Idol Stone, Brimham Rocks

I last went to Brimham Rocks about thirty years ago, and I didn't have very strong memories of the place. The spot sits above Nidderdale in North Yorkshire, and is now owned by the National Trust. Today we went up to meet with one of my sisters and family, and the kids had great fun clambering. As did the grown-ups.

The main attraction lies in the concentration of sandstone rock formations. During the Ice Age, the rocks stood out above the ice cap, and were weathered by winds blowing off the ice.

This image is of the Idol Rock (no relation to the rock of the same name on Ilkley Moor) and gives some idea of the landscape. I prefer Bifurcated Shadow as an image, but it doesn't have quite the same sense of place.

This spot nearly featured on the skyline of Monday's blip, being a few miles beyond the golfballs of the Menwith Hill spy base, which we passed on the way.

shaping ~ the high notes ~ rock idol