May 8
Arrived at Manchester airport quite well refreshed after our long flight. Collected our car and headed for our cottage at Gunnerside deep in the Yorkshire Dales.
We stopped at Settle for some provisions and a look around the town.
It was fine and sunny when we approached the little village of Gunnerside after a very pretty drive through the Dales
Our cottage was full of character and certainly very cosy. We were going to be very comfortablefor the next eight nights.
We went out for dinner in a neighbouring village - Low Row - but before leaving took some photos around our village - Gunnerside -
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| Gunnerside Beck |
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| Centre of Gunnerside |
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| View of Swaledale from Punch Bowl Inn |
May 9
Our plan for the day was to drive across country and visit Castle Howard. The forecast was not promising so we decided an indoor activity might be in order.
We stopped off at Sutton Bank for a quick look at the view. Very cold and not realising there was a one mile walk we pressed on to Thirsk.
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| Our first view of Castle Howard in the distancescross the lake |
Castle Howard featured in the 1980s BBC production of Brideshead Revisited starring Jeremy Irons. A very lavish Italianate stately home, still lived in by the family whose name now escapes me ...
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| The music Room |
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| Lots of primroses in flower |
The weather was still fine but after we had
been through the house the weather was closing in. We just had enough time to
get in the tour off the walled garden before the rain came in earnest and the
wind was biting cold. So much for mild spring weather.
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| Entrance to the walled garden |
A quick stop off at the lavender farm
nearby and we headed for home. Or cosy cottage welcomed us but it was then a
challenge to work out the central heating. After a welcome glass of red wine we
headed for a local pub for dinner.
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| A quirky set of cricketers at the Lavender Farm |
May 10
The day dawned partly cloudy but fine
enough to make the decision to head across to the Lake District. The narrow
road taking us high up on the Dales opened up some spectacular views.
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| Black face Dales sheep |
Our first stop was at Aira Force, a
national trust property preserving a beautiful woodland area with a circular
walk which takes you to a gorge with a waterfall. Having had so much rain
recently the falls were rather spectacular.
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| An interesting fallen tree .... |
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| Thousands of coins have been hammered into it |
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| Ullswater from Aira Force |
After a chat with the resident national trust warden we took his advice and adjusted our route around to Coniston. This took us over a lovely pass as well as avoiding busy Windermere.
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| Top of Kirkstone Pass |
We came upon by
chance another NT property but numbers for entry were restricted and we just
missed out. part of the property included a barn constructed in 1666
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| 17th C barn |
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| Weather closing in over Coniston Water |
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| Entrance to Wray Castle |
The weather had been gradually
deteriorating and by the time we reached Coniston it was cold and wet. We
wandered through the town then drove down to the Lake and were lucky enough to
see the historic gondola returning to the jetty.
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| Coniston |
As we were expecting my cousin and his wife
to join us for a couple of days we headed back to the cottage in Gunnerside.
They arrived not long after and we settled in for a fish and chip dinner from
the Friday night van which calls in the village.
May 11
The forecast was not promising but
undeterred we drove across the pass to Hawes where we had a look around before
driving around to take a look at Hardraw Force, the highest single drop
waterfall in England. The rain was still coming and going and it was bitterly
cold.
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| Tributory to River Ure in Hawes, Wensleydale |
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| Green Dragon pub. Access to Hardraw Force |
Lunch in the pub at the falls warmed us up.
Then it was on over the pass once again to find the 'buttertubs' . These
limestone formations have been created over hundreds of years by the water
wearing away the softer rock between the layers of hard limestone.
While up on the pass the sun came out
briefly to reveal the wonderful view down into Swaledale the lovely valley
created by the River Swale.
Leaving the buttertubs we took the road up
to the remote Tan Hill pub. built high up on the moor to serve the long since
disappeared coal mining industry, this has the dubious reputation of being the
highest pub in England.
The road continued along through
Arkengarthdale to Reeth. The sun reappeared and we were able to take a walk
along side the river.
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| Alongside the River Swale |
We ended the day with a hearty pub meal at
the Farmer's Arms at Muker.
Lots moreto come another day
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