Goodbye Yorkshire - Thursday

And so, we've had our last night in Abbey Cottage for a while!
It's a fantastic location and a great cottage (...overlooking the little matter of the shower - the Brits don't always do showers very well!!) ...and we have lots of family memories from this place that are very dear to us.

With the car packed we headed south, and in the direction of the Cotswolds.

We LOVE the Cotswolds! One of our favourite villages (and to pick a favourite is seriously difficult) is Burford.

The long and wide High Street slopes down to the River Windrush, and is flanked on both sides by beautifully preserved medieval buildings of honey-coloured Cotswold stone.

Off the high street is Sheep Street... and a delighful Inn there has long appealed to me. With Wisteria at the front door, and a history of over 500 years (!) ...called The Bay Tree. Yes! - they had a spare room, AND yes!! - we stayed there!!!

The Bay Tree Hotel (right)  .....  Loved it.

Checked in to our room called "Leafield" and thought we\d died and gone to heaven!!! Rooms are named after places in the area... others include Windrush and Wytchwood. The reception rooms date from Queen Elizabeth the First, and are oak beamed and flagstoned.

We walked in the town, and church bells rang out just as we were strolling along the river path. Amazing sound. A wedding exited the old church. This made it all just come alive.

Breakfast Friday morning was a joy - old oak tables on the flagstones, beamed ceiling, white linen and attentive service. We sat in a large window overlooking a garden, birds popping about. Amazing to see the huge apple tree was covered in blossoms! Such a mild winter here.

All the English things - including delicious marmalade, Tony! This was in the flagstoned and beamed area.

All good things eventually have to come to an end... and so we headed into the next part of the day.