Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - A Quiet Walk through the Yorkshire Dales

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Starting point is 00:00:58 Sasquatch here. You know, I get a lot of attention wherever I go. Hey Sasquatch, over here! So when I need a judgment-free zone, I go to Planet Fitness. Get started for $1 down and then only $15 a month. Offerings April 12th. $49 annual fee applies.

Starting point is 00:01:11 See Home Club for details. Hey friends, welcome to Get Sleepy. Where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy. I'm your host Thomas, it's lovely to have your company. Our story tonight was written by Joe, and I'll be reading it to you. In just a few minutes, we'll head to Northern England and begin our walk across the Yorkshire Dales. It's an area famed for its natural beauty, a world of rolling green hills, meadows, and woodlands, a place that I'm lucky enough to have spent a fair bit of time in myself.

Starting point is 00:02:07 Tonight we'll take a tour of Asgarth Falls, a three-tiered waterfall in Layburn, North Yorkshire, and afterwards we'll wander into Asgarth Village and explore a hidden gem. Now before that I must tell you what's coming up tomorrow night on our supporters feed Get Sleepy Premium. In our weekly premium bonus episode Marcellus will be guiding us through a meditation about connecting to your intuition, helping us to tune into our bodies and the wisdom we all have within us. Make sure you join us there tomorrow by going to GetSleepy.com slash support.

Starting point is 00:02:58 In addition to our weekly premium exclusives, our supporters receive full access to the entire Get Sleepy catalogue, which stands at over 700 episodes and counting. And better still, everything is completely ad-free, giving you an ultra relaxing, undisrupted listening experience. You can sign up to a monthly or yearly payment plan with the first seven days coming completely free of charge so you can make sure you're happy. Learn more about Get Sleepy Premium by going to GetSleepy.com slash support or simply follow the link in the show notes. Thanks so much my friends.

Starting point is 00:03:49 Now, it's nearly time to begin our story, but first, let's prepare in the usual way by finding a position that feels relaxed and comfortable. Close your eyes as soon as you're ready. Then breathe in through the nose and exhale through the mouth. Now I'd like you to imagine a tiny white light hovering above you, bobbing gently in the air. A healing white glow radiates out, spreading peace and serenity. In a moment, we'll begin the first of three breaths. With the inhale, imagine that you're

Starting point is 00:05:09 drawing in the healing light. Hold for a moment, then exhale, and inhale again. Hold and breathe out. Draw in the light one more time, breathing in. Hold and breathe out. Give yourself thanks for that act of self-care. Imagine that your body is now filled with white light. You feel calm and peaceful. You are free to relax and follow my voice as we travel to Yorkshire in Northern England. This is where our story begins. Locals refer to Yorkshire as God's own country, and it's a region of extraordinary natural beauty.

Starting point is 00:07:37 There are limestone caves, cliffs, and coastline, as well as parks, mountains, forests, and woodland. And miles and miles of fertile countryside with freshwater streams, rivers, and waterfalls, and old stone villages nestled within valleys. Yorkshire takes its name from the city of York, a historic city named Yorvik by the Vikings. Shire is a county or administrative area, so Yorkshire, or Yorkshire, essentially means County of York. It's the largest county in the United Kingdom and has a rich history that stretches back across millennia. Its earliest known inhabitants were Celtic tribes,

Starting point is 00:08:50 Its earliest known inhabitants were Celtic tribes, and it was occupied by the Romans around 70 CE. Yorkshire has been a home to many more invaders, from the Germanic Anglo-Saxons and Scandinavian Vikings to the Normans from Northern France between the 11th and 13th centuries. And its appeal as a place to settle is obvious to anyone who explores the area. Your journey today takes you to the Yorkshire Dales, a popular national park. Running through the park are the Pennines, a chain of hills sometimes called the backbone of England. Some visitors come to see the quaint stone buildings, others are drawn by the limestone caves formed in the Carboniferous period some 340 million years ago. Most who visit the Yorkshire Dales come equipped with walking boots, poles, and backpacks. There's nothing so invigorating as a hike through the countryside.

