Old and New England with Scotland.The cripples on tour.

[drron]

KitKat we have a diesel Vauxhall from Avis.It fits 2 of the largest Antler Liquis,the smallest liquis cabin case,my carryon and computer bag with ease in the boot.Renting through Avis and the group was the VW Passat.

 

[drron]

When we got outside mrsdrron went to wait for the tractor trailer whilst I walked back to the stables via the gardens so here they are-

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[drron]

I really enjoy English flower gardens,probably because virtually impossible in QLD.

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Unfortunately although the tractor trailer is supposed to run every 20 minutes mrsdrron took nearly an hour to get back to the stables.She wasn't pleased.

 

[drron]

The plan was now to drive across the Yorkshire moors to Whitby.As we left Castle Howard there was the occasional light shower but no bother-

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Soon the landscape changed-

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Unfortunately the heavens soon opened.Very heavy rain which just occasionally got lighter.We got top Whitby but it really was very cold,very windy and mostly poor visibility because of the amount of rain.I managed a few shots of the derelict Whitby Abbey but then we just drove back to York.

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[QF WP]

Many thanks for the TR, drron and mrs.dr.ron - taking me back to our trip to York some 10 years ago.

 

[drron]

By the time we got back to York the sun was out.We went around the corner from the Hilton to this place-

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It was really good.Two courses for 13GBP.Mrsdrron had the mussels and then the crème caramel.I had the Basque egg and slow cooked pork shank with Dijon mustard mash.We both thought the food was very good and great value.Highly recommended.After dinner I took another walk.Totally different in the sunshine.Some of the local wildlife also thought it a great evening for a walk-

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The Riverside is being revitalised-

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And some more street scenes-

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The last one above is the Mansion house for York's Lord Mayor.

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[OATEK]

We always try for an afternoon tea at Betty's Cafe in Stonegate.

Enjoyed your pics of the NRM. When I was last there, Mallard was out on loan - very disappointed!

 

[drron]

Don't worry Bettys will make it into this TR.But back to York.

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And this building is naturally an Italian restaurant-

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[drron]

Of course no pictorial on York would be complete without York Minster.A real presence.

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[drron]

So much history.A Roman column-

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To the house of a fellow present at Charles 1 execution-

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To a shop for really old guys-

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To really old buildings-

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[drron]

And the last of York-

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And the Hilton-

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Our room the 3 windows in the middle-

 

[drron]

Friday and a fine relatively warm day-21C.The locals are all complaining about the humidity!Breakfast this morning was much more relaxed with very few guests.The egg cook was much happier.Today we set off for the Lakes District via Harrogate.A lot of the road we are using is the route of Le Tour next month.The first stage starts at Leeds and finishes at Harrogate.Stage 2 begins in York finishing in Sheffield after heading towards Harrogate.Our reason for going into Harrogate though was the Royal Horticiltural society's garden,Harlow Carr.I ask again to borrow a wheelchair for mrsdrron and they couldn't have been more helpful.Mrsdrron gets in at the concession rate and I free as her helper.Much appreciated.So to the gardens-

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Fields of buttercups-

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[QF WP]

Ah, York Minster, thank you drron. I love all the historical buildings and you've put it all together for me.

 

[Flashback]

Still haven't been to York - look like it's worth getting up to one day.

Beware it's going to be 26 on Friday .. if you think there was complaining about the heat when it was 21, wait till it's 26! :mrgreen:

 

[ellen10]

Checking in for later reading.

 

[KitKat]

Chatsworth house is certainly impressive when you first see it across the rolling fields-

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However there would be a fair bit of walking and stairs as well as a pretty uneven car park so we decided against touring the building.These family owned properties are not as well set up for access.

Really enjoying reading your TR. They had a show on Chatsworth house the other night on TV in Melbourne. Seems JFK's sister was married to one of them.

Thanks for all the ideas.

 

[drron]

So the last of the RHS gardens-

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[drron]

After leaving Harrogate we continued on A59.In the Yorkshire Dales near Bolton Abbey there was a 2 mile steep ascent which is on the first stage of Le Tour.At the bottom was this-

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So some shots in the Dales-

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At the future camp site we turned off to this-

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Nice Icecream but who else than the Brits would put these on it-

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Actually they did sell other stuff and were doing a roaring trade with young families-

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And the factory-

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After that it was straight on to the Lakes district and the Samling hotel.My review here-
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....reviews/hotel-samling-ambleside-uk-60684.html

 

[drron]

We always try for an afternoon tea at Betty's Cafe in Stonegate.

Enjoyed your pics of the NRM. When I was last there, Mallard was out on loan - very disappointed!

Sorry OATEK,I missed the most important part of our stop in Harrogate.After we left the Gardens we had a very late morning tea at Bettys.It started in Harrogate 95 years ago.
Mrsdrron had a citron tart and a cappuccino.I had the classic Yorkshire tea with a scone,raspberry preserve and clotted cream-so called as that is what it does to your arteries I imagine.Certainly one of the things to do in Yorkshire.

 

[drron]

So this is the food post.The reason we picked the Samling was because of it's restaurant which last year got a Michelin star.I did check the Trip Advisor reviews-I only look at the terrible and poor reviews to see if any consistent problems-there weren't so we booked.So after unpacking and a little rest it was down to the drawing room where you have drinks and canapés before Dinner.Mrsdrron had a glass of SB and I had a mojito with mint freshly picked from the garden.The canapés were a prawn head with artichoke mousse,fried mushroom and truffle risotto and spiced nuts-

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They have a note on the menu to please not use phones or cameras in the dining room so I complied so description only.Presentation was very good.
Amusee bouche-guinea fowl terrine,truffle oil infused croutons,caviar and greens.Very pleasant.
Appetisers-Mrsdrron had the steak tatare with a smoked pheasant egg,rye and bone marrow croutons,Oscita caviar and soked oil with wild mustard.I had the snail trail.Picked it because it contained 2 items I am normally not fond of.My reasoning is if I like it it must be the chef's contribution.I liked it.So veal sweetbreads in a bone marrow cylinder,red braised snails,water cress,wild garlic and a horseradish snow.A pity I did not get a picture.

Mains-We both had 3 little piggys.Pork crackling,marinated and slow cooked loin and roast fillet of pork with wild garlic,morels and spinach.We both loved it.
Pre-dessert-a citrus and gooseberry mousse with granola and a candied apple.
Dessert-Mrsdrron had the Sloe gin crème brulee with lemon verbena foam,damson ice cream and blackberry-the ice cream was a standout.I had the dehydrated Muscovado sponge soaked in a lime and Malibu syrup with coconut ice cream with honeycomb and coffee tuilles.The only disappointing dish for me as the sponge was very hard and the lime overpowered it.The ice cream once again was fantastic.

The second night some different canapés-

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This night however I asked if I could take photos of the food and produced my small Sony POS camera and told that was fine.So here we go.We had the same amuse bouche but I hadn't asked to take photos at that stage.
Appetisers-I had the steak tartare and mrsdrron had the foie gras torchon with peanut butter,poached peas,candied macadamias and a verjus jelly.She was worried by the combination but it worked beautifully-

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Mains and we both had the Sri Lankancrevette.Prawn tail with prawn bisque,truffle and mushroom puree,prawn crackers and tarragon oil.It was beautiful-

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The pre dessert-

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Desserts and I had a great cheese platter whilst mrsdrron had the Black Forest gateau.Not at all what she expected and she loved it-

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So heartily recommended.