Byland Abbey Memories

A day of apprecation of my surroundings and the memories, we made when I rode out with Jack many moons ago. Jacks Dad ,Charlie, was riding out then too .He was 76 when he hung his stirrups up. Is it the time of year as the clocks go back,the nights pull in and the sights of atmospheric sights like this of Byland Abbey I took yesterday, makes me refelect on life as it was nearly 50 years ago .The views are the same ,the seasons unfurl abeit sometimes they just dont quite fit the pattern they did back then. We have some amazing sights at the moment of the leaves changing colour. The patchwork of fields turning brown as the farmers work well into the night, trying to beat the weather and get their winter crops in. Some are sprouting green as you see the straight drill marks that have planted seeds for next years harvest. As the daylight hours shorten, there is more chance of seeing the Northern Lights. And of course you can breakfast by the fire when you come to stay with us. Oh so beautiful , Majestically stood alone in the mist. The monks have departed and so have their flock, Apart from the pheasants and occasion woodcock. At night ,an owl will weave the ground Looking for a mouse, he looks keenly down. Sheltered from the wind and the troubles of the world Byland is there, for all to be found. Until then I enjoy the peace of the land. I am proud to recall the days of the past of those powerful horses trotting by so fast. There was Volters and Tilston and big Gypsy Dan Astride one of those magnificent beasts So privileged to be one of the string A memory for all who then climbed the Bank, to gallop on Wass Moor knee high in ling.

Walking, sightseeing and going to a cafe are ....

· The Top activities for visitors of the North York Moors area. If this appeals to you going on a gentle walk, sightseeing / pottering and going to a café / tea room - Come and stay with us. Not to mention Dark Skies venues of which we are lucky to live in the very midst of one .We do see the most amazing skies full of stars and wonderful formations. We have seen falling stars and as youngsters always wanted to pick one up and put it in our pockets as the song goes - but havent achieved this yet. A record from the 40-50s Perry Como sang and is still remembered today. We can direct you the the foodie places we think are the best.... We can tell you the best places to go to eat, pick up a sandwich or slice of cake to eat on your day out. There is plenty of tea/coffee and milk here. Just bring you own flask and we will fill it for you . You can walk from the doorstep and leave your car while you tak a stroll to Byland Abbey 20 minutes away And if we have some homemade soup on the go we are happy to share some to go in a flask too . One of our favourite easy,flat stroll round a picture perfect village is only 10 minute drive away. Where there are thatched cottages, a duck pond and old mill. Pass cottages with names like Primrose Cottage, Mill Cottage and Orchard House A pretty village church with its lofty steeple but even better the day you do this there is no need to think of a picnic. The Star At Harome does the most amazing food ,having just been awarded 3 rosettes by the AA. Even though the foie gras is what Jack would be drawn too topped with black pudding, a very reasonably priced Market Menu 3 courses for £30. Did you know there is a child's menu too - A child's menu at a Michelin starred inn that was news to me . Add a loaf of bread and rest assured you dont need anything else but maybe a slice of cake later in the day but if you look in "your tin" when you get make to your room there will be some sweet treats for you in there. If you have already "done" your Holidays for this year .Why not plan ahead from 2024 . Gift vouchers can be bought from us for you to give for family and friends who like to get away and have a treat. If you pop into the Star Andrew Pern has brought a second book out which also will make a great gift or a keepsake for your stay in the area. It is named "Loose Birds and Game" contains 65 recipes divided into 13 chapters, large-format fold-out pages introducing each topic. There is everything here from dishes that you’ll cook to win round the in-laws, to rustic pies that you’ll want to keep for yourself. Game has never been more affordable.

