In my comment, I said that I had been wanting to go to Richmond for some time now and was wondering whether I'd make it there during this year's holiday.
Well, what shall I say - we did!
On Monday, the 1st of August (Yorkshire Day!), my Aunt J and Uncle B kindly took us to Richmond. It was only the first stop of two full days we spent with them - they are always great company, not only because they are so active and take us places, but because they are simply very lovely people, and one can have a lot of fun with them but also deep conversation and exchange of well-thought out opinions. Here's to J and B! (raising my coffee mug to them)
Now, off to Richmond. Again, just like with Littlethorpe Manor in my previous post, I took too many pictures for me to decide which ones to leave out - and therefore, you'll get them all!
Some views are nearly exactly the same as the pictures on Mike's post, mentioned above. Of course his photos are in a different league - not like my more or less clicking away with no particular plan. But I hope they will still give you an impression of how I experienced this impressive place, with the massive keep at one end, the vast expansion of green behind the old walls and the fantastic views from the top of the keep across Richmond and the surrounding countryside.
Richmond Market Square:
The gate to Richmond Castle:
Climbing up into the Keep, the views from the windows changed as we got higher and higher:
What the world looks like from the top of the Keep:
Back on the ground, there is still more to explore:
This was, as I said, only the first stop on this day. It was early afternoon now and we walked back to the car park and moved on. Where to, will be one of my next posts.
I can't for the life of me recall if I've ever been round the castle. Nat that that matters because I often go round such places many, many times and never tire and usually find new things to ponder over.
ReplyDeleteYou've done a lot of catching up on my blog this morning, Graham, thank you!
DeleteLike you, I never tire of looking at such places, no matter whether I've been before or not.
Your post is a good advertisement for Richmond and a reminder to me that I need to drive up to The Dales again. I want to do some walking up there and visit the highest pub in England - "The Tan Hill Inn".
ReplyDeleteI've heard/read about "The Tan Hill Inn"; there is even a series of books out about it, but I've not been there (yet).
DeleteAnyway, The Dales are all there for you to do as much walking as you (and your feet) could wish for!
What a lovely adventure! Great photos, as usual, my friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jennifer! I am never quite sure how they will really turn out - all I do is try to find an angle or view I particularly like, and then click... :-)
DeleteWhat a great day - and only half a day, it sounds. I would already be exhausted, I think....I know nothing of Richmond castle and will now try to learn more. It's so fascinating at a ruin to imagine the life that was once there.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great day, and there was more to come!
DeleteLike you, I am fascinated with ruins and try to imagine what it would have been like there once upon a time.
Imagine the feeling of power at having the view from the keep - enemies could have been spotted from miles away. Your photos certainly make me wish to see Richmond!
ReplyDeleteThey knew exactly where to build their castles, didn't they!
DeleteI understand the difficulty of choosing :) I particularly like the views from up above looking down... but also the ones from the ground looking up at details of the walls (with flowers etc)... and... :)
ReplyDeleteYou know what I mean, yes :-)
DeleteActually, I had even more pictures of flowers growing out of the crumbling walls, and some more views from the top, but I left out maybe 6 or 8 pictures altogether.
There is something so wonderful about castles. I think it's because they're often so high up. I also like that feeling when climbing up church towers (I mean, when you are allowed to go up & there's a staircase - I don't go in for crampons and ropes ! :)
ReplyDeleteI love looking at a place from above, and usually, that means climbing some stairs to the top of a tower, be it at a castle or church or general look-out. It makes me more aware of how buildings etc. are set in relation to each other, and the general "lie of the land".
DeleteFlying across is also nice but much higher up and happening too fast for the kind of contemplation one can indulge in when standing still.
I love flying in a helicopter (on the rare occasions I have done it) because it makes everything look about the size of a model village, you can see all the detail.
DeleteSo far, I've not yet had the pleasure of a helicopter flight, but I've been in (very) small aircraft a few times - I am sure you've seen my pictures. It was great, but the element of contemplation was missing, because of both the noise and the speed.
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