Hello,
It's Alice here with you tonight.
This evening you're going for a relaxed ramble in the Yorkshire Dales.
An ancient landscape,
At turns wild and windswept,
Tranquil and sheltered.
But first,
Make yourself as comfortable as can be,
Settling yourself into your bed and ensuring you have all you need to be warm and cosy.
Close your eyes,
And take a breath in through your nose,
And then release it out.
Releasing the remnants of your day.
And do that a few more times,
Breathing in through your nose,
And then releasing the breath out,
Slowly and fully.
And imagine each part of your body relaxing in turn.
Your toes,
Relax and release.
Both feet,
Relax and release.
Your legs,
Relax and release.
Your stomach,
Softening down and relaxing.
Your back,
Relaxing heavy into the bed.
Your arms,
Release and relax.
And your hands,
Soften and uncurl.
Release any tension in your neck.
Lines on your face soften.
And finally your entire head,
Heavy and relaxed.
Feel each part of your body in turn,
Ready for rest.
And don't forget to let go of any thoughts that have been occupying your mind.
Set them aside,
And know that you can always return to them when you wake.
And once you're totally relaxed and ready for sleep,
You begin your ramble in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.
It's shortly after dawn at the start of the summer,
And as the sun slowly continues to rise,
You set out on a relaxed ramble through this rolling landscape,
Leaving behind any stresses or worries.
This time is for you to immerse yourself in the beauty and wonder of nature.
Here in the heart of this upland area of the Pennines in Northern England,
The landscape is varied and expansive.
In front of you extend meadows of moss green,
Covered in parts by white daisies,
Yellow buttercups and red poppies,
Creating a beautiful natural palette as the morning sun begins to bathe them in light.
The soft,
Springy earth beneath your feet feels cushioned,
And the air is alive with the gentle hum of honeybees,
Diligently collecting nectar.
Take a moment to breathe in and out,
And immerse yourself in this picturesque scene.
To one side of you is a long,
Winding stream,
And as you walk alongside it,
The scenery gradually transforms.
The water flowing leisurely creates a soothing backdrop to your walk.
The excitable chirping of birds perched on overhanging branches carries across the rolling hills as you notice the white-tipped tails of a fluffle of rabbits hopping about near the water's edge,
The larger adult rabbits and a number of tiny baby rabbits all playing and tumbling amongst the tufts of grass.
As you walk on,
The stream gains momentum,
And the tranquil babble of water becomes more pronounced as it approaches a small waterfall.
Crystal-clear water gently cascades over deep green moss-covered rocks.
The air turns cooler and misty,
Carrying the invigorating scent of damp earth.
You can almost feel the fresh droplets softly settling onto your face,
And reminding you that you are a part of this place right now,
A part of nature.
The scene opens out onto a panoramic view of the valley below,
And you feel again the warm summer breeze on your skin.
It carries with it the delicate scent of the hay meadows,
Full of lady's mantle,
Woodnut,
And sweet fernal grass.
Inhale deeply,
Absorbing the fragrant air as you admire the undulating fell-tops and tumbling drystone walls unfolding in front of you.
Many of these granite and slate walls were hand-built before the 13th century,
A complex network criss-crossing the land and giving this area a distinct identity.
In the distance,
You can even see that the horizon is dotted with gnarled and ancient trees.
Descend down the hill as your path begins to wind through rocky outcrops,
Patched with tufted blue moorland grass and purple heather,
Until you find yourself on a winding dirt track.
It is a little flatter underfoot now,
And you can hear your footsteps gently crunching the gravelly surface beneath you.
Coming into sight are the small field barns and quaint stone cottages which dot the landscape.
These sparse buildings made of local limestone,
Gritstone,
Or sandstone meld seamlessly into the environment.
The only clue that some of them are inhabited is the winding smoke lazily rising from chimneys and carrying the comforting scent of wood-burning fires.
Even though it is summer,
The air can have a chill high up here,
And you can imagine the warmth emanating from these old stone homes,
Offering a sense of comfort and hospitality.
Your journey takes you now through a tranquil village,
Where life unfolds at an unhurried pace.
Rows of pretty stone cottages,
Covered in climbing ivy,
Line narrow lanes.
A distant church bell chimes the hour,
Echoing through the quiet streets with its reassuring presence.
You notice people tending to their gardens,
Both neat and wild,
And the aroma of freshly cut grass mingling with the sweet fragrance of rambling roses.
As you pass through the village,
The road opens out onto more fields,
Where fluffy white sheep and playful lambs gamble about.
A small herd of northern shorthorn cows gathering groups,
Occasionally gently lowing,
Adding to this peaceful,
Pastoral atmosphere.
Take a moment to absorb the beauty around you.
Feel the fading warmth of the sun on your face,
The gentle cooling breeze touching your hair.
You're surrounded by the sights and sounds of a warm summer day in the Yorkshire Dales.
When nature unfolds its wonders,
And you are right here in the middle of it.
It's nearly dusk now,
As you begin to head a little uphill again.
Ahead,
You spot the perfect picturesque resting spot,
A charming lodge nestled among a crop of trees,
Offering a haven for walkers just like you,
Looking for a place to pause and end the day.
The sun is beginning to set,
And the sky is streaked with ever-changing shades of deep purple,
Lilac,
And the softest grey.
Look up and see the first stars beginning to sparkle above you.
As you enter the lodge,
You hear the crackling of the fire,
And smell the wood smoke even before you feel the glowing warmth of this old and welcoming refuge.
There is space to sit in the window seat,
Near to the dancing fire,
And atop the soft cushions that define this cosy corner.
As you look out and up again at the night sky,
You can see the stars are now creating a twinkling blanket covering the entire landscape.
As you settle in,
Surrounded by the beauty of nature,
Let a sense of peace wash over you.
You're far away from any stress or responsibility,
Immersed in the tranquility of this beautiful land of rolling hills and valleys.
As you close your eyes,
Feel the quiet embrace of the night,
Knowing that tomorrow holds the promise of new adventures.
And if you're still with me,
You can now lay back,
Relax,
And drift in and out with the background sounds to keep you company.
Good night,
And sweet dreams.
