Cabin Fever

Just got back from a much needed week in a forest cabin on the Yorkshire Moors. Cropton Forest is Forestry Commission managed land and there is a small enclave of rentable cabins in the middle. After the chaos of lockdown, working from home and then return to University life, I was about to have a bout of piblokto madness, so getting away into the calm and serenity of the trees was very welcome. Each wooden chalet style cabin is warm and airy, plenty of room for the dogs to spread out and even has a hot tub on the porch to chill out in under the setting sun.

Situated about 40 minutes outside of York, it was ideal for a quick trip into the town and see some of the fabulous medieval architecture and the majestic Minster Cathedral. The Shambles street, which dates back to plague time has unfortunately been given over to Harry Potter themed shops, all of which were 'socially distanced' and in a such a cramped setting anyway, precluded casual browsing. Given that York is designated a high risk area, the town was quite quiet with few tourists, so I had good opportunity to take a few snaps.

The area around the North Yorkshire Moors is littered with ruins and fabulous castles and York itself still retains a lot of the original wooden decoration on the buildings. My two favourites have to be the rather distressed looking angel and mischievious looking devil peering down from the eaves.

The forest was sprawling and quite eerie at twilight, with deer roaming free and a profusion of colourful fungi beneath the trees. While I was sat in the morning sun having breakfast, the play of shadow through the chairs at the table put me in mind of the imagery from Quatermass with hideous dwarfs in attendance.

Even the trip to and from Yorkshire was spectacular, passing RAF Fylingdales with its cluster of radomes and BAE Salmesbury with the English Electric Lightning fighter stationed outside.

But for walking in the deep forest with a pack of hounds and a camera, it really can't be beaten. Shame i'll have to wait till next summer for the next holiday!