A fleeting view of an almost hidden footpath sign on the edge of the market town of Pickering enticed us to explore what may lie beyond.
What lay beyond was a hidden gem - Costa Beck - the most Northerly Chalk Stream in the UK, a siege of Heron, a brace of deer, a nesting pair of swans and would you believe a Radio Controlled Car Circuit...!
All this and more on our 12 mile walk in beautiful North Yorkshire.
The annual Rosedale Show was upon us, not entering our award winning Victoria Sandwich or Six Shortbread Fingers this year, but still an event in the diary.
The route from Lastingham to Rosedale is quite benign on a calm summer's day, but thoughts of how quickly the weather can turn on this bleak moor are ever present.
A predictable navigation error from Ian and thoughts of rough camping on the moor enter our heads, but only for a second as the GPS fires back into life...
A memorable pot of tea at the Lastingham Grange Hotel rounds off a fantastic day.
A meeting with friends at The Yorkshire Arboretum gave us the incentive to visit Castle Howard, (which is just over the road) and do a walk around the impressive and foreboding Howard family Mausoleum.
We gained permission to deviate from the permissive path through the estate to skirt around the Mausoleum before joining the Centenary Way which cuts through the estate.
We passed by the equally impressive Temple of Four Winds which you can actually visit as a paying visit to Castle Howard - a destination for another day...
Now short on time a 'Quick March' was required to make our lunchtime appointment.
A journey to West Yorkshire saw us visit the National Trust's Nostell (once Nostell Priory...).
Built for the Winn family in the 18th century, the house showcases interiors by Robert Adam and a world-class Thomas Chippendale collection. Though we were more drawn to the Butler's Pantry...!
We didn't see quite all off the 300 acres but had a good go...! We particularly enjoyed the bucolic Boat House and the beautiful lakes (very Swallows and Amazons).
A walk up to the 'restored' Obelisk Lodge revealed the life and living conditions of the gate-keepers and their families.
We completed our day at Nostell with a meander around the glorious Rose Garden and Kitchen Gardens. They say every day is a school day, well seeing a 'Monkey's Bottom' in full bloom certainly made it that...!
A review of a glorious circular walk from Coneysthrope, 'The Castle Howard Village', in North Yorkshire, UK.
On a hot English Summer's day we follow both the Centenary Way and Ebor Way, two of the area's Long Distance Walks.
Enjoying the welcome shade of woodland we stumble across an artisan makers craft fair, followed by a section of dismantled railway and even find a Michelin Star Restaurant.
Join us as we take a look back and review this walk in a wonderful part of the world.
A review of a very cheeky walk around the Chess Valley in the glorious Chilterns - cheeky because it was a WORK DAY...! Arriving at our overnight accommodation earlier than expected afforded us the time to enjoy this wonderful area. The walk started and finished in the lovely village of Chenies, Buckinghamshire - a very new area for us.
A review of our 12-mile walk from Pickering to the Roman Camp at Cawthorn and back. Taking in the station of North Yorkshire Moors Railway, leaving Pickering Northbound and passing through the 'working' Newbridge Quarry (though not on this day). On through the glorious North Yorkshire countryside, we pass by the entrance to the Cawthorn Roman Camp, on to Haugh Rigg Farm Campsite and the interesting Rifle Range in Haugh Wood. Now back at Newbridge Quarry, we take the 'high road' to skirt around Pickering Castle not before we learn about Pickering's Jurassic Sea...!!!
A walk we love with a destination steeped in history - Cawthorn Roman Camp.
Our favourite walk of the year (so far...). Great weather, new territory, open fields, woodland, canal, 'Houdini' hens, England winning (quarter final) - all rounded off with a spectacular Bangladeshi curry.
A poor weather forecast drove us west to Ripon and the Ripon Rowel Walk. The prospect of the Ripon Canal, Ripon Cathedral and NO RAIN got us quite excited.
Best laid plans and all that...! A review of our walk taking in Pockley but NOT Helmsley due to an impassable ford and an encounter with a fantastically friendly farmer.
Our usual brew and a chat looking at a walk we'll be doing, this time incorporating the beautiful old village of Pockley with its numerous thatched cottages. Taking in the Tabular HIll route through woodland and beside the River Riccal and on to Helmsley. It was decided that this would be a two sandwich walk but no homemade banana muffin required...!
A review of a recent walk around English Heritage Wharram Percy deserted medieval village in North Yorkshire.
