Expectations
Looking forward to exploring Richmond Castle and replenishing supplies. Oh, and maybe doing laundry! Another night at Arandale Guest House. Which has a hot tub!!
Realities
Rather taken with Richmond, though the bustle of a city is a little jarring after hiking fells, dales, and moors. Especially on warm nights, when the windows have to be open, the constant traffic noise is a bit intrusive.
Had breakfast–first time the Ls and Cs have stayed at the same place so the first time we’ve eaten breakfast together. The landlord, Paul, is quite a character, and his super sharp British humor seemed a bit jarring to the L’s American sensibilities.
The Cs then set off to explore the city. First a war memorial based around a ruined church.
Then we headed for the castle, paid the entrance fee, climbed to the top of the keep and marveled at both the castle and the view.
This a view east toward the hills we will reach two days from now.
Understandable that many parts would be tough to make wheelchair accessible…
But we scratched our heads at this pathway, which could so easily have been a ramp, instead of a sequence of long steps.
Beautiful flowers everywhere in the grounds…
D and M stopped at a barber, and I headed off to find the Old Station, which Paul had recommended for its award winning bakery. Wasn’t particularly taken with the bakery itself, but the setting was a wonderful use of a disused railway station.
The Cs met up again at the station, had a snack and coffee, and then headed off to find a good place to take drone video of the castle.
Drone video is maybe the best yet.
It was fun “seeing” RL and CL on the ramparts waving at the drone, and later seeing them waving directly at us from the castle as we walked below.
Just in case you don’t notice them in the window of the keep…
We walked around the outside of the castle walls and back into town. Stopped for yet another snack, then headed back to the B&B for a rest before dinner.
Loved the milk churn…
