Copyright © 2024 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
This post is going to be about our journey to Settle, not the destination. I want to devote an entire post to the gorgeous drive.
My next post will be about our first theatre, visited on Saturday, August 3– the Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond.
On August 3, 2024, Mike Hume, Grit Eckert, and I traveled from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Settle by car. Mike had rented the car, as he recognized that some of the theaters would be a nightmare to reach by rail. Good call on his part.
I am thankful that Mike was the driver and Grit was the navigator. This meant that I could drift in an out of conversations while taking pictures for future paintings.
When Minnesota skies turn gloomy and snow coats the ground, I revisit sunny locales with my paint brush.
August 3 was my first real vacation day in a long time. It was a much needed break from the constant stream of projects that plagued me back home. Spring and Summers have become especially busy times for me. I love my job, but I am constantly on the go. It’s a bit ironic that my most relaxing day would end up being a road trip.
Partially cloudy skies accentuated colorful hills divided with stone walls. Wherever we looked, the landscape was and dotted with sheep.
We slowly made our way to Settle, an estimated 2 ½ hrs. away. Initially zipping down the road, we caught a glimpse of the renowned Angel of the North.
Soon we ventured off the beaten path onto desolate country roads. It was a beautiful day for a relatively-short drive. This allowed us enough time to visit Durham before our afternoon appointment at the Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond. After a quick snack of Haggis Scotch Eggs and Irn Bru, we were ready for sightseeing!
With no real plan, we walked to the biggest landmark – the Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St. Cuthbert of Durham.
Unbeknownst to me, the attached Cloisters are a popular filming location. Two Harry Potters films and Avengers: Endgame used this as a filming location. What a surprise!
After the cathedral, we wandered about town before heading back to the car park, then continuing on to Richmond.
The Roads narrowed as we heading south, slowing our journey to a snail’s pace. They soon became one-lane obstacle courses.
At Richmond, we had ample time to explore the town after our appointment at the Georgian Theatre Royal (the subject of my next post). We passed the Richmond Castle on our way to the theatre, a breathtaking sight in the afternoon light.
The late-afternoon drive from Richmond to Settle was spectacular. The one-lane roads were certainly a challenge to our fearless driver, but the landscape was magical. Here are a few of my favorite scenes; source material for future paintings this winter.
We finally made it to Settle, with time to walk about town before enjoying a lovely dinner at our hotel.
To be continued…
