As we'd walked quite a few miles over the last few days our plan for today's entertainment was a trip to York, only about a 45 minutes drive across country though the beautiful Howardian Hills. Having said that about the walking element, we were on our feet for around 5hrs so I can't say that we didn't do our fair share of exercise for the day. In fact when we got back to the cottage we ankles were aching more than they did after we'd been out walking!
It was another nice day as we left Helmsley, and the villages we drove through along the B1363 between Helmsley and York looked resplendent bathed in sun. That said, we were stunned just a few miles after leaving as the fields either side of the road were white over. And this wasn't the frost that we'd left in and around Helmsley, but wet snow covering the fields and sides of the road. Surprisingly even though it was a sunny day, when we returned around 7hrs later the fields were still white where the suns rays hadn't reached.
We parked up in our usual car-park in York right next to Cliffords Tower and after a few issues with the parking machine I paid the £13.30 for 5hrs parking and we walked the short walk across to York Castle Museum. An entry fee of £10 each that gives you as many visits as you might want in 12 months isn't a bad price considering what there is on show. We were there for two and a half hours and to be honest if you were inclined to check out every exhibit and read all the documentation you could spend all day there. The range of exhibits on show is extremely varied; from dungeons through Victorian shops to 1980's toys.
When we left it was lunchtime so we headed off across the city in the direction of the Minster as we intended to dine in the Brew & Brownie on Museum St. We ate here a couple of months ago, however on that occasion I had to make do with soup as it was only a few days after I'd had a molar removed. It didn't disappoint, Donna had a four cheeses panini and I had a bacon and Brie toastie, both served with a fresh leaf and potato salad. Well worth a visit.
The next leg of our visit saw us walk back across the city over to Fairfax House, a lovely restored Georgian Townhouse with a rich history. As we're members of the HHA entry was free. There aren't that many rooms to see but that gives it more of a feel of a 'lived in' house than the grand houses such as Castle Howard or Chatsworth, but the guides in the rooms really bring the place to life which makes makes the visit come alive. Unfortunately for me, no photography allowed :-(
As a last stop-off on our visit we climbed up the steep steps up to Cliffords Tower, and as it's Spring the mound was covered in Daffodils which added to the beauty of the castle. Free entry again for us with Donna's corporate English Heritage membership, I must admit that I would have to think twice if I had to pay the £4.80 entry as although it is worth seeing, there isn't really much there to see. That said, the views over York are rewarding.
Not long left now until our parking ran out, so we decided to depart York to beat the rush hour traffic and head back 'up country' to York. A couple of hours relaxation then out for Steak Night at the restaurant at Canadian Fields just a few miles outside Helmsley.
Our table was booked for 7:15pm, but as we needed to find the place down a country lane we left a little early so were seated just after 7pm. It's a great little Glamping site with the restaurant being set in a large heated tent from Lapland, which looks like a large wigwam. Inside there are a number of tables and the the tent is well heated so we didn't feel the chill of what was a cold crisp evening.
The steak was gorgeous, cooked to perfection, the home-made chips were lovely and the meal was only £10 per head. The drinks and sweets were a little pricey so our bill for the meal, one drink each and a sweet each was £40. Having said that the sweets were divine, Donna had a brownie with chocolate sauce and a scoop of ice-cream, and mine was baked custard with fresh Yorkshire rhubard and two delicious shortbreads fingers, so for a two course meal with a drink you can't really complain. There's no wonder the place is well reviewed on Tripadvisor.
After arriving back at the cottage around 8:15pm I ended the day by spending some time in the garden with my camera, a pair of binoculars and Google Sky Map on my tablet just enjoying the clear skies; that was until someone a few doors down put a light on which turned the darkness down a notch. So, back inside to join Donna and put our feet up.
It was another nice day as we left Helmsley, and the villages we drove through along the B1363 between Helmsley and York looked resplendent bathed in sun. That said, we were stunned just a few miles after leaving as the fields either side of the road were white over. And this wasn't the frost that we'd left in and around Helmsley, but wet snow covering the fields and sides of the road. Surprisingly even though it was a sunny day, when we returned around 7hrs later the fields were still white where the suns rays hadn't reached.
We parked up in our usual car-park in York right next to Cliffords Tower and after a few issues with the parking machine I paid the £13.30 for 5hrs parking and we walked the short walk across to York Castle Museum. An entry fee of £10 each that gives you as many visits as you might want in 12 months isn't a bad price considering what there is on show. We were there for two and a half hours and to be honest if you were inclined to check out every exhibit and read all the documentation you could spend all day there. The range of exhibits on show is extremely varied; from dungeons through Victorian shops to 1980's toys.
When we left it was lunchtime so we headed off across the city in the direction of the Minster as we intended to dine in the Brew & Brownie on Museum St. We ate here a couple of months ago, however on that occasion I had to make do with soup as it was only a few days after I'd had a molar removed. It didn't disappoint, Donna had a four cheeses panini and I had a bacon and Brie toastie, both served with a fresh leaf and potato salad. Well worth a visit.
Our table was booked for 7:15pm, but as we needed to find the place down a country lane we left a little early so were seated just after 7pm. It's a great little Glamping site with the restaurant being set in a large heated tent from Lapland, which looks like a large wigwam. Inside there are a number of tables and the the tent is well heated so we didn't feel the chill of what was a cold crisp evening.
The steak was gorgeous, cooked to perfection, the home-made chips were lovely and the meal was only £10 per head. The drinks and sweets were a little pricey so our bill for the meal, one drink each and a sweet each was £40. Having said that the sweets were divine, Donna had a brownie with chocolate sauce and a scoop of ice-cream, and mine was baked custard with fresh Yorkshire rhubard and two delicious shortbreads fingers, so for a two course meal with a drink you can't really complain. There's no wonder the place is well reviewed on Tripadvisor.
After arriving back at the cottage around 8:15pm I ended the day by spending some time in the garden with my camera, a pair of binoculars and Google Sky Map on my tablet just enjoying the clear skies; that was until someone a few doors down put a light on which turned the darkness down a notch. So, back inside to join Donna and put our feet up.
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