Sunday 16th September
It took us an hour to drive to Leyburn. We parked in the market place and 5 minutes later we were enjoying this view up Wensleydale.

This route is known as the Shawl as Mary Queen of Scots reputedly dropped her shawl here when walking from Bolton Castle.

There were plenty of sheep on the route.

The walk follows the edge of a scar which is wooded in places.

Towards the end of the walk is a quarry complete with solar panels.

The moss on the top of nearly all the stone walls was very thick and velvety.



Saturday 15th September
Ripon Cathedral is the venue for the Great North Art show and we try to go each year. The paintings were good but the bonus this year was listening to the rehearsal by the London Mozart Players.



Wednesday 15th August
Oxburgh Hall is a beautiful home that has been owned by the same catholic family since the first part was built in the 16th century. Monks from Walsingham attended a service in the stunning chapel only last week. Wonderful leather panels line some of the rooms as well as tapestries and striking wallpapers. Lovely flower and productive kitchen gardens are surrounded by pasture and woodland where there are many walking options. The guides are very knowledgeable. Well worth a visit. 
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/oxburgh-hall

Tuesday 14th August
Brancaster Beach has plenty of space for cricket, boules, kites, races …. at low tide. There is a warning in the car park that the beach road will be flooded at high tide.

Big sky views are abundant in this flat landscape.

Saturday 11th August
The gardens are still looking lush at Dunham Massey. We enjoyed feeling that we had the deer park to ourselves by half past five when most people had left.

Tuesday 7th August

Large ripe and juicy brambles are ready to pick very early this year. These were delicious.

The sempervirens are also thriving in the sunshine.

Sunday 5th August
The Daytones, a Barbershop Group, entertained a crowd at Harlow Carr this afternoon.
When they finished we followed the stream to the Edwardian Garden after seeing the following news;
Our sacred lotus has blossomed for the FIRST time thanks to the hot weather. We believe this is the furthest north a sacred lotus has ever flowered outdoors in the UK. You can find it in the Edwardian garden pond, but don't delay!

The lotus is beautiful. Sunflowers and vegetables are thriving in the Schools Garden area nearby.