Day 11 - Yorkshire Moors - Or The British Road System Part 2

I have been meaning to record how skillful Tess has become in navigating the roads here and never more so than yesterday as we travelled with Emma through some James Herriot country north of Leeds. It recalls those British comedies of the 1970s where two bores would get together and compare the merits of the B6255 and the A684. And here we were in an ancient old pub (see fireplace below) doing precisely that with a stranger who looked like he knew the roads. He gave us plenty of useful advice not just about which roads to take but also about some worthwhile walks. He loved his Dales!

Earlier in the day (although not early by any means), we had met Emma for a quick tour of some of Leeds shopping malls. After picking up a 10 pound phone for Tess (ask why later) I then had the opportunity to pay the deposit on her Greek holiday in July. Eight young things on a yacht in the Aegean. Wot, me worry?

Finally setting out on our excursion, the phone was our guide out of the city while Tess studied the enormous map on her lap. I worry that both of us miss much of the scenery - me driving and she navigating.Tess is a little jealous of the Navigator phone but has taken a leaf out of its book by being firm with her directions rather than offering choices. I am too busy saving the Benz's wing mirrors when passing Sunday traffic on these narrow winding roads to make such decisions. I wrote before of the half a dozen roads leading to even the smallest English village so the choice is neither here nor there for me.

As to the route Tess chose, it took us first to Skipton (A65) and on to the Bolton Abbey and Embsay Steam Railway (B6160), thence to Bolton Abbey itself which is a popular destination (read busy) but its ruined Priory - not Abbey - was worth the 6 pound parking fee. We did not try to stride across the treacherous Strid instead following the B6160 through Kettlewell and Newbiggin until we reached the A684 to Hawes. After our pub consultation we then chose the B6255 to Ingleton passing a long Viaduct which attracted a crowd but not our weary selves alas.

Back to Leeds, depositing our daughter at Leeds uni (rendezvous arranged via SMS in the car) and back to our room in the Novotel. We had planned to sample a pizza from its bar later that night after a quick rest but found our appetites satisfied by what was left in a couple of bottles of plonk and some rather salty blue cheese.

And so to bed.