Yorkshire Beauty

Rolling hills as far as the eye can see, forested valleys, stretching moors and silvery vapours drifting over the landscape in the early morning sun; welcome to Yorkshire.

At this time of year, although bitingly cold, the Yorkshire moors are breathtakingly beautiful, showcasing the glory of nature and sheer magnificence akin to Peter Jackson’s portrayal of New Zealand in his Lord of the Rings productions.

Having visited for a funeral, spirits were duly low, but when I encountered the stunning landscapes, I could not help but feel a sort of living presence, pulsing in every aspect of the surroundings, breathing life and energy through me. The crisp air and dewy flowers were intoxicating, as was the river with its thousands of intricate reflections that you could stare into endlessly.

Bolton Abbey was by far the most captivating place I visited. In the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, the ruins of a 12^th century monastery exist in acres of woodland that are truly staggering and simply must be experienced. We walked for hours through the woods (muddy wellies accompanying) and skipped stones along the mirrored surface, topped off with a bowl (I mean it, it was a bowl) of hot chocolate plus whipped cream plus marshmallows plus sprinkles, and thankfully I didn’t have a coronary! If walking isn’t your thing (it wasn’t mine until I met my boyfriend’s mum!) then there are still places you can visit. There are about 9462 pubs in a 3-mile radius, all of which consist of roaring log fires, engulfing leather armchairs, a monstrously-sized roast dinner and as standard, an adorable pub dog. For afternoon tea, you simply must visit Betty’s Tea Rooms in Harrogate; nearly a century old, it boasts the most delectable cream cakes and extensive collection of tea and coffee (with over 300 breads, cakes and chocolates!). If you want to explore the town, there are hundreds of quaint little shops selling petite homeware bits that are perfect for gift-giving, or try the market in Skipton with thousands of books for sale as well as puzzles, fruit, vegetables and jewellery. There is a great buzz about Harrogate, and when we went we were lucky enough to catch the Pancake Day celebrations, with local radio stations and pancake-tossing competitions aplenty.

Don’t forget all the “Ye Olde Sweetshops” either – with pineapple cubes, rhubarb and custards, bonbons, humbugs, salted liquorice, jelly buttons (how much time have you got?) they have all the old sweets as well as some new!