Starting point is 00:10:27 Today, you'll be walking the route around Asgarth Falls. You'll see the three-tiered waterfall in all its glory before heading into the village to visit an Edwardian rock garden. Right now, you're in Asgarth Falls car park. Your walking boots are laced and ready for action. The car park is surrounded by thick, lush woodland. The air is earthy and refreshing, and there's the sound of running water flowing somewhere behind the trees. Birds chirp in all manner of pitches, welcoming you to Asgarth with their tuneful fanfare. It's a lovely day in the middle of spring, the perfect weather for a walk in the country. The sun shines bright among a handful of clouds, bathing the car park in golden light. You've dressed in your comfiest outfit including trousers, a top, and a lightweight jacket. The socks inside your walking shoes are soft and woolly. They're a creature comfort in the great outdoors.

Starting point is 00:12:34 You also have a small backpack containing any essentials that you might need along the way. There's water, a notebook, some money, and a camera, as well as a map of the route you're taking. It's unlikely that you'll need to look at the map, but it's comforting to know that you have it just in case. The path you're taking is very straightforward. After walking along the river, you'll look for signs for Asgarth, then follow the main road into the village. You take a moment to stretch your legs, bending one leg and reach your arms towards the sky. You hold for a moment, then circle your arms outwards as if you're swimming through the

Starting point is 00:14:01 air. You bring your arms back down to your sides. You're now relaxed and ready to go. So off you stroll across the quiet car park, heading towards the sounds of flowing water. Roots to the falls are carved onto wooden signposts. The signs are the colour of tree trunks, some appearing aged and partly tinged with green moss. A nearby sign directs you to the upper falls, just a few hundred meters away. The end of the sign is shaped like the point of an arrow, leading the way west. You walk along a dirt and gravel trail, partly shrouded by trees and bushes. Already, you're struck by the peace and quiet, the kind you only feel when you're out in nature.

Starting point is 00:15:36 A few minutes later, you find yourself coming out of the woodland. You pass through a gate to a wide road bridge and pause for a moment to take in the view. It's here that you catch your very first glimpse of the mighty river Ewa and the upper falls. The riverbed is wide, rugged, and rocky, forming shelves in places where the water spills over. spills over. Where the drops are higher, the river froths and foams. Rocks are part hidden behind frothy white veils. In places, these veils are tinged copper and orange, with the color of sediment brought downstream by the river. Sunlight enhances the beauty of the water, causing some veils to glow, bright and otherworldly. bright and otherworldly. Elsewhere, it highlights where the river trickles slowly and where it pools between rock shelves with ripples across its surface.

Starting point is 00:17:32 The sun also showcases the beauty of the woodland, which frames ideally positioned beside the river. The building is typical of the North Yorkshire countryside, made of the same stone that forms the walls of the bridge. Colorful bunting decorates the wall of the tea room. Baskets full of flowers hang beside an open doorway, their fragrance blended with the aroma of fresh coffee. You hadn't planned on pausing so soon, but the scents of the tea room prove a little too enticing. It also occurs to you that you saw a picnic spot on the map right beside a viewing point for the Upper Falls. You enter the tea room where a cheery local woman is pleased to take your order. You get a takeaway cup of fresh, warm coffee and a homemade scone

Starting point is 00:19:11 wrapped neatly in a box. For now, the scone goes into your backpack. goes into your backpack. You carry the coffee, which warms your hand nicely. From the tearoom, you return to your route on the footpath, walking back into the woodland. Soon, you pass through another wooden gate and see an honesty box requesting a pound for admission. You drop your pound coin into a metal letter box positioned at the top of a mossy stone pillar. It makes a satisfying plink as it hits the bottom. Continuing onwards, you see the trail open out to a grassy area with wooden tables. Here, you take a seat on the bench of a picnic table and unpack the scone. The scone is somewhere between a biscuit and a cake,

Starting point is 00:20:50 somewhere between a biscuit and a cake, and inside it's spread generously with butter and jam. It's sweet and delicious, an uplifting treat, and it's beautifully complemented by the aromatic coffee. You eat slowly, savoring the taste while taking in the view of the upper falls. It's wonderful to see it from here, so close, but at a safe distance. Asgarth sounds almost mythical to you, like a place from Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, as all three waterfalls were featured in the film. The name Aesgarth originates from Old Norse, the language that was brought over with the Vikings in the 9th century.

