Rievaulx Abbey

Last day in Yorkshire was generally a good ‘un.

Rievaulx Abbey was just beautiful. Helped by a 1:1 (or 1:2 I suppose) background lesson from a volunteer chap who used to be a history lecturer at York University).

From there we were off to Mel‘s favourite gin producer, Whittaker’s. They also happen to have recently released their first Single Malt Whisky, and I have to say, for out being only four and a half years old it is remarkably smooth (and there’s a sherry cask coming to compliment the bourbon cask - I’ll be keeping an eye out for that). The distillery itself is in a beautiful location in the steeply rolling countryside.

So we decided to carry on into the Dales, rather than into Harrogate, the original plan. Should’ve stuck with that original plan because Grassington, the setting for the channel 5 All Creatures Great and Small reboot (a guilty pleasure, love that show) was decidedly underwhelming. As with many little places around here, like Malton, the centre is a car park, and there are way too many people for two misanthropes. Chuffers the cat, sitting on a bench on the way to the centre, was easily the high point. Seems he sits there all day every day tempting tourists for scritches…

So we headed back to Harrogate briefly, and realised our mistake bypassing it, so it’s on the list for a return (but we did have time to pop into Betty’s for some gifts to take home).

Have really enjoyed this trip, already wondering where we could stay and visit next year…