Danby Wiske to Ingleby Cross

Today began calmly and a bit earlier.  We met Barry at his B&B and set out across the fields about 9:10 am.

Good-bye to Ashfield House

The day was clear and sunny. We've had to adjust our clothing substantially for the change in weather. About an hour or so into the walk we met a dairy farmer whose fields we had just trekked across.  He was delightful and in a very chatty mood.  He's very lucky because both his son and grandson are interested and active in carrying on the family business. He bemoaned the fact the "no one wants to work anymore."

We had just taken a photo of his cows a few minutes before.  We were amused at the "circle of cow bums" but by the time I had my camera poised, two of the cows realized what was happening and wanted to show their better sides:

It was much cuter before they turned around.  Kind of spoiled the effect.

About half way we met Helen, a young woman from Cheshire, with her wonderful dog Keith, a Welsh Collie that looks more like a shepherd.  What a gorgeous dog, and well trained.  We were surprised to find out that she had had a frightening time the days before because the cows kept charging at them.  The sheep did too apparently, but they're not so scary.  Then the B&B owners last night were very unkind and made her sleep outside and wouldn't even give her water for the dog. Very un-British!  I wish I had gotten a photo of that beautiful dog.  The girl was pretty cute, too.

Next adventure was that we had to cross a six lane highway and the people here drive like maniacs  The book suggested we "make a dash for it."  We did and survived.  Another big "Whew!"  We arrived in Ingleby Cross at 1:00 and had a pub lunch outside under a big tree.  Lovely.  Sunny, warm, cool breeze. A short hike UPHILL to our B&B by the woods:

Our room is all clouds and angels.

The view from our windows.

Apparently 10-1/2 miles of walking wasn't enough for us anymore and besides our boots weren't even dirty today, and I was set on seeing the nearby priory because of its amazing plumbing.  Our host, a consultant in Afghanistan, told us it was a 20 minute walk down the hill.  He also said it might be muddy.  Well, about 40 minutes later, after missing the path at first, unsuccessfully dodging mud puddles and bogs, plowing through nettle fields, avoiding electric fences, almost crawling through trees and finally climbing a fence, we found the Mount Grace Priory.  The fun part of that hike was that we were accompanied almost the whole time by a gaggle of grouse (with a rare pheasant).  They ran in front of us, doing serpentine, like a cross between quail and roadrunners.  Very cute, except that they also had the habit of suddenly flying out of the bushes right next to us, squawking and frantically flapping their wings and scaring the daylights out of me.  It took me about 20 incidents of this before my nervous system adjusted to it.

This is a small sampling.  There were dozens and dozens of them.

Fortunately the priory was still open when we arrived.  It is outstanding.  I took about 40 photos so I can't show them all to you, but here are a few.  The house has been renovated in the 19th century with very beautiful wallpaper, designed by a famous person named Morse:

The gardens are exquisite.

The real wonder of this place, though, is the priory itself.  If you are interested, you must look up the Carthusian order of monks from the 11th century.  This was one of their most remarkable and wealthy priori and held 25 monks in individual "cells."  I put it in parentheses because the cells were like condos:  living room with fireplace, bedroom, private chapel, a full story workroom, a latrine and a private garden!  They have reconstructed one of these cells.  Here are a few pictures:

Living room with fireplace

Bedroom