Snowdrops and snow

Over half term (which feels like a lot longer than a week ago) we went up to North Yorkshire for a short break with John's parents. We stayed in a house with the most beautiful views in Middleham, near Leyburn in Wensleydale. 

The location was right in the heart of the town with four legged neighbours providing much entertainment, as well as the ever-changing sky beyond the hills. 

Middleham is a small, pretty town, easy to explore on foot and with an excellent fish and chip shop. It is dominated by Middleham Castle which was closed when we stayed, but is still impressive to see from the surrounding hills. 

There were tiny paths and alleys everywhere leading in and out of roads, behind houses, through churchyards.

After a five hour drive there and back, we didn't go too far afield during our stay, not wanting ot waste precious hours in the car (not o mention the cost of petrol), but did explore the local towns of Leyburn and Bedale.

After lunch, we would go out for a walk. After one exceptionally windy walk during which two children threatened mutiny half way up a hill, sulked, and turned back, John and I enjoyed the rest of our afternoon walks just the two of us, with Ziggy for company. Bella and Angus were delighted to be able to spend the afternoons hanging out at the house with their grandparents and playing on the old Wii console the house provided. Everyone was much happier this way.

We always walked from the house, through the town and up the hill behind the castle, then taking a different route each time. Then we would meander through the town on the way home as the light faded.

We experienced quite a variety of weather over that week. We travelled up following the storms of mid-February and it remained incredibly windy all week long, especially at the top of the hills. You cant really tell, but in the picture below I could hardly stand up straight as I took the photo and it took all my energy to walk into the wind. We would go out all afternoon, come home frozen, wind-battered and with aching legs from the hills, and then find out we'd actually walked two or three miles. Very disappointing. 

We saw rainbows most days however.

As well as some beautifully clear blue skies. 

The picture above and below are both views of Penhill from park in Leyburn, taken two days apart. I would like to climb Penhill one day, but the wind and weather forecast meant it wasn't very sensible to do while we were there in the winter.

You could see the snow shower rolling towards us as the view seemed to disappear before our eyes. 

The snow didn't settle, so we had all the fun of being caught in a windy snow shower without trouble driving anywhere. We were leaving the next day and the thought of getting up and down steep, narrow roads, without winter tyres, in the snow was not a pleasant one.

But it was such a lovely few days, genuinely restful and restorative. A combination of time with family, walking, reading, crocheting, and the occasional lie in meant we all felt like we had a proper rest.