Easy Countryside Appreciation

Here in my part of the world, we are extremely lucky to live on the doorstep of some amazing countryside, being only a hop and a skip away from the magnificent Yorkshire Dales National Park. There are wild and rugged bits, beautiful bits and charming bits. Gorgeous villages and sweeping vistas. High hills and low valleys. Rivers and gorges and  tarns. And it's right there to enjoy, and mostly for free :: park the car, put on some walking boots and stride right out into the thick of it.

But sometimes, getting out into the wilds of the countryside can seem like quite hard work. And when you get to feeling like that, like you really want to be out amongst nature, but don't necessarily wish to prepare or work at it, then you choose the Easy Countryside.

For us, the easy option of choice is without question Bolton Abbey. It's easy as you can possibly get. A way to enjoy some magnificent scenery without having to really exert oneself. And crucially for the likes of me, there is no map reading involved and no danger of getting lost either.

 

So when my Dad and his Lady were staying last week, I decided on a simple jaunt to Bolton Abbey, to share the delights of the Yorkshire Dales and our local countryside without  the need for maps, rucksacks or clonky footwear.

It was great. We rolled up mid morning last Monday and found only a handful of other folk about, stepped out the car and followed a beautiful wide and easy to negotiate pathway through lush, damp and very green woodland along the banks of the River Wharfe. We were headed for The Strid, to sit a while on the mossy rocks and be wowed by the forces of nature and the power of water.

 

After the noise and rushyness of the Strid waters, it was delightful to stroll back again and take in the calm reflections in the slow moving water further down river.

It was maybe an hours walk all told, nothing remotely strenuous, yet very good for the soul nevertheless. And at the end of the walk, a stop at the Cavendish Pavillion for my favourite spot of elevenses :: frothy cappuccino and a maple/pecan slice.

Between mouthfuls of maple and pecan slice, I was telling my folks the story of The Little People and The Money Tree. They found the whole thing intriguing, and asked to be taken to this magical place. So off we set, over the bridge and along the opposite side of the river to climb through the lush woodland....

 

...until we reached the Magic Tree.

 

We payed our respects, and shamelessly Wished Hard for Money.

 

I am still waiting for my wish to come true, but hey, I am patient.

 

After all that hard Wishing work, we set off to have a little explore of the ruins of the ancient Priory.

 

It was really beautiful, and quite peaceful even given the large party of school children  who were visiting at the same time as us.

 

I'm not much of a one for history :: I can appreciate that these wall are pretty damn old, but I do not really need to know details. I prefer to wander round absorbing the views and atmosphere without needing to know the exact date of construction.

We emerged out of the small church to find the sky had darkened and a rather menacing storm was rolling our way. The quality of light was incredible, as was the speed at which the storm was approaching.

We turned our backs on the Abbey and walked rather speedily back to the car, arriving just as the first huge drops of rain were beginning to fall.

I was rather glad that we were not on top of a remote hill.

I was rather glad to climb back into my warm dry car and feel smug.

Sometimes, Easy Countryside Appreciation has it's definite advantages, most especially when thunder and lightening are involved.

xxx

Comments

[Amanda]

Thank you for making me smile, we also love Bolton Abbey. We have a wonderful watercolour Of the Priory hanging in our living room. It was a wedding gift from some special Yorkshire friends.

[suzie sews]

this is one of my fav. places in the UK, its just a great day out with children, picnic with the cows. Thank you for the memories.

[The Quilted Librarian]

What an incredibly gorgeous place. Wikipedia has a good article on
Bolton Abbey.

[Annabel Burton]

the lovely thing about your pictures, Lucy, is that you show how absolutely amazing our countryside is, and help us to appreciate what is already there. It's a great gift, thank you!

[susan@tickledpaisley]

Wow - what an amazing countryside! You took such beautiful photos.

[Christina]

Who knew easy country side appreciation could be so beautiful?

Love the money tree. I have never seen anything like it before. I wonder if there are any in Australia?! :)

[Tonya]

Hi Lucy, I am almost done with my own crochet bag and loving it but I am wondering if I did something wrong as it is HUGE!!
I think I see that you attached the handles on the outside of the bag but the most importani question that I must verify in my ignorance is....do you sew the handles on with yarn and darning needle?? Or do we use something else?

I can't wait to show you and thanks for the crochet therapy. You have inspired me to branch out of my blanket making... check mine out if you like...it has been a fun process while dealing with hospital stays and so on...

[Alexandra]

Gorgeous! You're so lucky to live in such a beautiful place!

[Rachel]

Thanks for the trip Lucy! It all looks gorgeous!
Rachel x

[Barbara]

The country is so beautiful, I loved the Abbey, and yes I am one who would want all the historial data on it, but then I am a history buff so that would be normal, grin.

[PaiselyJade]

Those photo's took my breath away - amazing!

[jane]

so lovely. thank you for the tour!! jkj

[Meagan S.]

My day has been so enriched by this post. Thank you for sharing your amazing photographs. They are truely remarkable. I would love to come across the pond to see these wonders some day. I love the magic tree too! Thanks Lucy, you're the best.

[Karambar]

The scenery is wonderful but your writing is delightful too ! You are very talented in telling stories.

[Heather]

That's a great photo of the Priory against the sky, I love blue skies with clouds behind striking buildings.

By the way, does the money tree have real present-time money in it? Or is it old money? Or is it not actual currency at all but just round flat pieces of metal? So many questions I know, sorry xxxx

[Anna]

Wow, that scenary is magnificent! Thanks for sharing!

[Marie]

I was at Bolton Abbey last week and visited nearly all the places you've mentioned. It is beautiful there,you're so lucky to have it on your doorstep!

[Michaela]

I was on the Yorkshire Moors last year when just such a cloud approached us. Unfortunatley, we were about 4 miles from our car. They travel fast those Yorkshire clouds don't they?!

[melissa]

Vicki - I'm saving up!!! LOL

It is on my life's list of things to do befor I expire, to visit the land of my English ancestors. It's been 4 years since I got to check one off, when I went to the Grand Canyon in arizona. I'm looong over due. What lovely pics Lucy!! You are blessed to live so near such splendor and beauty!

some day.......

[Jackie]

Lucy ~it looks like you all had a lovely day out ~ the scenery is stunning and your photographs are beautiful as always! Thanks for sharing :O)

[cassaundra]

you are lucky! what a magnificent place!

[Vicki]

How incredibly beautiful! Someday that's my dream...to visit some of these special little treasures of the world...yep, someday. But til then, I love seeing all your beautiful photos, thanks again for sharing.

[Casey]

wow, you live in such a beautiful area!

[Kar]

What a wonderful day Luce! How lovely to be by the river and listen to the water, to see all of the trees and other bits of nature. My kind of day!

xxxx

[Sandra]

Hello Lucy!

Thank you so much to share and to tell us about these marvellous places :)
It is very important to listen and get the sugestions of the people who lives in the places; I do not like only to read the tourists guides, sometimes we can loose something beautiful :)
I will take note of your sugestions :) My husband will love it too :) We like walking in beautiful countrysides :)
As I told you before, we were in York (we liked very much) but we want to come back to see the countryside :) Now, it will be easier and funnier :)

Sandra
http://presepiocomvistaparaocanal.blogspot.com