Red Kites Near Harrogate

Red Kites Near Harrogate

I headed out near Harrogate to see if I could photograph the red kites that gather in the area.

At one point there must have been around twenty of them circling high above us. They were so high that most of my photographs don't really show just how many there were, but it was amazing to stand underneath them and watch them gliding overhead. I was particularly pleased with the first photograph, which was easily my best shot of the day.

Afterwards, we headed into Knaresborough for tea, where we got to see the viaduct lit up after dark.

A Walk Near Mount Grace Priory

A Walk Near Mount Grace

After lunch in North Yorkshire, we headed out for a walk through the countryside near Mount Grace Priory.

The path took us through woodland and up onto the hills, where we had lovely views across the surrounding countryside. We also spotted a little squirrel along the way, sitting quietly while nibbling on something it was holding.

By the time we made our way back, the sun was beginning to set, and the sky had turned a beautiful shade of pink.

Arthur's Seat | Edinburgh

A Climb Up Arthur's Seat

One of the things I wanted to see while we were in Edinburgh was Arthur's Seat, so we made our way there after passing Holyrood Palace.

The climb was steep, but there was plenty to look at as we made our way up. We could see Edinburgh Castle and the Balmoral in the distance, with the city stretching out around us.

There were quite a few people making the climb too, and it became particularly busy as we reached the top. After the climb, though, the views made it worthwhile. From the top, we could see right across Edinburgh and out towards Fife across the water.

Royal Botanic Gardens | Edinburgh

Autumn in Edinburgh

We spent some time exploring the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, which were looking beautiful in the early autumn sunshine.

Inside the glasshouses, we wandered through the different environments, from the dry, cactus-filled areas to the rainforest zone where my camera actually steamed up!

Outside, the gardens were full of colour, with the last of the flowers still blooming alongside the first signs of autumn. There were pumpkins growing among the plants, too, which made it feel like the season was definitely changing.

Fountains Abbey and Fountains Hall

The Parts of Fountains Abbey I'd Missed

I've visited Fountains Abbey a few times, but somehow I'd always managed to miss Fountains Hall. This time, we followed the path through the grounds and discovered the hall and the gardens beside the river.

The old stone of the hall was surrounded by autumn colours, and I enjoyed wandering through the orchard and along the river.

I'd also never noticed the old mill before. Crossing the bridge from the gardens brought us to another part of the grounds, with the twelfth-century mill sitting beside the water. It's funny how you can visit somewhere more than once and still find things you've never noticed before. I'd always thought of Fountains Abbey as the main attraction, but there was much more to discover around it.

Fountains Hall is apparently said to be haunted, although thankfully, we didn't encounter anything unusual during our visit!

Autumn at Studley Royal

An Autumn Day at Studley Royal

We spent a day at Studley Royal in autumn, when the trees were beginning to change colour. There was plenty to photograph as we wandered through the grounds, from the golden and orange leaves to the deer in the park. I also noticed lots of chestnuts high up in the trees.