It's me, I'm Cathy
I've come home, I'm so cold“Wuthering Heights” by Kate Bush
Ok, I’m not so cold, but I did spend a cool week in West Yorkshire walking on moors and up so, so many hills.
This was my second visit to Yorkshire, but my first was just a day trip to York 6 years ago. I loved York and wanted to go back, but it was an hour away by train and I had already decided I was definitely taking another day trip during the week (more about that later).
I travelled from London to Leeds (which was delayed 90+ minutes) and then to Ilkley, West Yorkshire. For anyone who wants the wiki description: “Ilkley is a spa town and civil parish in the City of Bradford.” It’s at the end of a Northern Rail train line, which is very convenient when you’re me and you don’t enjoy driving in any country, much less one you’ve never driven in. I love The Great Outdoors, but getting there is often difficult without a car.
Waiting for my delayed (later cancelled) train, before getting on another train that was delayed just outside of London.
Anyway, I was in Ilkley taking care of an adorable dog.
I have always loved dogs and I used to dog sit years ago in Chicago and started back up this year so that I could get some good reviews before my trip. And because I love playing with new dogs and exploring new places with them.
I nearly had an asthma attack on my first dog walk in Ilkley. I had spent an hour pushing my suitcase and duffel bag approximately 1 mile (not an exaggeration) uphill while wearing my backpack. Then I ate some breakfast and had a lovely latte from the family’s Nespresso machine before starting our walk.
I like to let the dog lead to see if they have a regular route they prefer and this one left the house and immediately turned uphill. I nearly sat down on the pavement in protest, but when you gotta go you gotta go, so I soldiered on (stopping every few feet) and this precious dog would stop when I asked him to wait even from our first outing.
Basil is a sweet boy (and photogenic).
Our first walk (and many subsequent ones) took us to Ilkley Moor. I don’t know what else to say except that it is a gorgeous and unpredictable landscape. And there are sheep roaming around.
A few moments before I took this, a ewe and her baby climbed down this to get away from an approaching human (me).
I took so many walks up here. If I had done more than walking back and forth from the house I was sitting I might have considered myself a “rambler.” The Ramblers Association “believes that walking can have a positive impact on people's lives, and that rambling in the countryside and in urban places is a right and that it benefits everyone.” Many people, and dogs, I passed on the moor where following The Millennium Way or the Dales High Way public footpaths.
I’d been hearing Kate Bush on repeat on TikTok and realizing that Wuthering Heights (the book that the song “Wuthering Heights” was inspired by) is set in the Yorkshire moors was a fun context to the serendipity of being here at this specific time.
I wish I could “be running up that hill” but I am barely making it up at all without my inhaler.
I took one day trip while I was in Yorkshire because I needed to visit the former home of Anne Lister.
Gentleman Jack is one of my favourite television shows. I love the acting, the writing, the fact that it’s based on diaries of a real person…all of it. And when I found out I’d be housesitting a short train journey away from the real home that the main character lived in and where they filmed bits of the first series, I knew I had to go.
Excited to see inside Anne Lister’s house (Shibden Hall).
I had such a good time exploring, but this post is already sooooo long so I’ll say there’s more to see on my Instagram from this day trip.
I’d highly recommend visiting Yorkshire to anyone, as long as you like history and walking (and good food — I had plenty of good food as well).
Follow along if you like and remember — Even tiny adventures matter.