Dowlass Moss

Downs, Moorland in Yorkshire Craven

England

Dowlass Moss

Ingleborough across the limestone pavement Credit: Leanmeanmo

Dowlass Moss is a picturesque area situated in the county of Yorkshire, England. It is renowned for its stunning natural beauty, featuring a combination of downs and moorland landscapes that attract both locals and tourists alike.

The downs of Dowlass Moss are characterized by rolling hills and vast open spaces, providing breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. These downs are covered in lush greenery, with grasses and wildflowers dotting the landscape, creating a vibrant and idyllic setting. The area is also home to a variety of wildlife, including hares, rabbits, and numerous species of birds, making it a haven for nature lovers and birdwatchers.

Moving towards the moorland, visitors are greeted by a more rugged and wild terrain. The moors of Dowlass Moss are characterized by expansive heather-covered hills, interspersed with rocky outcrops and scattered patches of woodland. The moorland offers a sense of solitude and tranquility, with its vast open spaces and dramatic scenery providing the perfect backdrop for long walks and hikes.

Dowlass Moss is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a range of activities such as hiking, cycling, and horseback riding. There are numerous well-marked trails and paths that wind through the downs and moorland, allowing visitors to explore the area at their own pace.

Overall, Dowlass Moss is a true gem of Yorkshire, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the natural beauty and tranquility of the downs and moorland landscapes. Whether it's for a leisurely walk, a scenic picnic, or simply to enjoy the breathtaking views, Dowlass Moss is a must-visit destination for nature lovers and those seeking a peaceful retreat.

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Dowlass Moss Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.15107/-2.4124662 or Grid Reference SD7372. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Ingleborough across the limestone pavement

Leanmeanmo

Gritstone outcrop on Ingleborough

On the SW side of the summit plateau, near the southern point.

Ian Taylor

Flooded shake hole on Ingleborough

South of the summit plateau, on the Little Ingleborough spur.

Ian Taylor

Cloven Stone, Ingleborough Common

Ingleborough is in the background. See SD7373 : Cloven Stone & SD7373 : Boulder on Ingleborough Common for other views.

Ian Taylor

Ingleborough from Weets Hill

Ingleborough is 32km (20 miles) north-north-west from Weets Hill, and seen here rising above low cloud that filled Ribblesdale on this cold day.

Stephen Craven

Fallen star

An oddity I came across while descending Ingleborough was several masses of a whitish jelly-like substance. A sort of like wallpaper paste. There was nothing else around, no sheep, just rough open moorland at 350m asl. There seems to be many explanations as to what this jelly was, but after consulting the oracle that is Wikipedia, I reckon it's an alga called Nostoc, or Astromyxin, a form of cyanobacteria. It has many common names which are most interesting: Witches’ butter, Star jelly, Troll’s butter, Spit of moon, Astral jelly and Fallen star. In Gaelic, it is called Sgeith Rionnaig, ‘Star vomit’. Many of these names derive from the suddenness of the jelly’s appearance, resulting in a belief of it apparently falling from the sky during meteor showers. Two 17th-century works allude to this astral origin: “That the Starres eat …that those falling Starres, as some call them, which are found on the earth in the form of a trembling gelly, are their excrement.” And in Dryden’s play “Œdipus”: “The tapers the gods The sun and moon run down like waxen globes; The shooting stars end all in purple jellies. And chaos is at hand.” It’s not surprising that such a mysterious and elusive substance would have lore associated with it. In the 14th-century, the jelly was thought a cure for abscesses. For sources see my blog Link

. 2023. ‘Stepping Stone Crossing of the River Doe at Beezleys’, Fhithich <Link

> [accessed 2 January 2023]

Mick Garratt

Boggarts Roaring Holes

Mick Garratt

Ruin, Crina Bottom

Mick Garratt

Re-entrant, Nook

Mick Garratt

Ruined sheepfold, Dowlass Moss

Mick Garratt

Cloven Stone

Mick Garratt

Tatham Wife Hole

Mick Garratt

Old Road at Bleak Bank

Looking north-westward.

Peter Wood

Turbulent skies over Ingleborough

Viewed from Warton by the coast about 24km away on a windy day.

Karl and Ali

Rain clouds clearing off Ingleborough

A zoom shot from near the coast 25km away to the west.

Karl and Ali

Gaping Gill swallows Fell Beck

Yorkshire's deepest shaft (110m) first descended in 1895 by Edouard Albert Martel (a Frenchman much to the chagrin of Yorkshire pride!). He was preceded by local man John Birkbeck some time in the 1840s but he 'only' succeeded in reaching a large ledge 58m down. Martel (the world's first professional cave explorer) only had time to make a brief exploration of the Main Chamber before cold forced him to return up his ladders. Water had penetrated his telephone and it was only by shouts and pulling on his lifeline that he managed to get his surface team to start taking in the slack - then his feet hardly touched the rungs! He was just in time as a thunderstorm broke over Ingleborough shortly afterwards which would have been bad news indeed for the brave Frenchman.

Karl and Ali