This was one of the few days it rained during our six weeks in the UK and Ireland.  We had expected it to rain a lot, and we figured we were due after having such great luck with the weather during our travels this year.

Our bus ride took us through the Yorkshire Dales National Park, a beautiful region in northern England known for its white limestone cliffs, rivers, and lush green valleys (“dales”).  Had it not been raining I would have snapped photos through the window during the drive. 

I did manage to capture a few scenes in the rain when we stopped for a hike to see Devil’s Bridge in Kirby Lonsdale.  This 3-arched bridge is said to date back to the 13^th century. 

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

We continued our drive to the quaint Swan Hotel in Grasmere, our base for two nights.  Typically, our guide would take us on an orientation walk upon arrival in a town; however, we opted to pass on it until the following day, since it was raining and the paths would be muddy.

Prior to dinner at the hotel, we met with Robert, a local dry stone waller, to learn about his craft.  A potentially boring topic turned out to be fascinating and fun, because this character injected much humor into his presentation.  And, the information he shared stuck with us all; we found ourselves commenting on and judging the quality of the many miles of dry stone walls we saw throughout northern England!

These walls are difficult to construct and require a skilled and experienced craftsman, because no mortar is used to hold the walls together.  Instead, the stones are expertly fitted together and locked in place without concrete—a very time-consuming process.  Unfortunately, this age-old craft may become a thing of the past, because fewer people are learning this difficult technique.

Next up:  UNITED KINGDOM #5: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A LAKE DISTRICT FARM