16/03/2024

Had the choice of 10 hares to photograph in the fields this morning. Magical to watch them. Has anyone seen them boxing yet?