Reflections at Studley Royal Water Garden

Left the Lakes today to travel to Harrogate for a couple of days, one of which I'm working in Wetherby which is why the trip is being extended and we're not back in Kent already.

Rather than spend the day in the Lakes, where the weather didn't look good, we decided to call in at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Gardens, both World Heritage sites and both National Trust. That's the third NT site this trip.

Both were impressive but we didn't really have time to do the Water Gardens justice having spent quite a while on a guided tour of the Abbey. A very worthwhile tour it turned out to be, with a very knowledgeable guide who told the story of the building, the abbey and the monks very clearly indeed.

It was turning dusk as we moved on to the Water Garden, but the still late afternoon air created these mirror like conditions on the ponds and lakes just as the designer intended. Both sites will repay a further visit.

It was then in the car and on to the Travelodge in Harrogate. A bit different to the Borrowdale Hotel but good in its own way and considerably less expensive. Finished the day at Pizza Express that was good value for money with our Tastecard discount card.