Clapham

LenaPon Mayıs 07, 2022

Mention Clapham and most people will think you mean the district in south-west London, however, there's another Clapham which nestles below Ingleborough on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and we visited it whilst having A Day In The Dales.

We've never been to Clapham before but we struck lucky on this day out in the Dales, we literally stumbled across it and what a gem, such a beautiful little village.

We parked up by the side of Clapham Beck, though there's a good sized car park in the village too. The village seems to be geared up for walkers and people taking part in local outdoor activities such as the 3 Peaks, caving including Ingleborough Cave and Gaping Gill, cycling and sight seeing.

Mick always heads for water so as we spotted the beck as we got out of the car, it was inevitable that the first thing we'd do was take a walk along the path by the side of it. Not really a path, more of a track which has been made by many feet taking this route before us.

Archie loves water too and he was very happy to have a little time free from his lead after the car journey.

We walked along the lanes in the village too, there's some beautiful cottages and stunning houses. We saw this gorgeous wisteria on the side of one of the cottages.

Looking across the beck through the greenery, we could just make out a church so we decided to take a closer look.

The church was founded in Norman times and was dedicated to St Michael, it's mentioned in records dating back to 1160, however, the village and church were burned down during a Scottish raid following the Battle of Bannockburn in the early 14th century. The church tower was probably erected following this incident but the rest of the church dates from the 19th century and is now dedicated to St James.

The local village store is owned and run by the community and has won awards. There's also an Aladdin's cave of a shop in the village selling all manner of things vintage. Stepping over the threshold was like going back in time and I found more than a few things from my childhood in there. It was jam packed with its wares even spreading out onto its forecourt.

I was thrilled to find a fabulous yarn shop in the village. Beckside Yarns is situated by the side of the beck and is stocked full of fabulous yarn over two floors. I thought it surprising that such a small village would have such a wonderful shop, after all, I know of many large cities that can't boast of such a well stocked yarn shop.