Day 1, 24th April. and we set of for a six night, three location tour of Yorkshire. Following the obligatory stop for breakfast at Greggs at Donnington services we set the satnav for York. All went well until we were about 100 yards away from our destination, the Novotel, when we hit the dreaded Road Ahead Closed sign. Feeling adventurous we pressed on in the hope that we would reach the hotel before the closure but no such luck. Luckily one of the men working on the road advised us of the quickest detour and we were soon parked up in the hotel car park.
Having established that there was, in theory at least, a riverside walk into the city we set off along the river bank and although we had to leave the riverside we were soon into the city centre. After some shopping for a coat for Mrs. M (hers was resting at home) we wandered around the city centre before calling in at The Kings Arms, a Samuel Smiths pub on the riverbank for some refreshment and some spectacularly good local Yorkshire crisps (unfortunately can't remember the brand). Continuing our walking tour we had a look around the outside of the Minster and then The Shambles which unfortunately was covered in scaffolding. This was followed by a stop at The Golden Fleece, reputedly the most haunted pub in York and definitely the purveyor of a splendid pint of Old Peculier, well worth a visit and finally tapas at Tabanco by Ambiente, again highly recommended.
Day 2, 25th April. Leaving York after an excellent Novotel breakfast we called in at Campbell's in Leyburn, an excellent Supermarket / butchers / delicatessen, for essential supplies for our lodge at Aysgarth where we were booked in for 3 nights. This is our second stay here, again it is recommended. As we arrived well before check-in time we decided to tackle the (approximately) 4 mile circular walk from the lodge, onto the edge of Aysgarth, round to West Burton (with, of course, a slight detour to the Cauldron Falls) and back to lodge. I'd done this walk many years before but it didn't help a great deal as we went slightly off course but eventually found our way into West Burton where we had a quick one in The Fox and Hounds. On the way round Mrs. M collected some wild garlic which would be used when preparing our evening meal based on "wellingtons" from Campbell's. We finished the day off with a quick one in The Falls End, the on-site bar and restaurant.
Day 3, 26th April. I had booked a morning parking space at the Snaizeholme Red Squirrel Sanctuary (£5 extremely well spent, book via Hawes National Park Visitor Centre). Plenty of squirrel activity although not so many photo opportunities as on our previous visit. Mrs. M has been reading the books by Amanda Owen, The Yorkshire Shepherdess, and was keen to find her farm so we set off over The Buttertubs, past Keld and Wain Wath Force and eventually saw on the hillside the derelict house that they are renovating and then a sign to Ravenshead where the farm is located. We drove the (approximately) 1.5 miles to the farm entrance, had a good look to satisfy Mrs. M's curiosity and then headed back to the lodge via Hawes, calling in at Flalls End for a quick drink and to book a Sunday lunch.
Day 4, 27th April. After a light breakfast in the lodge we set off for Keld where we parked in the farmyard and set off on the circular walk to Muker and back, this time going clockwise on the basis that the hills might be slightly less demanding (which they probably were). Mrs. M used her walking poles which were purchased in Hawes after her last (painful) completion of this walk! Retuning to Falls End slightly earlier than expected we enjoyed a superb Sunday lunch with some liquid refreshment
Days 2, 3 & 4 Mrs. M made full use of the hot tub which comes with all lodges on this site.
Day 5, 28th April. We set off for Whitby taking a scenic route across the North Yorkshire Moors stopping off at Danby Lodge National Park Centre for a coffee and to stretch our legs before continuing over the moors with a couple of roadside stops for grouse photography. We were booked into the Royal Hotel overlooking the harbour. First impressions were not good; the car park was full and the hotel resembled a building site. We parked up displaying my parking disc which I had remembered to bring with me and set off for a walk around the town taking in a couple at the Duke of York on the other side of the harbour before returning to the hotel to check in. Things were looking up. the room was fine with a view over the harbour and there was a space in the "overflow" carpark which I duly filled. Returning to the harbour we checked into The Magpie for the obligatory fish supper and then returned to The Duke of York before calling it a day.
Day 6, 29th April, A good breakfast in the hotel which was surprisingly busy. We had a plan; walk along the beach to Sandsend and back which we duly did, stopping for coffee at Tides Beach Shop at Sandsend. Part 2 of the plan was a visit to The Abbey, although Mrs. M chose to pass on paying the (not cheap) entrance fee and instead visited the church. I took some images in the Abbey ground but to be honest didn't really get my money's worth. We then popped into The Duke of York and finished up at Harry's for a very acceptable steak for Mrs. M and fish pie for me.
Day 7. Breakfast in the hotel followed by a straightforward triip home with the obligatory lunch stop at Donnington services
There are some images in the Yorkshire Gallery.