Red Deer Stag

Week 46 Sledmere

An autumn walk around the deer park at Sledmere revealed this red deer stag. Deer are bred on the Sledmere Estate which is owned by the Sykes family.

The Shambles at night

Week 45 The Shambles, York

An evening spent taking night shots in York. I couldn't resist this classic view of the Shambles, taken at 8.15pm with a long exposure. What no people? Not quite, see if you can spot one of the many ghosts that wander the ancient streets of the City!

Different shades of autumn

Week 44  The Yorkshire Aboretum

A late visit to the nearby Yorkshire Aboretum (collection of trees) at Castle Howard to see the autumn colours. We arrived in thick fog, which cleared a bit towards lunch time. Many of the trees had shed their leaves, but there was enough colour to make it feel like autumn. A fantastic place to visit, set in 120 acres, it was started by Lord Howard in 1968 with his plantsman James Russell. It is now a Trust between Castle Howard Estates and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and is regarded by Defra as housing a back-up collection for Kew.

Good labeling on the trees, varied landscape, quietness and the freedom to walk anywhere, plus a good cafe make it a good day out.  

Rievaulx Abbey

Week 43 Rievaulx - The battle of the tearooms!

Joining the National Trust (again) this year, we decided to visit the NT Rievaulx Terraces (which is the bit of land at the top of the picture that overlooks the Abbey). The 18th C Gardens, Terrace and Temples were interesting enough, but we wanted to go and have a look at the Abbey (English Heritage) as well. No nice meandering path between the two, instead we had to drop down a 'permissive muddy path' on a very steep gradient (so only the fit would attempt it) through the woods, keeping to the boundary of NT property to emerge on the narrow road over 600 metres from the Abbey!

The NT tearoom was a tea/coffee machine in a hut, the EH tearoom at the Abbey was serving full meals. How about cross ticketing for NT & EH members, not much chance according to the NT website: 'Rievaulx Terrace's close proximity to Nunnington Hall makes it an ideal double visit in one day'. No mention of course of Rievaulx Abbey (the next door neighbour), Helmsley Castle or Byland Abbey - all EH and nearer.

Come on NT work with the neighbours.