Head to North Yorkshire to awaken your Senses

Looking to escape the city and don’t fancy a drive to the busy South coast and the traffic queues you hear of when you go to the South West. You need to point your compass North and head to our wonderful county of North Yorkshire. If you dont want to drive you can get the train right up to Thirsk - home of James Herriot the famous vet stories were written here. Thirsk is only 12 miles from us and an easy drive to be with us .Or take the train to York and you can even get the local bus which only costs £2 and it will drop you at the bottom of our drive. With endless possibilities, adventures and the great outdoors to enjoy ,you can start planning now . We are here to answer all your questions to make your holiday as stress free as possible. The North York Moors is a special place of great beauty and tranquility. Home to magnificent historical buildings,-Castle Howard being my favourite. Deep wooded vallets, bubbling streams and big skies Dine at the Star in Harome - a favourite with guests and locals too .I am going in a couple of days time to celebrate my birthday . And I can even tell you the nicest table to sit at ...be sure to ask me . You can walk through our fields to Byland Abbey treading the age old path that the monks walked many moons ago. Feel the energy they left behind. Then stop and listen ...to the birds ,sit a while in the grass, on a stile or bench and watch the gliders silently floating in the skies above. Smell the newly cut grass as the heat of the Summer sun turns it to hay for the animal feed through the winter. Find honeysuckle in the hedgerow and take a piece and suck the nectar from the flower, the finest restaurant cannot complete with the taste of that. Clover is sweet too. And lastly find a buttercup - be that child again and hold it under your chin and if you see the sun helping the buttercup reflect the colour yellow -this tells you that you like butter.

It is all waiting for you and it is all free for the taking .

Byland Abbey and a Full Moon

The Full Moon in June is called the Strawberry Moon and as my strawberries are filling out just wanting that extra hours of light to ripen you can see how this June's full moon gets its name. Nothing is better than a wander around Byland Abbey on a Summer's night in June with the moon to light you way. Not quite as balmy as one would like as we are experience very hot days, but then nearly a frost at night . It is more like weather temperatures you would expect in the Sahara and not in North Yorkshire. Impressive remains can still be seen including the lower half of a huge rose window which was said to be the inspiration for the same window at York Minster An interesting feature is the preservation of some of the brightly coloured medieval floor tiles. and of course it is our favourite Abbey as only 15 minutes walk from our house and can be seen over the fields from our farm land. Jack always says it has the best cricket pitch in Yorkshire as it was were all the local children have played here over the years .And as the years go by my Grandchildren enjoy going and sometimes take a picnic with them .

Byland Abbey, Egg Sandwiches and Mushrooms .

So how about taking a walk through our fields and coming out at Byland Abbey. As guests you have the use of your own fridge, so you could make and take your own picnic. Eating it in the grounds of Byland Abbey pictured here. Or if you are like me I would have to start nibbing on the way and I doubt if I made egg sandwiches they would get there. There is something about egg sandwiches which I always relate to going on journeys. As a child I suppose we had only egg sandwiches when we went away, so it has stuck with me. Having hens on the farm always meant we had plenty of eggs. As Jack used to say we grew up 5 fields apart as he was brought up at Abbey Farm at Byland Abbey. So not a long walk, will take you half an hour as a brisk walk or dally along the way. Well, you are on holiday . As far as we know Byland Abbey is still offering free access to people . But don't worry if they are now charging as we have a special treaty that was signed many centuries ago for our farm so when I tell you more you can get in for free in any case. Jack says it is the best cricket pitch as a lad he will have played many a game in the grounds. If it is that you come when it is the times mushroom are growing ,we will tell you exactly where to look for them as they grown on the way to Byland. If you dont like to eat them raw, you can bring them back with you. Having them as a snack later with some toast .Yes there are toasters too in your room to use or if you would rather I will cook them for your breakfast. We quite like to pick them when the dew is on them before the sun gets to dry them out a bit. These are the freshiest and some times a few strands of grass get into the frying pan too. As you can find them just coming through from the warm earth and pushing through the grass. Due to land managementnow a day, we do not see as many puff ball mushrooms as we did when I was a child. We use tractors rather than horses working in the fields and mushrooms were very plentiful where the horses were turned out after their days work. So maybe mushrooms like horse muck as well as rose bushes . But here is a beauty that I took for Antonio Carluccio a few years ago. Soon it will be the time for St Georges mushrooms as they magically seem to apppear around 23rd April - St Georges Day. I fear with the very cold nights,early morning frosts and it being so dry they may not come this year. So unless the weather changes, their spore will stay well underground. The weather at the moment is a nightmare for our gardens as during the day I can be out at the front of the house in my shirt sleeves,but come first thing on a morning there is ice on the car wind screen. Recently I bought a peach tree and it is in and out of the houe like a yo yo. I take it out during the day for the bees to come and pollinate the blossom and bring it in a night to protect it from the frost. I have bought 5 peony plants this week and it will be intersting to see how they grow but for now as they have very tender shoots. I have planted them all in one big pot and placed them in the porch . As I have with 2 climbing sweet pea plants and a climbing jasmine . I have always admired these sweet pea climbers and managed to find some locally last week. The only house I ever saw them on was the porch at Eb Sunleys in Ampleforth. They had a farm at the bottom end of the village. They didnt have a flower garden as such, but every year without fail the sweet peas appeared.

