Breakfast in Knaresborough followed by a stroll down the river, past the Chapel of Our Lady of  the Crag and down to St Robert’s Cave (see extra). 

The remains of St Robert’s Cave and chapel are cut out of magnesium limestone bedrock & consists of the cave, a domestic area and a small chapel which contains the grave and altar platform. 

The following is taken from a page on Visit Harrigate website, given to St Robert’s Cave (https://www.visitharrogate.co.uk/business-directory/st-roberts-cave)

“St Robert of Knaresborough was born Robert Flower in York to a wealthy family.  From childhood however he was intent on pursuing a religious vocation, beginning as a novice Cistercian Monk in Northumberland and later at Fountains Abbey. He quickly decided this life did not suit him and soon joined a hermit who lived in Knaresborough and he began to wander the area. Whenever he settled in one area he began to attract followers, many of them poor, sick or spiritually in need. His reputation as a Holy Man grew, but his lifestyle and followers earned the anger of the authorities in the area. Homeless, he returned to to the Hermit’s cave beside the River Nidd in Knaresborough. Eventually, giving in to public opinion the Constable of Knaresborough Castle granted him a piece of land and he lived in the Cave for the rest of his life. 

He became the friend of the poor, prisoners and pilgrims who flocked to visit his humble Cave. He died on 24th September 1208, initially being buried in the Chapel but later his body was moved to a  Priory in Abbey Road that had been built because of his fame.”

And this marvellous quote is taken from a biography of St Robert, written in 1250, in Latin, by F Bottomley

“Robert went down to them-lace near Knaresborough and constructed a modest shelter for himself from small branches and bushes growing from the rock. There flowed,to him a stream of nobles and commoners who came bringing a variety of offerings and went away more rooted in the love of Christ and rejoicing that they had seen Robert’s face.”

Extra today of a brilliant wall mural with a staircase to nowhere.