where I live/where I love: West Yorkshire (between Keighley and Ilkley)

[jkdavies]

This part of the moor does not have it's own name, it lies to the west of Rombalds Moor, the furthest reach of the famous Ilkley Moor, the last finger of it pointing towards the mill-sprung stone cities of Leeds and Bradford.
Early spring, the ground is boggy and the sky in this moment looks likely to make it more sodden, but then, looking in the other direction the hard blue colour makes jewels out of the puddles.
I walk along the old road between Keighley and Ilkley, not one of the more remote places of the world, but barely touched by feet in the scheme of things today; occasional dog walkers, hikers, and myself, come up here for the solitude.
Today the heather is browned, still burnt in places, without the purpled bloom to which it gives its name; today it is too wet to sit on and feel it bounce and spring underneath me and so I sit at the base of Cowpers Cross and look at the sky.
I come here to look at the sky and the moor and the size of the world, perched on a hill on the edge of one of the densest urban conurbations in the north of England and am mostly utterly alone in a tousled world that is harsh and starkly beautiful.
It is different almost every time, for the biggest part of the scenery is the sky and the light on the moor; and no matter what mood I take up there with me, I almost always come down more tranquil.

[Diana E. Backhouse]

A beautiful description of a place I know well. Although I live in the East Riding of Yorkshire, I would love to live in The North Riding. We visit the area as frequently and always feel so much at home. It is just such a pity that the houses are far more expensive than in our area.

[Michael Brown]

Okay, of all the places "Where I Live..." I think this is the one to be most envied, for it is all of the others and then some. Thank you for bringing it to life in black and white on the screen (well, the pics helped a little, but they wouldn't impress as much without the mind that was taken to the place and came back to inform us about it). Whose idea of "home" can compete with the sky you noted? Excellent.
Another challenge soon, please.

[Deborah Jovan Reed]

I love the places in the world that people can take their turmoils to and leave them all behind. A beautiful six.

[Sandra Davies]

"a tousled world that is harsh and starkly beautiful" my favourite of many lovely phrases, and I know that scenery of high moor tops and sky cannot be beaten.

[Teresa]

Oh my, Julia. This was my favorite 6 of yours and as Gita said, it reads like Psalms. I believe we are very much like the places we love, yours being "starkly beautiful". I'm stunned to tears by this.

[michael r. oconnor]

very nice, sounds like a place I would love to see.

[Paul de Denus]

No need for us to go there- your words were enough- a lovely view from here.

[jkdavies]

Thanks Gita!
I'll only let others into the secret if they promise not to go there when I want to!