It’s hard to beat the feeling of getting out into the countryside to get some fresh air, stretch your legs and take in some quintessential Yorkshire scenery.

Add to that the possibility of visiting a local pub for a pint or some hearty food, and you’ve got a winning weekend combination.

Welburn, Castle Howard and The Crown & Cushion

Castle Howard (Image: Pixabay)

The route: Starting and ending outside The Crown & Cushion pub in the pretty village of Welburn there are several circular walks that pass through woodlands and the land belonging to Castle Howard  – the estate website suggests longer and shorter routes, which are available to download as pdfs.

With sweeping scenery across the Howardian Hills, the estate boasts several follies, set amongst the arable farmland and gently undulating terrain.

The pub: The Crown & Cushion serves ‘fresh, locally sourced and seasonally led food’, according to its website.

Boasting a large beer garden and a dog-friendly policy, it’s a popular destination for both lunchtime walkers and fine diners.

Spofforth, Kirkby Overblow and The Castle Inn

Spofforth Castle

The route: The charming village of Spofforth is located between Wetherby and Harrogate and connects to many outlying villages by footpaths and bridleways.

Crossing farmlands and through the woods to Kirkby Overblow – which boasts several pubs of its own – the route can also be lengthened to incorporate another ancient village, Sicklinghall.

There are many walks that follow this route, including suggested directions from All Trails, and a blog by the Walking Englishman.

The pub: The Castle Inn in Spofforth is a classic example of an upmarket country pub, with rooms, an event space and a spacious outdoor area.

Sunday roasts are served with a signature giant Yorkshire pudding, and cask ales are sourced from a range of local breweries, including Leeds Brewery, Theakston and Timothy Taylor’s.

Staveley Nature Reserve and The Royal Oak Inn

Staveley Nature Reserve

The route: Staveley Nature Reserve, located between the villages of Staveley and Minskip, offers a large network of footpaths, covering 79 hectares of wetlands.

Parking is free, either in the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust car park or along Minskip Road, and many of the trails are accessible by both buggies and wheelchairs, and clearly signposted along the way.

The area is a haven for wildlife; a huge variety of birds such as ringed plovers, avocet and sand oystercatchers can be seen, as well as foxes, roe deer, otters, and grazing Highland cattle.

The pub: The Royal Oak Inn is located in the village of Staveley itself. On colder days, there is often a roaring fire for dogs and owners alike to enjoy, and the menu features traditional pub fare, such as pies, curry and fish and chips.

Burnsall, Hebden and The Red Lion

Wharfedale (Image: Pixabay)

The route: In picturesque Wharfedale, Burnsall is nestled between a circle of fells and the River Wharfe, with a history dating back to the Viking era.

Parking can be found on the west side of the river, and a permissive footpath winds its way down the riverbank for one mile, before reaching stepping stones that cross to the opposite bank, and to the village of Hebden.

To get back to Burnsall, follow the path along Hebden Beck, offering a quieter return journey than the riverside which can be popular with visitors in summer. Both the Yorkshire Dales National Park and The Red Lion itself have a suggested route on their respective websites.

The pub: A 16th century coaching inn, The Red Lion is not only a Burnsall institution, but a well-known watering hole in the Yorkshire Dales.

The beer terrace is a busy spot on a sunny day, and there’s a wide range of food and drink offerings, including brunch, as well as the firm favourites.

Knaresborough, and The Half Moon Inn

The Half Moon pub in Knaresborough

The route: Knaresborough is often bustling with visitors and boaters in the summer months, but venturing further out of the historic town centre allows you to enjoy views of the River Nidd, without the crowds.

Strolling the length of the waterside you’ll pass the Shrine of Our Lady in the Crag, interesting rock garden sculptures and the impressively manicured lawns of the riverside houses.

To extend your journey, you can walk in the woodlands to Old Bilton, before looping back into Knaresborough. Visit Harrogate and All Trails both have versions of this route on their websites.

The pub: A family owned, independently run free house, The Half Moon Inn specialises in wood-fired pizza, grazing boards sourced from local producers, and a selection of local ales.

Perched at the end of Low Bridge, a short walk along Knaresborough’s riverside, the pub benefits from being slightly further out from the hubbub – although it’s certainly still a popular spot.

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The cherry blossom on the Stray in Harrogate is in full bloom once again.

The colourful annual display makes walks on Harrogate’s 200-acre parkland even better than usual. Visiting it is a ritual many people engage in each year.

Douglas Young, a photographer from Killinghall who enjoys capturing local wildlife is among those who make the annual pilgrimage.

He captured this year’s cherry blossom beautifully in this well composed photo.

If you have any great photos of the Harrogate district, send them to us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

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This story is sponsored by the National Trust.

Finding something to do at the weekend can be challenging, especially if you have dogs, but the National Trust team at Fountains Abbey say they’re on a mission to make it easy. 

Under the National Trust’s Paw Print dog-friendliness scheme, the attraction has been named a three-paw site – the highest possible rating. 

