Three counties, two weeks, one hodmedod

A week or so ago, we returned from a two week tour of that part of  England designated as, "North of Watford". A full, serialised account can be found here  I, being basically idle, have opted to present a heavily abridged version for your delight and delectation. The holiday was driven by the fact that we had acquired tickets for the Commonwealth Games. Glasgow being a fair way to travel for a weekend, we opted to add more destinations.

First stop - Bolton Abbey caravan site in Yorkshire.

Bolton Abbey, a reasonable walk along the banks of the River Wharfe from the caravan site.

This little chap was most obliging and posed quite willingly for publicity shots.

The Early Morning Alarm Duck.

Skipton was a short drive from the site and was well worth the visit.

Canal basin in the centre of Skipton

Main gate of Skipton castle

 Second stop - Englethwaite Hall caravan site in Cumbria.

This site was is near Carlisle, where we took the train to Glasgow for rugby sevens preliminary games on the Saturday at Ibrox and athletics heats on the Sunday at Hampden Park.

Some big Jamaican bloke chucking a cannonball

Medal ceremony for the women's marathon. Winner was Flomena Daniel

Women's 400 metre heat

Diminutive domestic goddess

 After the games, we had a quick trip around the north of the Lake District including a visit to Keswick.

Ullswater

Third stop - Chatsworth House caravan site in Derbyshire.

As the site was on the Chatsworth estate, it would have been rude not to have visited the house.

Emperor fountain in the grounds of Chatsworth

One of many posh rooms in the house

The chapel

 We also had a bit of a drive around.

A Dales road

 Haddon Hall was particularly fine.

This is the tomb of the son of Henry the 8th duke of Rutland. He was 9 years old when he died.

Haddon Hall from the gardens (which are rather fine).

The courtyard

And there you have it........