A Walk Up Calderbrook

Spring is finally here and today was a perfect day for a brisk walk to take in some of that fresh spring air.  

As well as the air, I took in the views along my way and here are a few pictures of those very views.  Old farmhouses, sheep in the fields, dry-stone walls are all pleasing to my eye so I had to stop and take this picture.

There's always a church along the way and I love churches.  This is St. James', a Grade II listed building, on Calderbrook Road.  I'll have to go back soon and have a look round the graveyard.  I don't know why I didn't do that today because reading the headstones is definitely one of my favourite things to do.  I know, I'm odd.

There are some lovely old buildings around here and Handle Hall, another Grade II Listed building, ..

.. and its attached barn are among them.  This old building has obviously been stone blasted in the recent past and doesn't it look grand?

The view down a little side lane.

I had wandered quite a way, mostly uphill, by the time I spotted this little public footpath and as it was going downhill in the direction of home I followed it.

The path looked out over to the Pennines on the other side of the valley.

Now one dwelling I bet at one time this des res was at least three if not four cottages. Studying the frontage you can see where windows and doors have been blocked up.  The small stone plaque reads "Reconstructed by Harry Gumbley 1968".

Last picture shows Fothergill & Harvey's old and very derelict Rock Nook Mill.  Such a shame that lots of grand old buildings like these are left to fall apart, I always think they could make fantastic apartments.  Oh well, I really enjoyed  my walk today and even though the sky looks dull in the pictures it really was quite a bright and lovely day.

Until next time,

Colden and Heptonstall, West Yorkshire.

On a lovely spring day at the end of May last year William and I had a little outing to Land Farm Garden in Colden, a little dot on the map of a place way up on the hilltops above Hebden Bridge.  Land Farm Garden is a privately owned garden but is open to the public for a limited number of days throughout the summer.  It's a member of the National Garden Scheme.

Only a twenty minute or so drive away from our doorstep yet it was a spot we had only ever been to once before and that was many years ago.  So maybe that was why we got a little bit lost thus finding ourselves at May's Shop.

May's Shop turned out to be a little  gem of a place which sold all sorts of everything.  In need of a drink and something to eat we each chose a snack.  I chose a good old Sally Lunn to go with my cup of tea.     

Happily seating was provided so we ate and drank in the sunshine and consulted Google Maps.  Land Farm was only a short walk away but first we both needed to spend a penny.  Sure enough facilities were provided.  William went first.  He came back and told me the        facilities were clean but basic.

Behind the door on the right ..

was this.  Yep, Billy definitely wasn't kidding when he said the facilities were basic!

Moving on.

Suitably refreshed from May's Shop we hit the road and walked to Land Farm Garden, which was a treat.  

This wisteria on the side of the house was gorgeous. Wisteria just shouts country cottage to me.

Taking a breather before trudging back up the hill to the car.

And at the top of the hill stone cottages: this one covered by a clematis heavy with blooms looking splendid on this sunny day.

Heptonstall  was our next port of call. This is the main street running through the centre of this quaint old village.  Really this main thoroughfare is nothing but a cobbled, narrow lane. You'd never think cars could drive through here but they can and they do.  So do single decker buses!

Ruins of the old church in the village centre.

Sylvia Plath, the American poet, is buried in this graveyard.

A little back lane just off the main street.

I love the higgledy-piggledyness of Heptonstall.

And of course after all that walking and doing in the heat and sunshine another bite to eat and drink was very welcome.  So we called at The White Lion in the centre of the village.   A great little pub with lots of old photographs and information regarding the history of the village on its walls.

We also called at a wonderful small Alpine Garden Centre in Slack just a cock stride outside Heptonstall.

These mini container gardens really please me.  So pretty don't you think?

We found quite a lot to please the eye on this late spring day.

Until next time,

York Gate Garden, Leeds

Recently I discovered the existence of a little gem.  A little gem of a garden, York Gate Garden in Adel (rhymes with paddle) near Leeds.  If there's one thing William and I both enjoy it's taking a peak round a pretty garden so a couple of weeks ago on a very sunny day we were in for a treat when we paid a visit to York Gate Garden.

The website directions said to park in a lay-by opposite Adel Parish Church and follow the path through the church yard which would lead eventually to York Gate Garden.

This church dating back to the 12th century has a lot of interesting features not least of all the crosses marked in the flags.  William and I had never seen that before in any other church.  Maybe it's a feature unique to this church?  I looked for information on the church website but didn't find any mention of the path.  Perhaps I missed it and need to go back and check again.

This was  our first glimpse of the garden and I knew straight away it was something special.

Covering just one acre the garden is a series of "rooms", one leading artfully to the next.

Every which way we turned there was a feast for the eyes.

Neither of us knows the names of half the plants we see, we just like what we see and that's enough for us.

Pretty dahlias amongst an array of orange and yellow blooms.

Very pretty dahlias.  I loved the orange/yellow colours against the dark foliage.

This was my favourite view in the garden. That young man is the official gardener and the rest of the team is made up of volunteers.  They don't half do a good job between them.

Lots and lots of different trees and shrubs.

This is the Canal Garden. Just beautiful. There were fish in there as well as water lilies.

My cup was overflowing when we turned a corner and came across the most varied and colourful, healthy display of succulent plants I've ever had the pleasure to behold.

Love all these succulents, they are probably my favourite plants of all time.

The herb garden.

The house once occupied by the Spencer family now functions as offices and tea rooms.  

A lovely spot to eat lunch or afternoon tea but it was just too hot outdoors  This heatwave we're having is a joy but this English rose cannot sit under a burning hot sun so we took refuge in the tearooms where we ...

.. tucked into home made scones and jam.  Delicious!

Before we left we took a look in the gift shop.  York Gate once a family owned garden is now run by the horticulturists charity Perrenial.  The stock is naturally all garden related and we purchased a couple of cute items.  Oh, and before we looked in the shop we took another twirl around the garden.  That was how much we had enjoyed everything the garden had to offer.

My pictures of this amazing "little" garden don't do it justice at all.  The beauty of this garden really has to be seen in person to be truly appreciated.  I can't wait to go back again!