Jenni Shepherd, senior marketing and communications officer at the National Trust, said:

“We’re always getting comments about how welcoming we are to dogs at Fountains Abbey.

“The admissions team even has doggy treats on hand for the waggiest tails!” 

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Park is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, and includes the ruins of the medieval monastery, the Georgian water garden and the deer park.

Where you lead, your dog can follow!

Visiting dog-walkers can see all the historic attractions up close, as well as following paths around the site and trails through surrounding woodland.

“When people see the amazing abbey ruins, they often think they can’t possibly take a dog there, but actually at Fountains, dogs can go pretty much everywhere their owners do,” said Jenni. 

“We get a lot of tourists visiting from other areas of the country, where historic sites perhaps don’t welcome dogs so readily, and so they think they can’t bring their dogs here either.

“But Fountains Abbey is actually one of the best places to bring a dog. 

“There are drinking stations and dog waste bins throughout, and there’s a wide range of pet products for sale in the Visitor Centre shop.

“There’s even dog-friendly ice-cream available at the Studley refreshment kiosk and in the Visitor Centre restaurant. 

“Your dog can go everywhere you go. Dogs are even allowed in the deer park, as long as they’re kept on a short lead.” 

Woodland walks are a favourite pastime among dog-owners visiting Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.

Last month, the National Trust unveiled plans to upgrade its facilities at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.

A new visitor building will be built around the existing tearoom. There will be a fully accessible café, more toilets and a new admissions area, with all areas remaining dog-friendly. Jenni added:

 “Yorkshire as a destination is a dog-lovers’ paradise, and Fountains Abbey really stands out as one of the best places here to take your dog.

“There’s so much to do and see here, you can stay all day – and your dog never has to leave your side.” 

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Find out more about visiting – with or without dogs – here.

A story written by Castley grandmother Gillian Lishman for her four grandchildren over lockdown has been turned into her first published children’s book.

During those early months of the pandemic Ms Lishman couldn’t work her job as a reflexologist or see her youngest family members. With time on her hands, she began to write them a story.

She was inspired by the nature surrounding her dairy farm in Castley, which is a village close to Huby and Weeton.

One oak tree, with its large hollow trunk, stood out so she began writing a story about a mouse that lives there and the adventures it gets up to with friends.

These include Old Owl, who lives at the top of the old oak tree, Scruffy Mouse, who has a workshop where he makes and mends things, and Mattie Mouse, who lives in London and works for the London Parks and Gardens Trust.

Ms Lishman would write a new chapter each week and post it to her grandchildren along with her own illustrations. She said:

“They loved it and are all really into the book.”

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Despite having no professional writing experience, Ms Lishman searched for publishers online and found Austin Macauley.

They turned the chapters that had been sent to her grandchildren into a book called Little Mouse which was published in February.

She said the book is aimed at children between four and 10 and has a positive message about caring for friends.

Despite lockdown separating Ms Lishman and her husband from their grandchildren, the book was one positive outcome:

She said:

“If it hadn’t have been for covid the book would never have happened!”

Little Mouse is available to buy at Amazon.

A Boroughbridge walking group has announced its annual Easter walking festival will return in April after a two-year hiatus due to covid.

The Boroughbridge and the Lower Ure Valley Walks group is made up of volunteer walking enthusiasts helping to share local walks. The group also organises an annual festival which includes a long walk for people to enjoy together.

This year’s walks include a 16-mile river walk and will take place across four days, April 15 to 18.

The festival has been going since 2008 and will this year feature a new walk from Whixley to a grade II listed church in Allerton Mauleverer.

The walk is in conjunction with the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Boroughbridge. The battle, between Edward II and his cousin the Earl of Lancaster, who was in collusion with the Scots, involved several thousand soldiers. The majority supported the king.

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The festival includes a walk, a tour of the town and a visit to the Devil’s Arrows- four standing stones with the highest almost seven metres tall.

The festival had to be cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to various covid restrictions.

The full festival guide will be available here shortly.

The festive season is over, payday seems like a lifetime away and there is often a sense of pressure to make big life changes at this time of the year.

And all of that is made worse by the fact it is still cold, dark, wet and miserable outside, with months to go until summer comes around.

So it is no surprise that Blue Monday – the ‘most depressing day of the year’ — falls in January.

Blue Monday usually falls on the third Monday of January, which this year is the 17th.

It appears to have originated in 2005 after a press release from Sky Travel used an equation to calculate the dreaded date.

So what should we do this year to beat those Blue Monday blues?

Harrogate life coach Lisa Duffield, owner of the Lisa Duffield Centre, has four tips.

1 Comparison is the thief of joy

“I wanted to share a little insight I have found within the clients I work with.

“Individuals that are suffering from what is branded the ‘January blues’ are all so focused on comparison.

“Comparison of this month to last month, this year to last year…

“You and your family’s goals or plans, compared to the family next door, or the family who you spend all your time watching on Instagram that you will never meet. And from this insight I bring you my first pill-free prescription to beat the case of January blues.

