Skipton Holiday Cottage

Today we cycled from Grassington to Arncliffe and back. The route is relatively gentle with no really steep or long climbs. At Arncliffe we sat on a bench in the churchyard to eat our sandwiches. The photo above is the view from the bench. We laid some bluebells on the grave of Bishop John Robinson, and marvelled that it will be 25 years this December since he died of cancer. A farmhouse in the village sells meat so we bought steak for our evening meal. We asked the woman at the farmhouse for the date of this year's Arncliffe summer fête. It is August 9th.

Labels: Arncliffe

Here is a heron spotted from the canal towpath while cycling back from Silsden.

Labels: heron

Skipton High Street is through to the final three in the Great Street of the Year 2009 competition; alongside Kensington High Street and Portobello Road. The great features of the street such as a regular market, a castle, a town hall and other historic building have helped to secure the nomination. Read more in the Craven and Herald, Skipton's local paid-for paper.

Labels: High

A short car ride from Skipton is the larger than expected village of Addingham. From there we followed a riverside walk to Ilkley; going on the northern bank to begin with, and returning on the southern bank via the Dales Way. Both Addingham and Ilkley have hidden treasures-like this historic bridge at Ilkley. Addingham parish church is ancient; and the Old Rectory stood in extensive grounds, which can still be seen today from the footpath.

Labels: Addingham Ilkley