Saturday we took advantage of the nice weather and met Adam’s sister and niece at East Riddleston Hall in West Yorkshire which is a National Trust property. It took just over an hour to get there and with the sun shining it was a great morning drive. Whilst there the sun played hide and seek with us but was gloriously warm on our faces when it made an appearance. 
When you first come through the gates, there’s a barn on the way to the parking lot. I didn’t get any good pictures of the inside as it was really dark. When you walk inside you are treated to hand carved beams and old timber. They also store some old buggy’s and equipment in here you can take a peek at. 
Outside the entrance we spotted this little ginger cat who either couldn’t hear us making cooing noises at him or was really intent on whatever he was after. So we went over to him and he loved being pet but then quickly went back to his post staring at the wall. We then realised he was watching some snails moving around in the cracks between the rocks. He must sit there all day since they don’t move that much!
Daniella was a foreword thinker and came prepared with some snacks, so we sat outside in the kids play area. There is a tea room that we didn’t get to see as it was up some stairs in the shop, so if you don’t bring your own lunch you can grab something from there. 
The sun came back out for our walk in the Hall’s back gardens, which made for the pretty picture above. The garden wasn’t as big as most country houses we’ve been to, but it was a nice space. Part of the gardens were closed due to the excessive amounts of rain we’ve gotten recently, and it looked like there might have been a trail leading off of it, but I’m not sure. 
Behind the garden walls there were a few vegetable beds, and the best part of all, a Mud Pie making station! Callia had to try it out a little. 
{This was the garden that was blocked off}
At the bottom of the parking lot in the overflow lot, there are some sheep fenced in that we spent a fair amount of time trying to coax to the edge of the fence to pet. I got this little brown one above to push his nose into my hand and promptly run away. That’s more than most sheep I suppose, they are so skittish! 
There’s also pretty views of the English countryside all around, and the River Aire running along the back of the grounds. A river walk has been recently opened but we decided to forgo it in favour of dry feet. Maybe next time.Access to riverside walks and the parkland you see in the last picture is free, but admission to the House and Gardens are charged. For more information including prices and opening times you can check out the National Trust website here.
I’m splitting this into two posts, the inside and the outside, because I took way too many pictures. So if you’d like to see the inside of the Hall, check back this Thursday.
