2 - 4 March 2017
We never say no to a trip off the Island!... life down south is wonderful, but it's also fun to experience adventures further afield. Yorkshire is always a favourite destination... breathtaking scenery, vast panorama's and friendly people, a warm welcome guaranteed every visit!
Ripon is a beautiful market town that was founded over 1300 years ago, it's famous as an old Cathedral City where monasteries have stood since the 7th Century. A trip to this Market Town is the main focus of our travels... Today, this busy market town has something for everyone... a great base for walking and other outdoor activities, unique shopping amongst the quaint old streets and some rather nice restaurants and bars to fall in love with.
Our trip away went a little like this:
Thursday 2nd - A pleasant March morning as we leave the Island on the 9am ferry from East Cowes. The roads are kind and we enjoy a hassle free drive from Southampton towards Doncaster. We stop off for a sarnie break in Royal Leamington Spa. The Georgian and Edwardian architecture, pretty park and treasure-trove of independent boutiques make for an interesting hours detour. During our brief stop we also explore the Leamington Spa art Gallery and Museum. This interesting attraction houses an impressive art gallery and a local history exhibition. The temporary exhibition, Journey through Japan, contained the beautiful travel photography of Marjorie Bell. Taken during two months exploring in 1903, these hand-coloured glass lantern slides show a very different Japan from the busy, hyper-coloured world destination we know (and love) today. In the eve, we enjoy the main reason for our trip... Happy 50th Kay!
Journey through Japan - Marjorie Bell
Friday 3rd - The weather is not great... wet, windy and wild! Ripon is our next stop. We pack the car, set the sat-nav and get on our way. This Market Town is stunning... a real hidden gem! Our hotel is The Old Deanery and we are literally on the door step of the mighty Ripon Cathedral. After a quick check-in we go explore. The present medieval Cathedral is on the site of a stone church built in the middle of the seventh century, and beneath the crossing you can still explore the original
seventh-century crypt. It's surprisingly warm underground and very atmospheric. Next up, the town. The weather is still playing havoc with our plans, we take a short walk into the historic Square, it's lined with a good selection of independent shops, small bars and restaurants. We eat, drink and continue the Birthday celebrations.
The Hepworth Wakefield and gallery space
Saturday 4th - Dave and I are up early to get a quick walk around the back streets of Ripon, then back to the hotel for breakfast. 10:00am and we are on the road heading South. A short detour and we are able to fit in a visit to The Hepworth Wakefield. Opened in 2011, this David Chipperfield designed gallery is impressive and certainly worth a visit. Ten grey trapezoidal boxes, each housing a room - has a robust beauty in perfect harmony with the rugged, industrial surroundings. Inside you'll find an extensive permanent collection of 20th-century art bought by the forward-thinking curators of Wakefield Art Gallery, which was set up in 1923, and is now supplemented with some exciting loans. At the heart of this core collection sit a large number of pieces by Barbara Hepworth herself, who grew up in the city, the daughter of an engineer. Hepworth's achievement is shown alongside that of her contemporaries at home and abroad. Selected sculptures by Henry Moore, who also grew up in Wakefield compliment the collection beautifully. Close to the Hepworth is The Calder, a contemporary art space which was opened in 2014.
With Yorkshire Sculpture Park only seven miles away and the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds just up the road, Hepworth Wakefield is at the centre of a hub for modern sculpture. An energetic itinerary could take in all these places in one visit, spread over a day or two.
10 out of 10.
