Away in April 2011 – Day 9 Yorkshire rambles

Thirsk, Pickering, Apelton le street

Saturday, 9 April 2011

Slept in this morning and opted for leisurely morning reading. Finished reading her fearful symmetry, my first ebook. Good holiday read – must download Time Traveller’s wife. Makes me want to visit London and Highgate cemetery.

Short drive for pub Lunch at Cresswell Arms Apleton le street. Anthony had gammon steak washed down with “world top best” the local ale whilst I had steak and ale pie with Italian Pinot grigio for total of £24.60. In pubs here glasses of wine come in small, medium or large whist beers are usually a pint or half pint.

After lunch drove to Pickering and continued search for plates in local flea market and charity shops. Bought the Daily Telegraph and special cheese scones, 4 for £1.50 for our tea tonight.

Then on to Thirsk, home of James Herriott. Didn’t do James Herriott museum but did pop into their gift shop to buy Favourite Yorkshire recipes cook book – bargain at £1.50 with recipes for Yorkshire pork pie, Pickering double crust pie (with fruit filling) and Scarborough fish cobbler with Wesleydale, a local cheese and favourite of Wallace of Wallace and Grommit.

Afternoon pot of Yorkshire tea at York tea rooms. Yorkshire tea quite tasty, but colour is more golden than English breakfast.

Anthony has enjoyed driving in Yorkshire – lots of picturesque lanes meandering through small villages and fields. Yorkshire is far more hilly than Kent – our area is known as the Howardian Hills.

Didn’t go to York as opted to do small towns and villages. Also, didn’t get to the Slingsby Village shop or Castle Howard or York lavender farm. Dreaming that next time we come to the UK we will avoid London and fly into Manchester and do north of England, Scotland and Ireland. Spring seems to be ideal time to travel and we have been blessed with fabulous weather.

Driving home just before dusk, we came across grouse running across the road and in the fields. Unreal!

	Cresswell Arms, Apelton le street [Map]		James Herriott museum [Map]
	Yorkshire countryside [Map]		Yorkshire dales [Map]
	Scenic lanes [Map]		Pickering [Map]
	Thirsk [Map]