The breakfast table was back to normal today, and the sun was out - it all looked rather promising, in spite of the high winds that were forecast for the day.
An already quite windswept walk towards Studley Roger (and, ultimately, Fountains Abbey) took us along sunlit fields with lambs and pheasants. Unfortunately, the planned stop at St. Mary's was not possible - the church was not open yet, it was too early in the year. We spent some time in the visitor centre next, with its excellent shop and friendly staff, and then walked towards Fountains Hall and the ruins of the abbey. As you can see, it was still sunny, but the wind had by then chilled us quite thoroughly.
A pair of pheasant cocks were fighting among the trees next to the path - at this time of year, they are very reckless and don't care about humans being nearby. We watched them for a while before walking on.
We were getting closer to Fountains Hall and of couse went inside, too. Some of the rooms contain exhibitions that change every now and then, and we'd not yet seen the current one about the Settlers Society, a charity organisation founded in the 1930s by the then owners of the Fountains Abbey estate, helping boys and young men aged 14 to 19 to get out of their slum homes and train them for jobs in agriculture, forestry, carpentry or domestic service, eventually finding jobs for them that would allow them to escape the vicious circle of unemployment, poverty, violence and drink that often reigned in those slums during the time of the Great Depression.
It was now lunch time and we needed sustenance. The nearby tea room at Fountains Mill was the best option; their food is not great and rather expensive, but it offered a respite from the endless strong winds, and so we took a table. Several other visitors had the same idea, and we observed some of them dressed as lightly as we would maybe do on a hot summer's day - definitely not on a day like this! Just looking at them made us shiver!
We felt then ready to tackle the outdoors again. But once you've been chilled through to the bone, you somehow can't get warm properly for a long time, and this was really the shortest visit to Fountains Abbey we ever went on. We still loved seeing the place; it is always special, no matter the weather or time of year, but we really just longed for the cosiness of our cottage with its electric fire and comfy settee.
And now, time is running out (I need to get to work), and this post is becoming very long - wait for Part II tonight or tomorrow morning :-)
That is certainly a beautiful spot. We visited many years ago, probably 30 or more now, but I remember it as quite a magical place. A pity about the cold wind. As you say, once you become chilled through it can take some time to warm up again. I laughed about the fighting cock pheasants. We had two outside on our patio this week having a little skirmish, We had a ringside view!
ReplyDeleteYes, its status as UNESCO World Heritage site is well deserved, I think!
DeleteThe pheasants are so focused on mating that they lose all caution. Sadly, this also means many a squashed one by the roadside.
We always take new visitors to Fountains Abbey - nowhere like it.
ReplyDeleteYou say it, Pat!
DeleteSo many interesting things on this walk. What a shame it was so cold! I occasionally see one cock pheasant around here, but I've never seen two fighting. Nice of Fountains Hall to have a new exhibit for you every year when you come to visit! And then, beautiful Fountains Abbey. It is a bit magical to see. Such places always make me wonder about the life that was once lived there and how it came to end.
ReplyDeleteThe place breathes history from every stone, Kristi. I find it so sad that the bell tower was completed only a few years before the enforced dissolution of the monastery. The roofs of the buildings were taken down almost immediately, to discourage any further (clandestine) use of them.
DeleteShame it was rather chilly but you definitely made the most of it and were able to see a lot of interesting things. Love the daffodils!
ReplyDeleteThank for the photos, they are really good.
Thank you, Mary! Well, it couldn't be helped - had we waited a few more days for our visit, we'd have had more pleasant temperatures, but there we were. And we'll certainly be back next year, in warmer weather.
DeleteI can well imagine the chilly weather as we've had that here as well... Looking nice and sunny from indoors, but very cold winds blowing when you get out! (until today, when it was suddenly surprisingly warm) Love the photos with all the daffodils!
ReplyDeleteWe've had the opposite weather this week - sunny and mild to begin with, and then a sharp drop in temperature from Wednesday night on, down to 3 Celsius this morning.
DeleteThe daffodils looked even better in reality, my photos really can not do them justice.
I would love to see the remains of this magnificent Abbey and I never tire of seeing it on your blog! When my sister and I first visited London in May of 1981, we went by train to see Leeds Castle, and it was so cold that day...I loved seeing it but I was also chilled to the bone! I know I have told you before but the first place that I heard about Fountains Abbey was from the James Herriot books. He made me love all of Yorkshire just from his writing.
ReplyDeleteI know Richard's relatives are down south, but maybe one of your future trips to England could include a few days up north. Yorkshire really is like in those books, I am sure you'd love it!
DeleteWe were recently terribly cold in Greece, even though there was quite a bit of sunshine. I seriously regretted not bringing gloves and scarf, for goodness sake! So I can imagine how cold you must have been despite the sun, and I don't suppose you brought appropriately wintry clothing either! Fountains Hall looks magnificent! And since I cannot feel the wind I have to say that the first pictures, of the morning sunshine and the woods, made me feel in my heart what it is that I love so much about England.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, we did bring wintry clothes - no gloves, though :-) My jacket/coat is actually a skiing jacket, but walking for 1 1/2 hours in strong wind will eventually get through to you no matter what :-)
DeleteOne would not expect of Greece to be so cold, would one!
Yes, the spring sunshine on the woodland is wonderful.
I was in Glasgow while you were in Yorkshire and it was very cold there as well despite the sun.I ventured on a few walks but well protected and for shorter times.
ReplyDeleteIt was probably colder up there than in Yorkshire, but as you say, walks are still possible when one is well protected.
DeleteI have so enjoyed reading all the posts on your holiday in Yorkshire as I am a Yorkshire woman living in the south-west of England. I know the area well as my parents lived only a little further north in Coverdale. We have just returned from a week in the Dales but didn't do as much walking as usual because the wind was very chill. Instead we spent a happy time socialising with friends!
ReplyDeleteHello and welcome to my blog - I believe this is your first comment here?
DeleteI shall pop over and have a look at your blog in a minute.
Socialising with friends is a great way to spend time! I'd love to visit the Dales more and go walking there (not just in and around Ripon and its immediate vicinity), but it is difficult without a car.