After yesterdays 90 mile circular drive across and back from the coast via the moors, we stayed relatively local. Breakfast in Malton at The Pantry - Eggs Florentine for me, Veggie Breakie for Hubs -seeing as you asked. Then a wander around town, enviously taking in a few interiors shops, and purchasing locally roasted coffee beans from Roost. Moving on to Helmsley for a rather lovely coffee with biscotti and yummy patisserie outside of Mannion & Co, to prepare and fortify us for the further demanding exertion of gently ambing around a castle ruin.
My first recollection of visiting Helmsley was a Primary School field trip, when I was around eight or nine. So sixty years ago. Somewhere in my physical photo archive, I have some rather indistinct snaps of Helmsley Castle and of me stood in front of the Helmsley YHA, taken on a Box Brownie type camera I had. Already a history enthusiast, I absolutely loved the Castle and the later visit to Rievaulx Abbey.
Would it now live up to my recollection of it? Yes, of course it did. Helmsley Castle is one of those places that easily fires up one's imagination, whatever your age. The English Heritage audio guides are rather excellent. Though you do have to decide at some point quite how much depth of information you require, and what amount of thespian over acting you can tolerate. Plus, realising at six eight, that you can liberate yourself from anal tyranny, by not following the audio guide in number sequence. That was a revelation!
There is a La Trattoria in Helmsley, so we had to have their Arancini's in Napoli again, plus Penne Arrabiata for me, and Aubergine Parmigiana for Hubby. Happily stuffed, we cruised Hunters of Helmsley, the local Deli, desperate to buy more food provisions for later. Buying a pot Jam, a jar Sun Blushed Tomatoes in Balsamic and a bit of a Brie. And then, with out purchasing power now fully slaked for the day, we returned home to base camp.
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