Starting point is 00:22:09 Loosely translated, it means open space in the oak trees, a description that still seems perfectly fitting. Once you've finished your food, you sip your coffee, turning to face the water. From this vantage point, you examine the side of the waterfall where where a veil of white and orange cascades down from the precipice. There's something very soothing about the sight of water, the way it looks and sounds as it flows over rocks. It's something so simple, yet also wonderful. It's the ordinary magic of the natural landscape. You sit here until you finish your drink before packing away any litter and standing up once again. After taking a couple of photographs by the edge of the water, you retrace your steps back to the bridge. Reinvigorated by the warm cup of coffee, you return to the car park for the next part of your adventure. This time, you follow signs in the opposite direction,

Starting point is 00:24:08 This time, you follow signs in the opposite direction, which point out the path to the middle and lower falls. You cross a quiet road and pass through a gate, then begin your descent down a trail lined with trees. Many have trunks that appear knotted and twisted, like earthly sculptures beautified by nature. In parts, the trees are sparsely planted, and the path glitters with golden sunlight. All kinds of greens are showcased on branches. Some leaves are the color of basil, while others are the lightest chartreuse. Elsewhere, the woodland is dense and abundant, and the ground is dimmed beneath the shade of oak trees. Sunlight pokes through the gaps in the canopy, forming a blanket of gold stars that twinkle beneath the trees. You contemplate that the countryside is like a whole other world, that the countryside is like a whole other world compared to life in towns and cities. Instead of cars and people, you hear birds singing and the rustling of leaves as trees sway in the breeze. The river also provides a comforting soundtrack, growing louder now as you approach a wooden stairway. You take slow, measured steps down towards the water to where the tree line ends and the falls

Starting point is 00:26:30 are visible. You pause and look out from the wooden walkway, observing a side view of the middle falls. observing a side view of the middle falls. The rock shelf here is straighter than the one above it, with a foamy veil that runs almost entirely across. The colors of the falls vary greatly. The colors of the falls vary greatly. At points, the waterfall is deepest amber, like the flames of a fire. Where the water drops sparingly, it's tinted silver like treasure, the color of the rock face that breaks through behind it. But mostly, it's white and fluffy like clouds, especially at the base where it foams on impact. You feel that you could stand and examine it for hours and still not know every color, every detail.

Starting point is 00:28:14 While you're standing by the river, you take a deep breath. You can smell the water and the surrounding woodland. Once again, you take photographs, trying a few different angles, hoping to capture the beauty of the falls. It's then that you notice a church in the distance, its outline a silhouette with the sun behind it. You remember reading about the medieval church, which boasts the largest churchyard in all of England. Once you're ready to move on again, you follow the trail further downhill. It's a path that brings you out through wide open fields, past scatterings of wildflowers displaying the colors of spring. You're met with the kind of views that the

Starting point is 00:29:27 dales are known for, rolling hills and lush green meadows. The word dales is derived from Old English. Tales is derived from Old English. It's another word for the valleys between hills. As you wander happily across the open countryside, you wonder about those that might have walked the trail before you. You remember reading about William Wordsworth, the 19th century. He made various sketches, and later a watercolor, capturing the falls after heavy rainfall. Both Turner and Wordsworth might have made this very journey across the same open fields that you traverse now.

Starting point is 00:30:59 Perhaps like you, they noticed the volume of the river. It grows louder as the path twists down towards the woodland. Soon you're strolling down another woodland staircase, one that's beautifully covered by a curtain of leaves. You walk across it, then head slightly upstream to where visitors can step out onto the rock. The lower falls are as stunning as the other two, and different again in color and texture. This time, the rock shelves are closer together, forming a natural staircase beneath the water. Successive drops from different heights result in a blend of gorgeous colors. Lines of white foam stand out against amber. The lines are so defined in parts that they look drawn on or painted.

