Castles, rainbows, fairies and boars

We often find that the first night in the van after a longish break isn't always the best of sleeps for us - but I think a combination of already being tired, lots of fresh air and plenty of miles that we both slept for about ten hours straight - unheard of! But most welcome indeed.

We awoke with little slips of light sneaking below the window shields - tiny slivers of sunlight inviting us to wake up. Himself is very good, he gets up first, puts the kettle on and while it is rumbling away, takes Moss out for a quick pre-breakfast piddle and back for her biscuits just in time before the kettle starts to whistle a piercing shriek. I on the other hand stay snugged up in bed until the steaming mug of tea is handed my way - bliss. This Sunday was no different and as I slurped my tea, I took a cellphone picture of Moss chomping on her breakfast.

We'd promised ourselves that after breakfast we'd return to Leyburn for a proper look at the Campbell's shop, plus a couple of others which had been closed. We popped into several interesting places and came away with some lovely gifts for upcoming birthdays. 

However we soon became 'hill starved' and returned to the van, sorted out lunch and walking nibbles then set off. Our start this time was Redmire - a small hamlet with a now volunteer run and owned railway station. We crossed the rusty tracks down into a bumbling clutch of cottages, small fields filled with friendly sheep, kids toys and the odd escaped hen (they should be penned due to Avian flu). Our path took us along an ancient track, sunken deep below the hedges, filled with mossy stones, violets and daffodils and ivy-clad trees.

There were glimpses of Bolton Castle through the gaps. The castle has such a presence and seems to be visible from most of the valley, a lot of which is part of the castle's lands and unusually is still in private ownership rather than a trust and seems to have a vibrant and active summer of activities.

One of the little villages we bumbled through had an amazing tribute to those lost to covid - a small stained glass sign hanging up unassumingly - so touching.

A little further along (after we'd picked out way through a recently muck-spread field - urgh) we approached a rather interesting place - a typically quirky English sort of thing ... (and all I could think of was of Aril from Gnat Bottomed Towers! 

It was a rather imposing stone gate post complete with gargoyles at either point - one a crowned head atop what looks like a white rose of Yorkshire and on the other was a boar with magnificent gold tusks! What tickled us was the blue plaque above the metal door handle resplendent with boar, peacock, salmon and lions. Brilliant!

We also came across an ancient village cross with some rather mediaeval faces carved into the stone while the steps up to it were festooned with painted stones - most of them being cats!

Not far from the village cross was a very pretty cottage and garden and their wall was decorated with fairy doors and plenty of evidence of elf activity!

Our path took us up on to the side of the valley as we headed round towards the castle through newly constructed wetlands. Naturally boggy areas had been sympathetically landscaped to capture water and create habitats. Although it was very fresh, birds were already using and investigating the ponds. We saw coots, mallards, curlew, dunlin (we think) pootling near or around the site and as we sat with a mug of tea and a certain type of chocolate egg we watched buzzards over head and rabbits all 'twitter-pated' in the fields.

From this point the view ahead as we walked was the castle - oddly it seemed bigger from far away and as we approached it seemed less imposing although still large. 

The final stretch was along a disused railway pockmarked with many many rabbit warren holes - so so many!

Back at the van (eight miles later) Moss had something to eat and put herself 'to bed' in the cab while we took our boots off and agreed it was another really good day. 

Shame weekends are only two days...