A pleasant secret

 I started out on a bike ride last weekend, but couldnt settle with it so ended up going on a short walk to a house I discovered this summer on my local explorations. This very old, long ago abandoned farm house was sold recently for the price of £385,000 for which the person could have bought a fully functioning house in this valley. Problems also include no access lane, only a field that is currently not allowed to be crossed by building a road because of draconian planning rules here in the National Park. I guess its been bought by someone very wealthy as a future investment or property wild card. I cant see anyone with short term aspirations here, just deep pockets and the idea of a gamble on the future planning law.

I like the site on which the house was built. Its high up on one side of the valley, and quite far from any road or noise from the village, or traffic, especially construction noise or agricultural noise which when my ears were not good at all greatly irritated me, and I at that time was finding even this rural area uncomfortably noisy. Well that was my great attraction to it at the time. Today I am still over awed with other aspects that border the house.

There is a lovely stream that I find fascinating. It flows between two ash trees that symmetrically grow opposite each other, with the water flowing strangely between them. I can just fit my hand between them. What are the odds of two trees growing that way ? I find this magical and beautiful.

After the stream has exited beneath the two trunks it falls down over some rocks which are so mysterious and ancient, maybe people collected water there at some point, they look purposeful. A small foot bridge just completes the effect.

The final thing which excites me is a rather oddly mundane one, but despite this it really does move me more than anything Ive mentioned so far. It stood out as soon as I peered over a wall. The stream above the trees flows around a slight bend on level ground. Its the bend and width of the stream, and the almost level gradient of it that excites me. Its the pace of the water too. I dont fully understand why, just that it does. Of all ive mentioned so far this seems the most magical to me.

This photo doesnt really capture the bend as I see it with the naked eye. All in all a stunning place I never knew existed , and only about 2 miles away. I really feel a connection to it. I hope the new owner never changes any of these features, though I doubt any improvements to the house other than removing a foot of animal dung from inside it will ever take place for some time. The original stone flags are now visible inside. It must have been a rustic life living here once.