Walking through history

Yesterday I walked in the footsteps of Mary, Queen of Scots. Perhaps not the happiest of footsteps, but did she have any? Bolton Castle was her forced home for 6 months after she fled Scotland and Lord Bolton treated her as a royal guest with a retinue of 62 or so. A fair part of the castle remains in its original state and the rest of the ruin is being restored by the eldest son of the present Lord Bolton, currently seated in the ancestral home further up river. Some furnishings have been placed to give anodes of what it was like to live there, and although there were a number of en-suite chambers (called garderobes where velvets were hung so that the ammonia smell would deter fleas, etc), I definitely prefer today's home comforts.
We had timed our visit perfectly, as it was the first day of the season and archery, falconry and wild boar feeding were on the agenda. I was thrilled to have the opportunity (long on my bucket list) to shoot arrows from a longbow and hit the target both times.  It was really difficult to let go of the string (?) and it was only a 25lb bow. The medieval archers used a 100lb bow and began their training at the age of 6 - compulsory for all children between 6 and 16 at the time.
The views from the battlements were just beautiful but I doubt the archers were able to enjoy them much. It is said that Mary escaped briefly but was caught on top of the nearby ridge in the picture. Poor woman - not a life to be envied.
The day was sunny and warm when out of the wind, and a walk down to Aysgarth Falls was pleasant - scenes from Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves were filmed there, with the grassed picnic area being transformed into a dense forest for that purpose. The falls are very impressive when in full spate. We then meandered down Swaledale, a lovely place with charming villages, and then climbed up over the moors, where we stood a short walk in the now chilly air. The sky had clouded over and we almost forgot the warm sunshine of just a short while before. Every hill and dale has its own micro climate, so it's best to be prepared for all eventualities! The heather still has to emerge in spring growth, so everything was brown and dry, but we saw a number of grouse and partridges which was a treat for me.
The way home took us through Catterick Garrison, the largest military town in Europe, and much of the area is restricted to the public due to military exercises. We didn't see any tanks!
The buds have still not quite burst open, and today's cooler weather may keep them tucked up a while. It's Mothering Sunday here, the equivalent of our Mother's Day, and we are going to lunch with a family friend in a nearby village. More later.

Honesty box - take your eggs and leave the money!