Starting point is 00:32:30 Colors appear vivid in the sunlight. That includes the rock which glistens silver. Here, you sit down on the warm, flat stone, taking a front row seat, but not too close to the edge. On the opposite side of the river, you spot a like-minded soul doing exactly the same thing. A middle-aged woman waves hello in greeting, before returning her gaze to the water. You remain by the river for quite some time, your body warmed by the sun-soaked rock. Your mind is soothed by the splashing of running water and the sight of patterns across its surface. At some point, you're drawn to the sound of voices as a man and his grandson stand nearby. You can't help but overhear their pleasant conversation. The man answers the questions of his inquisitive grandson. The falls, he explains, were formed in the Ice Age several thousand years ago.

Starting point is 00:34:31 in the Ice Age several thousand years ago. Rivers of ice known as glaciers swept across the land and ground down the earth. As some parts were ground deeper than others, drops were formed, drops were formed, resulting in the falls. In total, the river drops just over 60 meters, continues, explaining what geologists have found on the riverbed. Sandwiched between a bed of durable limestone, they found sandstone and shale, less permeable types of rocks. Essentially, that means that they are more easily eroded. They wear away as the river passes over. Limestone is permeable, so water soaks through it.

Starting point is 00:36:00 As a result, the stone is left on the riverbed, forming the steps of the falls. The young boy is fascinated by what his granddad tells him. You hear him asking more questions as the pair continue on. Their voices trail away, disappearing into the woodland, and you return your attention to the sound of the river. You remain a little longer, meditating on the water, until you're ready to stand up and move on from the falls. After a few more photographs, you check the map in your backpack, reminding yourself of the route to your next destination. Now, you walk away from the river, heading towards the center of Asgarth village. It's a route that takes you in and out of woodland and over bright green fields, some of which are home to sheep. You pass by the church and its sprawling grounds, as well as a campsite and a farm.

Starting point is 00:37:52 farm. There's also another tea room, a hotel, a bed and breakfast, and a few stone cottages. One hotel is particularly striking. Its walls are covered with pinkish-green ivy. Barrels full of flowers mark its pebble-stone entrance, including bushels of roses in red and cream. You walk on the pavement beside the main road, passed only occasionally by a car or cyclist. The wall curves around, flanked by undulating countryside. For a while, your surroundings are green fields with an odd barn or farmhouse dotted along the way, though you do see more buildings as you near the village center, where charming stone cottages line both sides of the street. Asgarth is typical of the quaint little villages that are sprinkled all around the Yorkshire countryside. The historic buildings look cared for with their freshly painted doors and attractive front gardens. In the center of Asgarth,

Starting point is 00:39:39 there's a small village green where a few wooden benches have been positioned on a lawn. A couple of hikers have stopped to sit down with their little dog beside them. Behind them, you see a building with a bright red door. It's the parish hall where the community meets. The date 1907 is engraved in the stone to mark the year when its doors first opened. Like many villages in the North Yorkshire countryside, Asgarth seems to be from another time. something from a story or a TV show set years in the past. True, there are cars parked outside buildings, as well as a garage and small supermarket, but as for everything else, you have the distinct impression that it looks much as it did a century

Starting point is 00:41:09 ago. It's the little details that you find so appealing, like the bright red post box and the old-fashioned telephone box in the same shade of scarlet. Then there are the Rortyne shop signs that hang above the tearoom and the handwritten chalkboard listing its menu. listing its menu. Though the stone cottages are somewhat similar, little touches display their owner's personality. Whether it's the color of their door, or their choice of potted plants, or the quirky names of residences displayed instead of street numbers. You're taking in the details of this lovely, quiet village when you see your destination ahead on the left.

Starting point is 00:42:31 see your destination ahead on the left. Nestled between residences is something unique to the village. An Edwardian rock garden, Asgarth's hidden gem. A plaque has been nailed to the painted railings displaying gold lettering on a black background. You read that the garden was created between 1906 and 1914. It was built by the firm Messers J. Backhouse and son of York, and commissioned by a local landowner named Frank Sayer Graham. On the plaque, Graham is described as a local game and fur dealer, who was also an amateur horticulturist. Certainly, you can see the man's passion for gardening even before you enter the rockery. before you enter the rockery. Through the low gate and railings, you see what looks like a grotto surrounded by flora of every type and color. You also see a stream running down through the rocks. It's visible to the left behind a large fir tree.