“Comparison is the single biggest waste of your time.

“Next time you find yourself comparing yourself to others or your life to others etc. just stop take a breath and if you insist on comparing yourself at all, think about you, how far have you come, what have you learned since yesterday, last year or even an hour ago.”

Harrogate life coach, Lisa Duffield.

2 Make realistic goals

“January blues can also shine through goal setting and unrealistic expectations.

“For some reason many of us believe that when the clock strikes 12 on January 1, you change into a new person, fitter, healthier, wealthier.

“Old traditions even show that we wish our first foot “all the wealth, health and happiness” for the New Year. While this is very kind, it does not mean that you have to become an overnight fitness fad and a self-made billionaire.

“Here comes the second tip, make realistic goals that you know you are able to achieve.

“You may have a big dream and that is amazing, but break it down into incremental chunks.

“Make smaller goals that you know will get to. They could be ‘eat more green veg’ or ‘move for an extra 30 minutes per day’, rather than ‘complete a bodybuilding competition and win in three months’.”

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3 Surround yourself with positivity

“Spend time with those who make you happy.

“Over Christmas many of us spend a lot of time with family and friends, we make the effort to go and see relatives that we haven’t seen since the year previous, or we say Merry Christmas to people in the street and smile.

“This makes us happy because we have also made others feel happy. Why stop?

“You can still spend time with ones you love and you can still engage with people in the street. A simple good morning or hello will work wonders.”

4 Try something new

“Last but not least. We’ve all heard it. ‘Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results’.

“It’s time to try something new.

“If you are looking for a different result in 2022 and maybe you are feeling a little deflated, step out of your comfort zone and try something new.

“You will be surprised the paths this teeny act can lead to, you meet new people, learn and experience new things.”

4 ways to cheer yourself up on Blue Monday – by Nina Meads

1 Go for a walk

Nidd Gorge, is one of the many scenic walks that explore nature in the Harrogate district.

In the Harrogate district, we are fortunate enough to be surrounded by stunning countryside. We really are spoilt for choice and personal favourites are Thruscross Reservoir, Nidd Gorge and Hookstone Wood. You also can’t beat a walk around the grounds at Fountains Abbey or Knaresborough waterside.

So lace up those walking boots and head out into the great outdoors. Fresh air and being amongst nature will boost your mood.

If you’re at work, grab a coffee and go for a stroll on your lunch break.

2 Pamper yourself

Rudding Park Spa.

If you want to really spoil yourself, book into Harrogate’s Turkish Baths or enjoy a spa session at Rudding Park, Grantley Hall or Swinton Park.

If money or time is tight, nothing beats a good bath and a book.

3 Do some exercise and practice mindfulness at a Festival of Wellbeing in Harrogate

A ‘festival of wellbeing’ is being held in Harrogate.

While it’s not taking place on Blue Monday itself, OneWellness, in Mowbray Square, is hosting a second Festival of Wellbeing on Saturday, January 15, to help boost mental health.

The free festival from 9am until 4pm, which is being run in association with Mind Harrogate, Sweaty Betty and Hustle & Co, will offer a range of fitness, nutrition and health classes and talks.

From mindfulness and wellbeing, relax and de-stress yoga, to Pilates, barre, and dance cardio classes, the wellbeing experts at OneWellness have tailored each lesson to suit everyone and help boost physical fitness levels whilst increasing positive wellbeing.

4 Meet a friend for a cuppa and cake

Betty’s Harrogate.

The Harrogate district has some of the best coffee shops and tearooms in the country, including lots of amazing independents and the famous Betty’s.

Arrange to meet a friend for a catch-up and lots of laughs. After all, laughter is good for the soul. Oh and don’t forget the cake. That’s essential.

A new scheme to encourage residents to explore the beauty and heritage in their local area is heading to Ripon.

North Yorkshire County Council is expanding ‘Discoveries on Your Doorstep’ after the success of its walks in Scarborough and Selby.

They range from castle the canal towpaths and give local residents a glimpse at areas they might otherwise overlook.

Wetland walks is the title of the new scheme, which is due to be launched soon at Ripon City Wetlands.

It will focus on nature rather than the heritage theme of the two existing options elsewhere in the county.

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The county council has said it is trying to help areas which have been struggling with exercise since coronavirus struck.

A co-ordinator for the project, Josh Wood, said:

“Research suggests that for some people motivation for wanting to be outside and exercising was driven by discovering the local area, rather than wanting to be outdoors for health.

“Since the coronavirus pandemic struck, data suggests some communities are more affected than others by a lack of physical activity.

“So we think it is most appropriate to target the communities which have missed out most.”

“We want to leave people with fond memories of being outdoors while exercising and being active without that being the main reason for being outdoors.”

It is another boost for nature reserves near Ripon after the Nosterfield Nature Reserve won a £132,000 government grant to enhance wildlife.