Autumn heralds the beginning of the country shows, Wensleydale, Reeth and Muker. So if you spy a small flock of  Swaledales looking as though they've just been to the hairdressers, practicing their catwalk strut in single file across the field  then its likely these are the chosen few. The Kate Moss's and Naomi Campbell's of the sheep world these creatures are washed, tinted and polished. Standing in their purpose built crush while the farmers brush, arrange and pluck the odd grey hair out here and  there, they watch smugly as their relatives suffer the indignity of snorkelling their way through the sheep dip.

If you spy this elite then it is likely that the farmers attempts to conceal has failed. They are often hidden away in fields behind buildings or beyond a footpath on the opposite side of a high dry stone wall. If you enquire politely after their quality you will be unable to decipher the reply for competition to produce a show champion is everything and recognition of a successful summer.

 

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Tan Hill Inn has new inn keepers, so I decided that I would abandon the Mondeo at Tan Hill and walk the Pennine Way footpath back to Thwaite. I would of course firstly seek refreshment before setting out, and also gather intelligence for my next article on Inns and Alehouses of Swaledale. As I sat against the fire with my coffee, no alcohol, honest, I wondered if the new keepers would be challengers for Susan Peacock's thirty year record?

Stage one accomplished I set out on a grey and blustery morning along this wild moorland track in the direction of Keld. If you crave solitude then this is the place for you, nothing but the odd farmstead and the road to Tan Hill in the distance until you reach East Stonesdale. It was a cool overcast day and this might have been the reason for the lack of bird life, no moors ringing to the sound of curlew, plover and oyster catcher now. I suppose their migrations have started and I shall have to wait until next spring when they return again. After Keld the more sheltered side of Kisdon has flocks of Goldfinches feeding on the thistle seed heads and to make up for our wild life famine a solitary buzzard soared below me scattering a tree full of wood pigeons against the river.

I love to see the buzzard family outings circling on the thermals high above Kisdon but they too have been absent for most of the year. These tourist eagles for they are often mistaken, could do to return in numbers to reduce the increasing rabbit population, they are causing serious damage to the footpaths and hillside above Kisdon Farm and Ivelet Boards with their excavations. There's been little shooting since a part time keeper and his mates moved away from the village and it is evident with the explosion in the rabbit population. I hear however that the nearby Estate has employed a full time rabbit catcher. So between us although I don't shoot so for now this is my contribution, rabbits beware!!!!!

 

Mrs. Beeton's Rabbit Pie

Ingredients

 

1 rabbit

A few slices of ham or bacon.

2 blades pounded mace.

7 tsp. grated nutmeg.

A few forcemeat balls.

2 hard boiled eggs.

Half pint gravy.

Puff pastry crust.

 

Cut up young rabbit, put rabbit, slices of ham meatballs and hard boiled eggs by turns in layers and season each layer with pepper, salt, pounded mace and nutmeg.

Pour in about half pint of water, cover with pastry crust and bake in a well heated oven for one and a half hours.

When done, pour in at the top, by means of a hole in the crust a little good gravy flavoured with onions, herbs and spices.