Trip to Andalucia

This blog post was composed in April 2024, based on Trish's diary written at the time, with additions as memories are sparked by including photos. 

Friday 10th May

Jet2 flight 10.30 from Leeds Bradford to Malaga, arriving 14.50.  Collected hire car and drove along the coast road to Nerja.  Booked into the Parador.

Saturday 11th May

Visited Frigliana, a picturesque hill village in the morning - clear, sunny weather good for photography.

Frigliana

Drove to Sierra de Tejeda in the afternoon and had a walk from Maro.

Wild flower on Sierra de Tejeda

Sunday 12th May

Drove from Nerja to Ronda - a slow journey due to convoys of gypsy caravans travelling to Ronda for a horse fair.  Booked into the Ronda Parador.

Had a walk through the town and took photos of the El Tajo Gorge from the Puento Nuevo, which spans the Guadalevin River.  It is one of three bridges spanning the river, and is the newest (even though it was completed as early as 1793).  

View of El Tajo Gorge from Puente Nuevo

Trish on platform overlooking the El Tajo Gorge

We also took a photo of the Iglesia de Santa Maria la Mayor..

Iglesia de Santa Maria la Mayor

Monday 13th May

Explored Ronda Old Town in the morning - a procession of bulls pulling decorated carts passed us at 11.00.  

Parador and Puente Nuevo

View from Puente Nuevo, looking towards the old bridge, Puente Viejo

Procession of Bulls

Ronda

Then we walked to the Arab Baths, one of the important features in Ronda.  The baths were built by the Moors, following the Roman design but using steam rather than hot water to sweat out dirt from the skin. 

Arab Baths

We also saw the Puente Viejo, the second lowest and the second oldest, of three bridges which span the Guadalevin river.  We also saw the Arco de Felipe V, part of the city walls.

Puente Viejo

Arco de Felipe V

In the afternoon we walked down into the El Tajo Gorge, to see the Puente Nuevo from the bottom.

Puente Nuevo, from bottom of El Tajo Gorge

Magnificent sunset in the evening.

Sunset from Balcony of Parador, with light plane passing by

Tuesday 14th May

Travelled to Setenil de las Bodegas in the morning.  Houses are built into the rocks, leaving little room for the roads!.  This is one of the White Towns of Andalucia. 

Setenil de las Bodegas

Houses built into rocks, Setenil de las Bodegas

In the afternoon we did a circular walk around Ronda, beginning in the Gorge, passing a Hacienda and returning through the newer part of the town.

Trish, Parador and Puente Nuevo

View from Hacienda, looking back to Puente Nuevo in the distance

At night the Puente Nuevo is nicely floodlit:

Puente Nuevo and the Parador at night

Wednesday 15th May

Travelled to Grazalema, another White Town, in the foothills of the Cordillera mountain range - much cooler in the mountains - scenery wild and mountainous.  

Grazalema

Did walking tour of Grazalema.  In July, they have a bull run where a bull on a rope is let loose in the town.  Young men hold on to the railings around the windows to escape the bull!

Calle Nueva in Grazalema, venue for the bull run

Grazalema and Penon Grande

Thursday 16th May

Drove back to Malaga for the Jet2 12.00 flight back to Leeds.

Grassington

28th August - Grassington

Today we walked from Grassington to Hebden along the bank of the River Wharfe, and returned by a route a little above the river on the other bank.

Here are the Linton Falls, just after the start of the walk from Grassington car park.

... and here is Trish crossing the suspension bridge at the far end of the walk, at Hebden.

Fewston Reservoir

26th August - Fewston Reservoir

Today we walked around Fewston Reservoir.


The woods by the Swinsty Moor car park had the sun shining through a very light mist, giving a beautiful effect.





















Here is a view of the reservoir from the path on the south bank.

Ripley Castle

16th August 2013 - Ripley Castle

Ripley is a few miles north of Harrogate.  Its castle and grounds are always worth a visit.

The castle is the home of the Ingilby family.  The castle tour is excellent - the Ingilbys have resided at Ripley for over 700 years and have accumulated a few tales to tell.  You will even learn the origin of the phrase 'to push the boat out'!

There are extensive gardens with an old-style walled greenhouse.

Here are a couple of pictures from the garden: a lily ...

 ... and a large bed of Rudbekia 'Indian Summer'.

And here is an unusual sun-house: it is in need of repair but it is built on wheels that allow it to rotate so that it is always facing the sun!

Bolton Abbey

13th August 2013 - Bolton Abbey

Today we walked from The Strid car park to the Cavendish Pavilion, stopped for coffee, and then walked back to The Strid on the other bank of the River Wharfe.  The reflections of the trees on the water gave some nice pictures.

Newby Hall and Gardens

8th August 2013 - Newby Hall

Today we visited Newby Hall and Gardens.  The gardens are famous for their long herbaceous borders which run from the house down to the River Ure.

In a quiet memorial space, Sylvia's Garden, there are some nice Thalictrum plants.















There are many attractions for young children, not least the train!

A Trip to Beningbrough Hall

Last Friday we visited Beningbrough Hall and Gardens, a National Trust property to the north-west of York.

Getting there, from Burn Bridge, is a challenge.  The sign-posted route from the A59 Harrogate-York road leads you to Aldwark, a small village on the banks of the River Ure.  To cross the river, there is an 18th century toll bridge, the Aldwark Bridge - as the ticket shows, the toll is 40p (cheaper than the cost of a 25 mile detour!).


Beningbrough Hall itself is a large Georgian mansion, built in 1716 by the Bourchier family of York.  After a period of neglect, the house was bought in 1916, and subsequently restored, by a wealthy heiress, Lady Chesterfield. During the Second World War, it was occupied first by the RAF bomber crew stationed at Linton on Ouse, and then by the Canadian Air Force.  It passed to the National Trust in 1958, and now houses portraits from the National Portrait Gallery.





The gardens at Beningbrough are exceptional.  There is a large area devoted to the growing of fruit and vegetables, and a number of herbaceous borders, all very well presented.

East Formal Garden

Herbaceous Border

Lily in Herbaceous Border