Jo’s Monday walk : Ma Shipton’s Cave, Knaresborough

No doubt about it- street art is alive and well in Knaresborough.  Perhaps you remember my interrupted visit earlier this year, when I discovered it’s many windows?  Recently I was able to return to collect a few more, determined to make it to the other bank of the River Nidd this time.  Leaving the town and castle perched high over the river, let’s get down to Waterside.  The weather isn’t any better than last time, but still it’s a beautiful scene.

Despite the dullness of the day, people are still messing about in boats, and marvelling at the antiquity of this town.  Did you read the Old Manor House plaque?  The chequerboard building is an extraordinary sight.

Let’s cross over High Bridge.  When compared with the Railway Viaduct, it isn’t very high at all.  On the far shore Knaresborough Forest once provided hunting grounds for royalty.  My target today is Ma Shipton’s Cave.  Open since 1630, this is said to be England’s oldest visitor attraction.

Past the ghouls and into the woodland we go, following a winding path.  Through the trees I can just make out the rushing weir, more audible than visible.  Once a mill wheel turned on the opposite bank, where today smart residences overlook the river.

I wondered why the tree was so sad.  Perhaps it was the youngsters hammering coins into the coin tree.  Or maybe it was missing former friends here on Beech Avenue, site of some of the tallest beech trees in the country, dating back to 1739.

As it’s school holidays I shouldn’t be surprised to find several characters awaiting me in the woods.  Maid Marian was particularly charming.  Not so sure about the Sheriff!  He seemed to be guarding the entrance to the cave and the petrifying well.  A strange place, if ever I saw one.

If you read the signboards you will realise what an extraordinary character was Mother Shipton.  Born in this cave in 1488, as she grew older her prophetic visions inspired awe and fear.  She foretold both the invasion and defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, and the Great Fire of London in 1666.  The Petrifying Well is a unique geological phenomenon, where cascading water turns everyday objects into stone.  More details, including how to get here, can be found on www.mothershipton.co.uk.

There’s definitely an atmosphere in those woods and I felt lucky to escape the wrath of the Sheriff.  Happily there was a very nice establishment where I could get my breath back.  I hope you enjoyed walking with me.

Thanks for your company everyone.  Blue skies have definitely changed to grey here, but we’ll put the kettle on and keep smiling.  Lots of lovely walks to share this week.  Please do visit, especially if there’s someone you don’t know.  Join me anytime on Jo’s Monday walk.

Let’s start with Cathy, because I missed her out last week.  A sad story, but some stunning scenery :

Dead Horse Point State Park

Liz and I share a love of the Algarve, but here’s somewhere else we both know and like :

My Monday Walk in Ludlow

Eunice enjoys a blue sky walk in her local English countryside :

Repeating a Rivington ramble

Why not enjoy a relaxed lakeside stroll with Alice, in South Carolina?

Jarvis Creek Park

Or join Janet in the peace and beauty of her watery world :

Monday walk…the first lake

You know I love a sunrise.  Rupali watches it rise in a special place :

Sunrise over the Charles Bridge in Prague

While Artfulinguist lingers over sunset in the most beautiful of bays :

15 minutes at Sidney Pier

Lady Lee is off to the Philippines soon and will be so happy to be home with Mum :

Ten Things of Thankful

Colline joins us with a spectacular firework display from the Eiffel Tower- don’t miss it!

First Walk Down the Champs Elysees

While Geoff and Dog pace out the bridges of London.  An excellent way to exercise!

Bridging The Gap #walking#london#thames

Poor Mel has had a rough time up till now, but there’s finally a reward for all the effort :

Day 4 Via Francigena, Verres to Pont Saint Martin, 19km

More serious hikers, meet Patrick and Paige, and the butterfly socks!

Mount Assiniboine

Nadine gamely carries on, and reminds me what a very beautiful part of the world I live in :

Day Two on the Pennine Way : Torside to Standedge, 12miles

Finishing off with more rugged and beautiful terrain with our Cathy :

The Upheaval Dome Hike in Canyonlands

That’s it, folks!  Enjoy, and I’ll see you all next week.  Take care till then.  Almost forgot to link to Sami at Monday Mural!

