On Ilkley Moor without a Hat

Last night the rain set in and it remained constant all the while we journeyed South through the Lakes District making it undesirable to stop for photos or venture on foot. Driving through the main towns is not easy even without the rain, as parking is usually on both sides of the road with only the equivalent of one car width down the centre of the road for travelling. There are also many one way roads and if you want to get a park, forget it. Parking can usually be found near to tourist attractions and is quite often Pay and Display.

That being said it was still a beautiful place with heaps of shops, cafes, pubs and reataurants. The secret is to pick a town and stay overnight where they offer free parking and walk where ever you can. Essentially this is what we did in Keswick. Fortunately for us with a larger car, we were given a space outside the proprietors garage which meant we could come and go freely. The other guests with smaller cars had to double park both front and back as well as side by side, therefore coordinated arrangements were required daily. As we drove throught the towns of Ambleside and Windemere down south it became appearant that congestion was even worse than back at Keswick.

We managed a very quick stop at Ambleside and Windemere for lake photos and the remaining photos were taken from within the car where it was dry.

Out of the towns the scenery was of green rolling hills with sheep and dry stone walls. It has been interesting to observe the different techniques used in the building of some of the walls. For example some have castelations on top, some are incredibly regular and straight whereas some are quite messy and in disrepair.

We went a little out of our way to travel to Ilkley.

And then even further again to find Ilkley Moor. But find it we did and it even stopped raining so we could take a picture (without hats).

Our plan for travel to York today was to try and include a visit to RHS Harlow Carr Gardens at Harrogate. We took out membership with the RHS before leaving home and there are 4 gardens in England that we can get entry in to without parting with anymore money. Harlow Carr is one of them.

Miraculously the rain stopped and some blue sky appeared for most of our garden visit.

The glass house was heated and provided a refuge should we have needed it.

We left at 5.15 and slowly made our way in the thick peak hour traffic through Harrogate to York where we are staying for the next 3 nights. Our B&B has free street parking and is only a 15 minute walk into the city Center and an attractive walk at that - alongside the River Ouse.