Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2014 - top 10 regions 28 October 2013 Need inspiration for your travels in 2014? These 10 regions have captivated our travel experts with their natural beauty and cultural riches. Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-tips-and-arThe Lonely Planet's best in travel 2014 top 10 regions

For those of us lucky enough to either live here or visit regularly we know how wonderful the Yorkshire Dales are, now they are rated as the third best area in the world to visit by Lonely Planet 2014.

It’s only a matter of time before this rough-around-the-edges gentleman of the north gets the traveller attention it deserves.  Yorkshire’s local athletes helped the county clock up more medals in the 2012 London Olympics than entire countries such as South Africa, Spain and even the 2016 hosts, Brazil. As if basking in Yorkshire’s glory, last year a poll revealed the North Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate was the happiest place in Britain. Bradford has become the world’s first Unesco City of Film, a new state-of-the-art gallery in Wakefield is giving London a run for its money, and Yorkshire now has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other county outside London. In 2014, this welcoming region of rugged moorlands, heritage homes and cosy pubs will be able to hold its head even higher when the Tour de France begins its grand départ from Leeds.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-tips-and-articles/lonely-planets-best-in-travel-2014-top-10-regions#ixzz2ooGJFIqs

Dreaming of a white Christmas

Photos taken on Sunday 22nd December. 

Weather in Upper Swaledale

Weather in Upper Swaledale

A friend of ours keeps a daily log of the weather and has told me that November is one of the driest months on record, with 2.68” (68mm) of rain for the month, this is 48% of the 10 year average for the month. However the year as a whole is showing a cumulative rainfall of 47.71” which is 97% of the 10 year average. Lets hope it stays fine and dry for Christmas and New Year.

Autumn in Swaledale

The colours were lovely this year! 

Our last guests were very happy!

Comments from our last guests at Laykin!

Wonderful autumn photos from our most recent guest Keith, with many thanks!

Swinton Park, a wonderful place for a special occasion!

Yorkshire wins Europe's Leading Destination award

Yorkshire has beaten Berlin, London and Madrid to win the title of Europe's Leading Destination in 2013.

The prize was awarded at the World Travel Awards in Antalya, Turkey, which are described by organisers as the "Oscars of the travel industry".
Yorkshire is the first location other than a major city or country to have won the Leading Destination title in the 17-year history of the awards.
Tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire said the award was a "major coup".
'Top destination' The awards are intended to highlight and reward locations and travel brands considered to have made the greatest contribution to the tourism industry over the past twelve months.
Tourism is worth about £7bn annually to Yorkshire, with 216 million visits made to the county each year, said Welcome to Yorkshire.
The award comes less than a year after Yorkshire won the right to host the start of the Tour de France in July next year, with the race's Grand Depart taking place in Leeds.
Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said the award was a "real validation" of the efforts put in by the county's tourism industry.
"It's fantastic to see Yorkshire taking its rightful place as one of the top holiday destinations in Europe," said Mr Verity.
Previous winners of the Leading European Destination award include Istanbul, Paris, London and Barcelona.

Reeth Show 2013- a scorcher!

Goosander and chicks

Thank you to our guests in June who took these amazing photos on the Swale of this goosander and her 10 chicks!

Off road unicycles!

A pair of unicyclists were seen on the track to Laykin last Saturday.  

Our housekeeper thought she was having hallucinations!  As they pushed their unicycles past the cottage, they said that they were surprised how steep it was!  Not sure if this will become a regular occurrence!

1st Grouse chicks seen today!

The breeding season this year has been delayed by the cold weather, but it is  heartening that the first chicks were seen today at last!

Richmond, North Yorkshire- a lovely town

This is Frenchgate, which has a fabulous restaurant of the same name.

 Richmond Swimming pool

 Have a cup of tea after your swim at the Station Cafe

There is lots to do at the Station- it has a cinema, shops, art gallery, and a small museum.

So if you think all there is in Richmond is a castle and the market place, think again! 

Drop down towards the river to discover lovely walks, and the falls as well as all the above.

Yorebridge House - what an amazing foodie experience!

Yorebridge House in Wensleydale.  

The Food is Amazing- see below!

Introducing Tarquinius, our pheasant.

Isn't he magnificent?  We think he is wonderful and very grand, 

 so christened him Tarquinius

 

after hearing the name on the Grand National!

 He comes to the cottage at least twice a day for his food, and squawks if we have forgotten!

The nice thing is that many other birds are now visiting us as well. 

Do feel free to continue to feed the birds for us.