Some pictures from our recent sojourn to Cumbria and North Yorkshire. These were taken with my new shiny toy, a Motorola V3 RAZR so if the picture quality isn't up to much then it's the phone's fault. Obviously.

The inside of the Friar's Head Inn at Akebar, Leyburn. It took a little bit of finding, but was well worth it. The bar is traditional looking, but the conservatory restaurant is lovely - full of vines, plants and overlooking the terrace.

We went on from there to the village of Aysgarth, where there are three sets of waterfalls. This is a picture of Upper Falls on a gloriously sunny Monday afternoon. The other setf of falls are Middle and Lower, surprisingly enough.

We stayed at Orton Hall, a seventeenth century Jacobean Mansion which we booked through Laterooms.com at a discount. We stayed in the Royalist Suite which was very nice - a secret door in the bookcase led from the sitting room to the rest of the suite. In the Great Hall there was a snooker / pool table, and a grand piano (if you're that way inclined!).

Tuesday was our day in the Lakes - we went to Ullswater first, and then drove along it's shore to Aira Force. You can walk up the river past several sets of falls, and there's a nice rock pavement to chill out on at the top.

Then we went to Penrith, and did a little bit of shopping before stopping for a refreshing beverage or two. So refreshing, in fact, that we stayed for another one. Ho hum! Then we went on to the North Lakes Spa, which you get free entry to when you stay at Orton Hall. Very nice it was too.

We started to wend our way back on Wednesday, coming down through the Yorkshire Dales and visiting some old haunts en route. First stop was Malham Cove, which is an impressive limestone escarpment in a remote area of the Dales. We drove on a road (track!) over the top of a hill through Arncliffe and down into Wharfedale, heading for our lunch destination at Buckden. We drove through Starbotton, and along the Wharfe until we reached The Buck Inn, where we had excellent food in the restaurant.

Then it was over to the A1 and back to real life. Ah well!

Quick update in response to a question from Mr. Grigg... the beers sampled included (as far as I can remember) Black Sheep, Copper Dragon, Theakstons OP, Jennings Bitter. I think that's it although I think there may have been another one.