Waking up this morning it was like deja vu when thinking back to our trip here in March; we couldn't see the sea or the harbour as it was thick with fog just as it was all week when we came in March, so hopefully not a sign of things to come for the rest of the week.
We left the apartment at 10:30, heading down the coast past Scarborough, down to Bridlington then headed inland a few miles to Burton Agnes Hall. The road between Whitby and Scarborough was like pea soup, you could hardly see in front of you so it was time for the full complement of fog-lights, and a steady foot on the accelerator. Of course, you still see all the idiots who find it appropriate to drive with no lights on at all!
After skirting around Scarborough we picked up the road to Bridlington, which, whilst not as foggy as it had been earlier you couldn't describe it as clear. We eventually reached Burton Agnes around 90 minutes and 47 miles after leaving Whitby. It was a fair way to drive, but as we'd exhausted all the English Heritage sites within an hour of Whitby, and as Burton Agnes was the nearest HHA house we had no option but to rack up the miles.
On many occasions on route from home to Scarborough we'd passed Burton Agnes, and it had never really registered as a place to visit. Yes we knew it was there, but it wasn't until we became 'Friends of HHA' that we'd actually taken time to find out what was there. And after spending over 4hrs there, we'd certainly missed out!
The main house is an Elizabethan stately home built around 1600, and next to it is the original Burton Hall that was built around 500 years earlier. The hall is a complete building, but has been restored over the centuries using other materials so you don't appreciate it's age when looking at it from outside. You do when inside, the ornate roof, the stone floor; oh, and the damp smell that's always a giveaway. There are beautiful gardens, an award winning walled garden, a church, and of course the obligatory cafe, craft shop, and gift ship.
Unlike many historic houses, at Burton Agnes there are no limitations around photography which is a massive bonus for me, especially with so much beautiful decor and furniture in the house. We were surprised that apart from the limited roped off areas, in the rest of the house you could actually sit on the furniture and touch the ornaments. It was also a bonus that as the kids are back at school it wasn't that busy; so much quieter and serene. Another bonus (well, for those that like wildlife art), on the second floor the Yorkshire artist Robert Fuller was exhibiting his wildlife paintings. Not my cup of tea, especially with his original art priced into the many thousands of pounds.
By now the weather had cleared with breaks in the cloud bathing us in warm sunshine, so it was time to remove our jackets and catch a few rays, and of course Donna had to carry them both. Well, I do have to take the photos you know, I do need an assistant; unpaid of course. By the time we had finished our tour of the house and grounds we'd been there well over 4hrs, the time had just flown.
All that was left was another 90 minute drive back up to Whitby, battling rush-hour traffic around Scarborough and yet more fog. We'd hit the fog just before reaching Scarborough and it was hanging over the road most of the way back to Whitby. I couldn't be certain, but it wouldn't surprise me if it been foggy on the coast all day.
We left the apartment at 10:30, heading down the coast past Scarborough, down to Bridlington then headed inland a few miles to Burton Agnes Hall. The road between Whitby and Scarborough was like pea soup, you could hardly see in front of you so it was time for the full complement of fog-lights, and a steady foot on the accelerator. Of course, you still see all the idiots who find it appropriate to drive with no lights on at all!
After skirting around Scarborough we picked up the road to Bridlington, which, whilst not as foggy as it had been earlier you couldn't describe it as clear. We eventually reached Burton Agnes around 90 minutes and 47 miles after leaving Whitby. It was a fair way to drive, but as we'd exhausted all the English Heritage sites within an hour of Whitby, and as Burton Agnes was the nearest HHA house we had no option but to rack up the miles.
On many occasions on route from home to Scarborough we'd passed Burton Agnes, and it had never really registered as a place to visit. Yes we knew it was there, but it wasn't until we became 'Friends of HHA' that we'd actually taken time to find out what was there. And after spending over 4hrs there, we'd certainly missed out!
The main house is an Elizabethan stately home built around 1600, and next to it is the original Burton Hall that was built around 500 years earlier. The hall is a complete building, but has been restored over the centuries using other materials so you don't appreciate it's age when looking at it from outside. You do when inside, the ornate roof, the stone floor; oh, and the damp smell that's always a giveaway. There are beautiful gardens, an award winning walled garden, a church, and of course the obligatory cafe, craft shop, and gift ship.
Unlike many historic houses, at Burton Agnes there are no limitations around photography which is a massive bonus for me, especially with so much beautiful decor and furniture in the house. We were surprised that apart from the limited roped off areas, in the rest of the house you could actually sit on the furniture and touch the ornaments. It was also a bonus that as the kids are back at school it wasn't that busy; so much quieter and serene. Another bonus (well, for those that like wildlife art), on the second floor the Yorkshire artist Robert Fuller was exhibiting his wildlife paintings. Not my cup of tea, especially with his original art priced into the many thousands of pounds.
By now the weather had cleared with breaks in the cloud bathing us in warm sunshine, so it was time to remove our jackets and catch a few rays, and of course Donna had to carry them both. Well, I do have to take the photos you know, I do need an assistant; unpaid of course. By the time we had finished our tour of the house and grounds we'd been there well over 4hrs, the time had just flown.
All that was left was another 90 minute drive back up to Whitby, battling rush-hour traffic around Scarborough and yet more fog. We'd hit the fog just before reaching Scarborough and it was hanging over the road most of the way back to Whitby. I couldn't be certain, but it wouldn't surprise me if it been foggy on the coast all day.
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