Ripon, Day One (Saturday)

This was Saturday, the 31st of May, and our first full day in Ripon. If you have missed the post about the pretty cottage where we were staying, just go back two posts and you'll get a good idea of what was our base for a whole week.

I woke up to the sun shining into my cosy bedroom, and when I opened the door to the staircase, our landlords' two cats came running in - they had, I later learned from my sister, already been paying us a visit at 2.00 in the morning! She had put them out again and made sure the cat flap in the back door was firmly locked, but they somehow must have managed to open it again, as they were now here, curiously exploring my room and going downstairs with me in the hope of some food (they never got anything from us).

The Wakeman's House, Ripon Market Square

After breakfast, we had a quick stroll across the market to get some fresh fruit and veg and an equally quick visit to Sainsbury's and the baker's. With my sister-in-law, we had arranged for us to visit her in the afternoon, so we went for a walk that would take us to Littlethorpe via the scenic route.

Ripon offers many nice walks in and around the town, some are described in leaflets by the Civic Society, and usually they are well marked. 

We started out along the river Skell.

I nearly stepped on this little mouse! And when I say "little", I mean it - it was about half the length of my thumb! Before we walked on, I very carefully stroked its furry back and made sure it hid well in the grass besides the path.

On we went, along the river and across.

Underneath the bridge where the railway used to be (now part of the bypass), we reached the outskirts of Ripon. It was very quiet here, nearly no cars and very few people about.

The path then lead through a bit of woodland (and was rather muddy in parts) until we reached an open field. At the end of the field, way behind the row of trees, is the road leading past Ripon Race Course and back into town.

However, we did not want to go back into Ripon just yet; instead after having passed the Racecourse, we took the path to the left that leads along Ripon Canal. It is a nice walk; you have the canal on one side, and open meadows with the river on the other side - a popular place with birds and birdwatchers.

Not far along the canal comes the path that leads up into Littlethorpe, which is where we were actually headed. Littlethorpe is a village that has no pub, no school and no shop, but a church and a village hall - and, most important for me, family where I am always welcome!

Back to Ripon in my next post.