Tues/Wed - Whoot! A snowstorm in Maine allowed us to change our flights around, so we got to leave a day early! Flew into Heathrow this time on a redeye, picked up the rental, an Fiat 500L, and made tracks for Nottingham. We stopped by the Verulamium Museum on the way, and had dinner at a Gothic Pub called the 'Pit and Pendulum' .
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Thursday - Off to Wollaton Hall to see the Park, Museum, and house. Lunch at the Carpenters Arms in Dale Abbey. Visited Nottingham Castle for a cave tour and the museum, and a pint at 'Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem', the oldest pub in Britain, circa (1189AD). Dinner at Kayal, an award winning Indian restaurant.
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Friday - Left Nottingham and drove to Hull to visit 'The Deep', a very unique aquarium, or "submarium" as they call themselves. A little shopping for our week in Grinton, and a drive over to the Yorkshire Dales to meet family. We stayed at "Neddy House", a stunning 5 bedroom restored farmhouse with a theatre, pool room, gourmet kitchen, etc. We met Gordon and Cherith (Jane's brother), as well as Bridget and Colin (Jane's sister) and their two kids, Alex and Jennifer. Dinner at 'The Bridge Inn' pub after the Australian part of the Holland Family arrived, and much fun was had by all!
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Saturday - Jane, Colin, the kids, and I went to the Yorkshire Air Museumin York for the day. Some nice exhibits and some working planes, although we didn't get to see any planes flying. A chaotic food shopping trip after a few pints at lunch, and a large family dinner at Neddy House.
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Sunday - Jane and I hiked thru the mostly muddy fields to a Druid Temple near Masham. The temple is a folly, but it was a great day out. Being near Masham, of course, means pints at the White Bear pub! They serve Theakstons Old Peculier in brewery made wood barrels! Yum! We also stopped in to visit 'Black Sheep Brewery' and we we stopped by the 'Black Bull in Paradise' as well. After visiting Masham, we went to see Aysgarth Falls. The falls were spectacular, especially due to the recent rainfall.
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Monday - We went as a group to Thorp Perrow Arboretum and Gardens for a day out at the Bird of Prey and Mammal Centre. We took a Hawk Walk where you get to handle a Harris hawk under the guidance of the trainers. Afterwards, Gordon, Cherith, Jane, and I went to see Easby Abbey near Richmond, and then drove over the moors to get to the Tan Hill, Englands highest (and lonliest!) pub for a pint. It's where they filmed 'An American Werewolf in London'. We stopped in Reeth at the 'Black Bull' for dinner.
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Tuesday - we drove to Pickering for a ride on a steam train on the North York Moors Railway. Pickering Station is where they filmed Hogwarts Station for the Harry Potter Movies. We didn't get to ride the full line, the Spring schedule only runs to Goathland, where we had lunch, but it was a great ride over the moors nonetheless. We took the (really) long way home via Rosedale Moor and Blakely Ridge, and enjoyed some sunshine.
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Wednesday - As a group, we went to Beamish, a Living Museum of the North. We enjoyed the exhibits, some of the tours and interviews with coal miners, a ride on a steam powered merry-go-round, and lunch at a coal-fired fish and chip shop! Beamish is quite a place, and while we have visited before, they are always adding more exhibits.
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Thursday - We drove to West Burton for a visit to the falls, as well as a trip to the Cat Pottery. If you have visited the inn, you have seen some of their creations lounging around. We also drove down to Skipton for a visit to Skipton Castle, built in 1089. We drove over to Bolton Abbey. We stopped by the Blue Lion, but were too early for a meal, so back to Neddy House it was.
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Friday - Check out day from the house, so after a cleaning, we drove to Leeds where Jane grew up to see Abbey House Museum, and it allowed Jane and Bridget to catch up with an old family friend who is one of the curators. After the museum, and a great lunch, we walked across the street to visit Kirkstall Abbey, and then took the (really) long way down to Derby, where we stayed downtown and found a fantastic Indian buffet restaurant, Jimmy's World Grill.
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Saturday - On our way to Beaulieu for the next few nights, we stopped at Kenilworth Castle.Amazing, truly amazing. After the castle, and a visit to the "Bear and Ragged Staff' for a pint, we drove to the Montagu Arms for our stay the next few nights. We had booked a chef's tasting menu dinner for the evening, and it is a Michelin Starred restaraunt, so we were looking forward to it! Especially the seven wine courses to go with the seven meal courses!
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Sunday we visited the National Motor Museum, the 'Top Gear' exhibit, the abbey, and the Palace House, all on the grounds of the Beaulieu estate. Sadly, we had to pack to leave early the next morning.
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And in continuing with a tradition started long ago, we took pics of most of the pub signs we ate at or had a pint in. PUB PICS HERE