My sister and I aim to go on a walking holiday every year. As we had (ashamedly) not spent as much time in the Yorkshire Dales as we should have, having grown up so nearby, we decided to head to Swaledale this year.

On the first day we headed to Aysgarth Falls, along the River Swale (the falls themselves are behind me in this picture!)

Our cottage in Reeth had a lovely garden looking down into the valley. 

There were still many signs of the recent visit from the Tour de France which were wonderful to see. The amount of pride and effort from the locals was evident from the TV coverage, but I hadn’t realised how long the decorations would stay up!

This was the river at the end of our garden. As with so many places in the Dales, it was wonderfully tranquil. 

Looking back, our cottage was framed beautifully by the carefully-constructed garden. 

When the sun came out (which can admittedly be unpredictable in Yorkshire…), the various colours and flowers really shone out. 

The Dales are simply beautiful to walk in, particularly on a day like this. Often you can find areas where you won’t be able to see any other walkers, although there will usually be some inquisitive sheep!

We walked through a stunning valley towards one of the old smelting mines, which had closed over a century ago. I climbed onto a ledge to get a better view and wasn’t disappointed. 

Even the ledge itself was photogenic against the bright sky. 

The distinctive horns of the Swaledale sheep are one of the reasons they have become the symbol of the Dales. 

I cannot recommend enough a trip to this or any region of the Yorkshire Dales. The weather can be temperamental, but the views and people will make sure that this is always a rewarding place to visit. As a proud Yorkshireman, it will always hold an incredibly special place in my heart.