Starting point is 00:44:12 After seeing Asgarth Falls, the water feature looks tiny, but it's just as soothing and tranquil to look at. but it's just as soothing and tranquil to look at. Entering through the small iron gate, you step onto the gravel path that winds through the rockery. You pop a pound coin into a little stone honesty box, your contribution for the upkeep of the garden. The sound of gravel crunching underfoot forms a comforting background noise, along with the flow of running water. It's a relaxing soundtrack to your tour around the limestone blocks and the plants, flowers, and trees among them.

Starting point is 00:45:33 You see every type of leaf in every shade of green, both on the ground between the rocks and sprouting out across their surface. Some are long, thin, and spiky, while others are shaped like fallen stars. One plant near the water has leaves like a flower. You take in the details of these plants and flowers as you follow the path that curves around to the right. It takes you to a makeshift little doorway where you crouch to pass beneath a slab of limestone. From there, the path circles around more mounds of stone, the tallest of which are around the height of a street lamp. You walk to the left towards the sound of the water and see the tiny waterfall where it emerges from the rock face. It forms a white veil, maybe half a meter long, direction as it hits a slab of horizontal limestone. From there, the water changes course.

Starting point is 00:47:21 It slows and softens as it descends down a slope. Eventually it flows into a lovely little pond with green plants and algae scattered across its surface. You pause for a moment to examine the water bending towards a plant at the edge, and you recognize the blooms of the water iris. Its petals are a hue of bluish-purple. are a hue of bluish-purple. There are other shades of purple on flowers around the garden, from muted lavender to deepest amethyst. Elsewhere, you see flowers as white as snow, the kind you might see on a mountain. Of course, that's the point of the Alpine Garden. It's meant to emulate what you might see in the mountains. what you might see in the mountains. All of the flora chosen for the rockery are the type that would thrive high up on the rock face. Here, you might easily forget where you are

Starting point is 00:49:09 where you are and imagine yourself wandering on a high up grassy peak. The village of Aesgarth disappears behind the walls as the garden is a world of its The path marks a route that is somewhat maze-like. It makes the area feel far larger than it actually is. Hidden passageways lead to single-seat benches where you can sit in comfort among the rocks. But for now, you follow the main path upwards climbing the steps. You then turn into a narrow passageway where a large information board tells you more about the garden. There's a black and white photograph, which according to the label, was taken in the 1920s. 20s. Annie Sayer Graham, Frank's wife, is busy at work, tending to the garden. There are also pictures of a few of the plants which Frank would likely have collected from the wild. There's red-petaled saxifraga beside purple hair bells, and the blue and white trumpets of Gentiana Ferreri. At the top of the board is a quote from the famous botanist Stephen F. Hamblin from 1931.

Starting point is 00:51:12 You read it aloud in a hushed tone that seems in keeping with the atmosphere of the garden. sphere of the garden. A rock garden is a sojourn in nature. It represents a souvenir of travels over mountain ranges garden as a tribute to the places that its creator might have seen. And what a marvelous gift to the people of Asgarth, this living souvenir for future generations. You carry that thought around the rest of the garden and through the narrow passageway where you head to the fairy tale grotto enclosed within the curve of high limestone walls. You can smell the scent of various blossoms carried on the breeze that flows through the garden.

Starting point is 00:52:56 You ponder the sound of running water from the miniature waterfall on the other side of the rock. It reminds you of Asgarth Falls. It's also a sound that represents peace and the way you felt throughout your journey. Your mind is as clear as a pool of fresh water. Any thoughts are like leaves floating along a stream. For a moment, you allow your eyes to close, and you sink back into the bench. and you sink back into the bench. You feel your shoulders dip just a little lower as you tune into the rhythm of the ever-flowing water. The sound is comforting, as constant as a heartbeat. In places, it seems to sweep like the waves of your breath. It washes over your mind and senses, together with the endless loop of the inhale and exhale. You... The You. You You You You.. you

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - A Quiet Walk through the Yorkshire Dales

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