Yorkshire - Part Three Bolton Abbey and WWT Martin Mere

 

 

Bolton Abbey has been on my list of places to visit for a number of years now.  Only a short drive from Skipton is much like the waterfalls, a full day trip if you to the circular walk.

 

If you pre-book parking, the cost is £12.50 or £15 on the day.  There are a variety of car parks at various parts of the estate that you can go.  I had booked to go to the main Bolton Abbey car park as the starting point.

 

 

 Do love a postbox topper!

 

 

Within the Abbey was a mock up off how the Abbey would have been prior to demolition.

 

 

At the heart of Bolton Abbey Estate lies the Priory Church and Ruins of an Augustinian Priory in its beautiful riverside setting. The land was gifted to the Augustinian canons by Alice de Rumilly in 1154. The canons lived and worshipped here until 1539 when the dissolution of the monasteries stripped the Priory of its assets.

 

I do love visiting Churches, Abbeys and Cathedrals.

 

 

I can imagine their must be ten's of thousands of images taken of the Abbey with the very impressive Archway standing 10 feet high.

 

So it is no surprise it is such a photographic place. 

The river has very strong undercurrents, but there are a couple of areas that are safe to cross.

This was the view from the area called Valley of Desolation.  It was a good climb up but worth it for the views.

This time I did have Strava set and the walk was 8 miles circular walk, with an 646 feet elevation.  

 

 

So the stop off at the cafe on the way back to the van to enjoy a very tasty cake was very much appreciated.

 

 

I love that they provide this information on where the price of an admission ticket is spent.

 

Those who follow my blog will know I am a regular visitor to WWT sites.  There are 10 spread around the UK, and I have now visited 9 of them!

 

 

Martin Mere is significantly smaller than my local Slimbridge, although the area open to the public at Slimbridge compared to the land owned is much smaller.

 

At the time of visiting, there was not a huge amount of activity on the lakes, but I do still love being able to be out in nature.

 

 

 

 

One of the great highlights of this site was that they named some of the hides after people who had impacted the site. 

The

Tomlinson Hide at WWT Martin Mere was named to honour Arthur Tomlinson, who was a key supporter and major donor to the WWT (Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust). He was a significant benefactor whose contributions helped fund the development of the hide and other attractions at the wetland centre.

So having the same surname was brilliant.

Yorkshire - Part Two - Ingleton Waterfalls and Craftopia yarn shop.

I had not heard about the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail but goodness what a brilliant way to spend on a day out. 

Incredibly the waterfalls first opened in 1885! 

Admission is £11 for Adults and £5.50 for children under the age of 16.

The walk includes over 1000 steps and runs alongside the River Twiss.  It takes you through a variety of countryside from woodlands, to the stunning open wide views. 

 The water was cold but oh so fresh!

I loved the money tree which you come across quite close the the start of the walk.  The placing of coins into the tree stump start back in the the early 1970's with the coins being post decimalization.

 I absolutely love seeing different fungi and mushrooms, their is something magical about them.

The day of the walk the weather was just perfect, not too hot and a stunning blue sky.

The first waterfall is called Pecca Falls.  

Having walked for a while it was nice to sit and have a little picnic and do a couple of rows of knitting and just soak up the amazing surroundings.

To me the picture with the river, sheep and hillside is the iconic image I have of this area.

This waterfall is called Thornton Force. "Force" is a Norse word for "waterfall". "Thornton" is a common place name that may refer to a person or a local feature.

Once you have passed Thornton Force you cross over a bridge which takes you out on to the Yorkshire Moors.  The foootpath is very well marked and easy to follow.

It was only right to sit for a little while, admire the view and do a spot of knitting!

Was so blessed with the weather, you could literally see for miles and miles, which is my idea of heaven.

 

As you finish the walk along the open moors you then start the decent back down, as the walk is a circular one. 

 

I am not sure which is harder the walk up the steps or back down them! 

I am not a fan of heights, although over the years have got better.  But my heart rate was definately pretty high standing on this bridge looking down at the water rushing by underneath!

Unfortunately this would out of all the day trips would have been the best day to have Strava running.  Not only to know how long the walk took, but the incline up to the top.  But however long it was, it was worth it.

An absolute bonus when almost at the end of the walk is you go through the village of Ingleton.   

I was thrilled to come across the most amazing craft shop stacked full of both local and commercial yarns, and a great variety of books.

I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed my trip. 
 

Yorkshire - Part One Skipton town

 

I have been so lucky that since way back in 2013 when I took my first ever trip to Skipton for the very first Yarndale, I have been up to the show ten times, only missing two due to Cancer and Covid.

Back at the very beginning, Lucy, otherwise known as Attic 24  who was one of the initial organisers of the show, had set up a meal for solo people to attend for the evening, so you could meet like-minded people.

It was from this meal that I met my now very close friend Rosy and we have been friends ever since and she to is has been an avid Yarndale visitor. 

Over those years, I have stayed at Woolly Sheep Inn for the first two year, gaining more confidence in solo travel and getting to know Skipton.

Then for the next three years, I shared accommodation with Rosy, initially just us.  Then her Mum and Dad both came and stayed, very sadly, her Dad passed away, but since then, each year they have both been up as part of an annual holiday they both enjoy.

I then decided to take the plunge and drove up to Yorkshire and booked solo accommodation, something which was very new to me.  Not only from driving to me such a long way as I was not used to it, but holidaying solo.

I have been so lucky to stay in some amazing cottages all around the town and have been out exploring more and more of the countryside around.

This year I came for the longest time, a whole ten days, I mean, there is so much to explore it is hard to fit it all in.

So I shall share over the next few posts all the different places I visited. 

 

 

Considering the size of the town, it is surprising just how many coffee shops there are in the town, literally 14 in less than half a mile on one main street in the centre of the town. 

 

But coffee shops are just such a great place to sit and people watch and I absolutely loved the light one day when sat in Cafe Nero and the pictures on the wall. 

 

Another thing people who follow my blog and know me will know is my love of water.  So the fact that the town has a canal running through it is just perfect.  I mean, look at that reflection, isn't it just perfect!

 

 

Right from I think my second time of visiting this town I loved to take a walk up into the woods, I love the additions of the sculptures that have been added.

Such a perfect place to sit and do some sock knitting, don't you think?

 

I remember over the years Rosy had often said about the local pie shop and oh my goodness, it was definitely a delicious treat.

I follow this boat on Instagram, but for the life of me can not remember the name of the owner at the moment.  But I just adore the crochet curtains in the window.

In all the years I have been to Skipton, I have never done a canal trip so this year I joined Canal Trips and thoroughly enjoyed a leisurely, very slow pace of life trip up the canal.

I do hope you join me for my next instalment.