You don’t always have to travel to exotic faraway places to see interesting and beautiful sights.
You may be surprised to learn that until I was in my mid 30s I had not been outside the UK. But that doesn’t mean that I didn’t love travelling. Trips to see the wonderful mountains in Wales and the Lake District. Drives through the bleak but beautiful Yorksire Moors. Day trips to the Lincolnshire and Yorkshire seaside. Bird watching trips to the Norfolk Coast. These holidays and outings were always the highlights of my year.
Filey beach on the Yorkshire coast
Stream in the North York Moors
And I have always loved exploring the countryside and nature around my home. It is so easy to overlook what is right on your doorstep.
Therefore I thought I would do something different, and post some photos from around my local area. None of these are from tourist attractions, they are just from local footpaths, parks, woods and fields close to where I live, just outside York.
Never stop exploring – there is beauty to be found everywhere if you bother to look!
York City Centre
Of course York is well known as a tourist destination, and has many world class tourist attractions (York Minster, National Railway Museum, Castle Museum, Yorkshire Museum, Jorvik Viking Centre, York Dungeon).
But you can also see interesting and beautiful things just by strolling around.
York Minster from the City Walls
View from the City Walls, York
Seasonal changes – daffodils fading and cherry blossom about to open seen from the City Walls
Another view of the Minster from the City Walls
York Minster seen through the trees in the Minster Gardens
St Mary’s Abbey in the Museum Gardens, York
Ancient Octagonal Tower in the Museum Gardens
Another view of St Mary’s Abbey in the Museum Gardens
Winter colours in the Museum Gardens
Weeping willow and geese on the River Foss
Horse chestnut trees by the river
Reflections in the waters of an autumn flood
Recent flood seen from Ouse Bridge
If you would like to stay in York there is a huge variety of accommodation available – see this page at booking.com.
For a useful guide see A Walking Guide to York’s City Walls or Insight Guides Great Breaks York.
York Outskirts
There are many paths and country lanes around the outskirts of York where you can experience some peace and nature. I particularly love many of our beautiful trees.
Poplar tree trunks lining a shady lane beside Fulford Golf Course
Another view of the poplar trees above
Copper beech and silver birch seen from the above lane
Colourful trees with new spring leaves at the York Designer Outlet
Cherry blossom by a country lane
Approach to the York Designer Outlet on a beautiful winter day
Rare tansy beetles seen on a path in Fulford near the River Ouse
A winter stroll near Heslington
Pocklington Canal
Much of Pocklington Canal is designated an SSSI for its wildlife.
Accessed at Canal Head, a few miles from York and just outside Pocklington town, it is a great place to go for a stroll and a picnic. We have seen kingfishers here, and in the summer there are lots of dragonflies and damselflies.
Pocklington Canal Head
Reedy section of the canal
Path beside the reeds
Section of the towpath
Swans on the canal
