43!

Today is our 43rd wedding anniversary! So we have driven an short way from home into Wharfedale and spent the morning walking by the River Wharfe (5.5 miles)

Usual circuit from Barden Bridge to the Cavendish Pavillion where we stopped to have a coffee. It was lovely and sunny so we sat outside. Then we returned along the other side of the river and stopped to take a look at the Strid. Here the river boils through a narrow gorge. We decided it would be good to have a photo taken together here as a few years ago we had one taken at Aysgarth Falls on the same occasion. So this is today's blip.

The whole area is part of the Duke of Devonshire's estates and there was lots of management work going on in the woods including tree felling (except there were four fellas not three! Sorry) We saw three Red Kites not far from Barden Bridge, don't think I've seen any here before.

We went on then to the Craven Arms in Appletreewick for lunch and saw lambs in the field opposite. It was a bit cloudier when we came out but we had decided to call in at Parceval Hall just a couple of miles away to take a walk around the gardens. Not officially open yet but that meant we didn't have to pay. Higher up and less sheltered than the bottom of the valley the wind was quite chill. Snowdrops were still in full bloom and it looked like the Hellebores were just out but the daffs had still a long way to go.
I got chatting to a lady who was retuning to her cottage from the Hall followed by a Guinea Fowl. She said he probably wanted feeding. There were several Pheasants around too. She put our some grain and the Guineafowl was joined by two Cock Pheasants and three Hen Pheasants. She went back in saying that there is often a rabbit who comes along too. Sure enough a few minutes later, as we walked away, along came a rabbit to join the feast!

Just before 3.00pm we arrived in Burnsall hoping to have a cup of tea. The tea rooms were closed so we checked in to our hotel for the night, The Devonshire Fell, where we got nice cup of tea overlooking the river. This used to be just The Fell hotel and 43 years ago we spent our wedding night here. It was very different then, don't think they even had ensuite rooms.
It was taken over by the Devonshire estate at the end of the '90s and other than its magnificent fellside position there is absolutely nothing that is recognisable.

Having a rest now before dinner, good to have a treat now and then.

See flickr album for more of Wharfedale