Byland Abbey this evening . It is an English Heritage site just 15- 20 minutes walk from here or as Jack would say 5 fields away . There is a public right of way passing halfway down our drive ,but you can get through our fields to it if you prefer and probably see some deer on the way . It is free to enter..

Now we can talk about it

BBC Countryfile was on TV tonight.We were very impressed with Byland Abbey standing out in all its glory, which is only just down the road from us. We had the Countryfile team here for about 4 hours filming the piece about Tricia Hutchinson with the help of Helen Skelton dying the sheeps wool.My Dad was disappointed they did not mention us and the woods, but I knew it would be a hard match to get it mentioned as they said No publicity . My eagle eyes spotted the roof of our house and the chimney as the girls walked up through the wood. What was brilliant for us I thought was, the sheep dog trials as it showed lots of shots and minutes and minutes of coverage of our new wedding reception venue spot.It was the back drop for much of the filming and as the woods came down to the field in the distance on the left hand side this is where we reckon is one of the best views in North Yorkshire .It showed it perfectly so thank you to those who did the filming. My Dad always said if there was two ways to skin a cat I would find them. -This is a saying not something that I intend to do physically. The film crew were great and Helen Skelton was a lovely chatty lady.The young Irish competitor stayed here so I reckon it was my breakfast that put him on the right road for the day. It is all over now and I would just like to extend thanks to Susan Briggs of Tourismknowhow for coming up with the idea of the sheep and Catriona McLees for instrumenting the project. On to the next project girls .... Here are a few photos I managed to sneak past the researcher

Just down the road

Just over a mile from here is Byland Abbey -A Cisterian ruin knocked down by Oliver Cromwell in the Dissolution of the Monasteries -the naughty man.Now a ruin which is upkept by the English Heritage. It is still a very impressive site. With its rose window it is our local landmark. From our fields an idyllic backdrop for all your "take home" photographs to show the rest of the clan. Jack was brought up at College Farm, which is part of the Abbey Ruins.I guess this has helped bring about his sense of belonging and proudness of being born under them there hills.He is not a happy bunny if he is far away. We live 5 fields away so that is acceptable. If you go down in the evening after supper for a stroll around the Abbey itself is floodlit.

A wedding with a view

Last Saturday Sami and James got married at Scampston Hall. They had their reception up in one of our fields high above Byland Abbey. This is Rubi's View and on a clear day which it was you can see from the East coast over to the Pennines and beyond. The back drop for the bride and groom is of course the ruins of Byland Abbey. A truly unique situation. Guests came from far and wide with James's sister flying in from Australia and a lovely family from the Isle of Skye -lots of Celtic connections here The weather and the marquee looked fabulous, decked out with flowers and fairy lights. As the sun went down people were still sat out admiring the views. Here are a few photos to show what a glorious place it is and what fun guests had.There was a lovely relaxed atmosphere about the whole day and of course the bride looked beautiful If you are thinking of getting married in the Summer of 2015 you are welcome to come and take a look around. You may have your ideas set in stone or need a few ideas.We have wonderful suppliers, many who are local should you need any.You can pick and choose from our list with pleasure. We are here to help you day run smoothly and have memories to look back on as being the best day of your lives.