9th of October, 2025 - Goathland (Fountain's Abbey and Harrogate)

 Lots and lots and lots of walking today. I had intended to do Ripon and Thirsk and Fountain's Abbey and Harrogate and then maybe do Castle Howard tomorrow, but I've struck Castle Howard off, because I spent almost all day at Fountain's Abbey once I got there.

It's Fountain's Abbey and Studley Royal Water Gardens, so the grounds are massive and I covered absolutely all of it. I absolutely loved the Abbey, it's my favourite so far, even if it is in pieces. Apparently it was the richest Abbey, so no wonder I liked it. These were Cistercian monks, the ones all in white and the audio guide was basically an old monk showing a novice around the Abbey. It was so cute, they sounded like such a gentle order, I'm just not sure I'm sold on the whole prayers 8 times a day starting at 2am deal.









The Water Gardens were beautiful and the high walk took me up into what was basically forest, which pheasants and squirrels running all over the place and I had it to myself, I didn't see another human for the whole time I was up there. It was divinely peaceful as well as beautiful.




It was late afternoon by the time I left Fountains, so I took myself into Harrogate, because our English Tour Guides from the Anne Boleyn Tour had told me I "cannot possibly miss" having afternoon tea at Bettys in either Harrogate or York, so I did. It's an English institution apparently and I'm just wondering why on earth we don't have this at home. It was very, very civilized!

Today was a big day and I eventually got back to Goathland at about 8 o'clock, crawled in to bed and fell asleep debating whether I was incredibly happy because this is all just so wonderful, or sad because this is my last night. In the end I decided that I'm happy because I'm here, will stay happy because I've been and be even happier because, whether it ever happens or not, I will always plan to come back someday.

❤️

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