A Visit to Masham

Another of the Bentley Family traditions seems to be going up to Masham for a few days, just after the Christmas Festivities, so for the third Christmas running we headed for the King's Head Hotel in the village square.

A couple of weeks prevous to our trip the weather had been pretty bad. Firstly we had some early snow, followed by some extremely cold weather, with temperatures dropping to minus twelve on more than one occasion, and some hazardous road conditions once you got off the main roads. So once again we were wondering if we would be able to make it to Masham!

A couple of days before we were due to go, the forecasts were showing that the temperature was going to rise to above freezing, but that there would be some extensive fog blanketing most of the country, so it was no surprise when on our departure date (Wednesday 29th December) we were greeted by a quite foggy day!

On arrival in Masham I had a wander round the square and took some photos of the village square in the fog.

The Christmas Tree in the village square was one of the few bright spots amidst the encircling gloom!

This is the King's Head Hotel from across the car park.

This tree outside the Hotel looked pretty forlorn with the prevailing damp and foggy conditions.

By the time darkness had begun to drop, and the lights on the Christmas trees and the street lights in the village square were lit, the place took on something of a Victorian atmosphere.

You could almost expect a top hatted and cloaked figure to sweep into view!

Even the lights on the King's Head Hotel gave the scene some atmposphere!

Ruby was not too bothered by any of this, and quickly settled on to her "Hot Spot" by the side of the bathroom radiator. As she looked so comfortable (and as she had been here before) we decided to leave her whilst we went across to the bar for a coffee and a relaxing read of the papers, prior to going in for dinner.

When we got back to our bedroom, Ruby had decided to walk across the white linen bedcover, leaving very obvious paw marks. We confessed to one of the staff who told us not to worry, as they had lots of people who brought their dogs, and some of them had done far worse than that!

Castle Bolton is situated not very far from Leyburn, and many years previously Dot had visited the castle, we decided that we would have a look at the building.

So on Thursday we went for a run around the area, and visited Leyburn, Bedale, Northallerton, and ended up at Castle Bolton.

There is a small typical dales church built behind the castle, dedicated to St Oswald.

Friday Morning: Dot's Birthday!

Unknown to Dot I had had a word with one of the hotel staff and asked if they would bring Dot's Birthday presents in at breakfast time. Here she is opening them.