My photos in these continuing series show our beautiful world with the aim of encouraging viewers to share them and help save our unique home from human carelessness.

I normally post pictures taken in the month concerned in each cycle, but I’m excluding December as it can be rather dull here in the UK. I have, however, kept to England and Wales for this group.

Today’s photo shows a well-hidden waterfall we encountered by chance on a walk in the Yorkshire Dales. We were in a part of the region relatively unfamiliar to us and were following a footpath that eventually crossed the famous Pennine Way. We’d set out from Hawes, a charming market town, where we’d visited the rope works for information on a proposed garden project. Our route then took us through the village of Gayle, which houses the Wensleydale Creamery, producing fabulous Wensleydale cheese. Our route then took us up into the hills.

We were unaware of the existence of this amazing natural waterfall, reached as we walked along a rather steep hillside through some woodland. It was the sound of the fall that alerted us to its presence, as there was no other indication it was there. In fact, even the small river our path had been following had become hidden by the deep valley and dense woodland.

The descent to the base of the falls was too steep to attempt, and the trees surrounding it made picturing it quite awkward. But I managed by hanging on to the smaller trunk of another tree and leaning out over the steep drop. The whole area was mostly hidden from view, and dark because of thick foliage from the trees, so I took a quick series of shots, and this was the best rendition.

There is something magical about such an unexpected encounter. There’s that sensation of having ‘discovered’ something new. Certainly, the path we used was not well-worn and, in places, we had to navigate awkward natural obstructions to continue along the route.

I recall more of the atmosphere and peace of the place than the factual aspects of its location. I doubt I’ll ever visit it again. I didn’t know the name of this fall, and it’s not uncommon for waterfalls in the Dales to be unnamed, as there are so many, so I was delighted when I came across a picture of the place online and now know it’s called Aysgill Force. ‘Force’ is a label often attached to waterfalls in northern England.

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I post every Saturday here, but also post a picture of natural beauty at the end of each day, with the hashtag #ourworldiswonderful, on FaceBook and Twitter. Join me there and comment, share, and like if you wish.

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More of my pictures appear in the Gallery.
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