18 May 2012 YORK Friday

A whole day to explore York, so off we go after a delicious hot brekky of oats making a much-needed change from hotel scrambled eggs!

York Minster, as the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe, was suitably impressive, it's size making it visible from near and far.

Just a quick sticky beak inside as the temptation of morning tea was too strong to resist for long, given the reknowned popularity of Betty's Tea Room.  It is an institution in North Yorkshire and has been going for over 90 years and quite rightfully so.  Morning tea was a treat to be reckoned with, including scones with clotted cream and chocolate cake, not to mention the variety of teas and coffees.

A walk along the castle wall was a necessity in order to settle our sizeable morning tea.  The wall still circles the majority of the city with some of it's entry gates still intact.

This appears to be a Roman defending the castle - none too successfully I'd say!

A pretty walk along the River Ouse while 3 families of ducks and ducklings paddled their way across the waters ahead of the gently floating York riverboat, ended our chilly and exhilirating day.