171 comments

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  8. I do remember visiting Mother Shipton’s cave many years ago with my folk. I found it quite a scary place with baby shoes and mittens being hung up to calcify! It all looks a lot more commercialised now. And what the heck is the connection with Robin Hood? Blimey that chap gets everywhere! I see you have been doing your strange editing on these photos! Sort of suits the gloomy cave though 😉
    PS You have not responded to my Richmond query.

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    1. What did you ask me about Richmond? Yes I did take garden photos and some lovely views from the top of the tower. 🙂 🙂 Commercial? Yes, very! Don’t tell me they don’t try to make money in St. Ives? And I like this effect for gloomy days. As Cathy says, it does help the colours to ‘pop’.

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  16. It may have been a gloomy day, Jo, but the colors really pop! I love those bright green & red (or pink?) boats, as I’m sure you did too. And the beautiful flowers and the checkerboard building. What a strange story about Mother Shipton. That petrifying well is very odd too – is it just legend or does it really turn items to stone? Strange too how people hammer coins into the trees. Even though it looked gloomy, people were still sitting out in the cafe along the waterside, so it must have been warm enough, although that Sheriff’s costume looks awfully heavy for a summer day. What an unusual but intriguing outing.

    Thanks again for the links, Jo. Enjoy your week. 🙂

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    1. I think it’s a calcifying process because of the minerals in the rocks, Cathy, but I haven’t read up on it. I was thinking I’d include this as a Photographic for yours as there’s not a lot of text in it, but my photo count always exceeds your recommended. I’ve stopped counting mine! 🙂 🙂 Interesting place, isn’t it?

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      1. It was a very interesting place, Jo!

        Haha! In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve stopped removing word counts from my invitation, as I so often exceed my own! As for photos, I really don’t care! I’ve been TRYING to limit my posts to 20, but I don’t always succeed. The main reason I’ve been trying to limit mine is because I’m tired of always having to upgrade my media space on WordPress, but I seem to be failing there too. I guess, in my case at least, I’m a little overenthusiastic. 🙂 I’ll be happy to add your post to my next photo post, but it won’t post till September 6. I should do one on the 5th Thursday (as there is one in August) but I don’t have time at this point. 🙂

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      2. No, don’t bother, hon. I’ll do something for Wander.essence in the next week or so but I’m well aware of the ticking clock! 😦 😦 I had to upgrade for the same reason, Cathy. Mine runs out on 6th Sept and I was thinking to start my Algarve blog from then, but I won’t be there till the end of September and haven’t given the new blog any thought so I’ll probably just renew. 🙂 🙂

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      3. Oops, I already just linked it. If you do something else before I leave, I’ll remove that one and add the newer one, otherwise, if you don’t mind, I’ll just leave it. 🙂

        That’s a dilemma about your blog. I’d just dive in with the new one rather than renew. Unless you have a lot you still want to post from England. It’s kind of daunting to start a new blog – I know because it took me nearly a year to start this new one – but you have to start somewhere! Good luck, Jo. 🙂

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      4. That’s great, darlin! You’re much too quick for me. 🙂 🙂 I still have at least 5 or 6 English walks and I wanted to do a link post to the new blog so I guess I’ll just spend the 99 dollars, or whatever. Put it in the hobbies category on our balance sheet. 🙂 🙂

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      5. I’m only quick if I happen to be sitting at my computer, and then I have to do things quickly before I forget! Oh well, I guess you’ll have to pay the price, but it’s a hobby well worth the expense. If you have 5-6 walks, you probably don’t have time to do them before September 6. I have been busily writing some 30 posts I’ve scheduled during my time abroad. I’ll be so happy to have a break from blogging for 9 1/2 weeks! It has been way too much work!!

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      2. Thanks for sending me to Nadine’s blog, Jude, although I can’t figure out how to follow it. I see not only did she recently do the Norte route, but she also did the Frances a couple of years ago. I’ve heard the Norte route is beautiful, but more hilly and strenuous. Thanks for sending me to her. 🙂

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