Ilkley, Jollyoldengland
My family and I spent the last 10 days of February in England. My parents go to England a couple of time per year. They invited the four of us along for their late Winter / early Spring trip. They usually go later in March or in April. However, there’s a royal wedding this coming April, William and Kate, and plane tickets and hotels were getting pricey. So, we went a little off -season.
The first installment of photos covers Ilkley, a small town in Yorkshire. Here’s the front door of our B&B, the Archway Cottage, owned and operated by Tony and Gwen Green. It’s a cozy place with three bedrooms, and a loft that functions like a suite. Tony and Gwen are now great friends with my parents, and one evening they invited use to their residence (next door) for a fabulous dinner.

Entrance to the Archway Cottage in Ilkley, Yorkshire, England
Okay, here’s the bad news, England is famous for its rainy foggy weather. Not everyday, but the weather we encountered was typically overcast and gray, making picture taking a little tough. On the first day, we woke up to find snow on the ground and the roofs, which is actually a-typical.
Someone asked me, what struck me the most about being in Yorkshire and England. I said that it was the architecture. Most of the buildings in this area were made of cut stone. Families nestled into row houses with slate roofs and chimney pots pointing at the clouds.

Looking behind the B&B to find clouds and snow on my "Island Vacation."
But, the typical English weather did not deter us from adventuring and having a good time. Not everyday was overcast and misty.
Here’s a view from the Ilkley moor. The moors are ranges of long hills; yeah, all that Emily Bronte stuff. They’re not tall and mountainous, but the stretch along the countryside for miles. Outdoor lovers climb, bike, hike, and camp in the moors. You can get lost for days, if you want. Even in the off-season, there were many outdoorsy types around, which reminded a New Englander of being in the mountain areas of New Hampshire or more likely Vermont.

Road to the Moor
If I do go back to Yorkshire, I’d like to spend more time in the moors and get muddy. Here’s a local landmark called “the Cow and Calf.” The “Cow” is the large outcrop to the left, and the “Calf” is the boulder that looks like it has broken away. My first three days, the weather was so foggy, I could not see the moor. We went for a drive through the moor, right past the “Cow and Calf.” I still couldn’t see a thing.

Cow and Calf
Rapelling Lessons on the Cow
Fortunately, this moor comes complete with a pub, called the “Cow & Calf.” It’s also a large B&B serving free breakfast to guests. Anyone can go for lunch or dinner, pints, and malt whiskeys. The local woods get very, very well stocked with deer and fowl. Hunters sell their kill to butchers and restaurants. This restaurant had venison and guinea fowl on the menu.

Lisa and Max heading for lunch at the Cow and Calf Pub