I'm over in Yorkshire for a few days with Loes and have chance to meet my brother and his wife and my youngest daughter and her family.

The first few photos below are of a well known landmark, the next set of the family and the third takes us north

on a new visit for me, a re-visit for Loes, to a lesser known but very worthwhile ancient folly.

The Cow and Calf . . . and the Cow and Calf Hotel.

This was the sunny panorama from the lower slopes of Ilkley Moor . . . without a hat as it happens.

In close-up, the major rock is known as The Cow, with the oversized fallen boulder being given the name of The Calf.

It is a popular landmark and visitor attraction on the edge of Ilkley Moor, above the town of the same name.

The paved and well used path was once a track to the old quarry in the rocks behind.

The hotel of the same name is busy today and the outside tables were filling with customers, eager for lunch in the sunshine.

For some reason I remember a beetroot salad and cheese filled wrap . . . it was delicious . . . or am I getting too food orientated ?

My brother Stephen and his wife Elaine live just down the hill and we enjoyed an afternoon cup of tea and a chat in their garden.

- - - o o o - - - -

Next day we drove an hour south down the A1 to Sheffield to visit my daughter Jenna, partner Matt and their two girls, Emily and Sophie.

The visit also coincided with a weekend invite to Sheffield by Jenna for her brother, my son Gareth and his family.

The only picture of them was this one of Luke playing with Emily out on their patio area.

Somehow the JCB digger was being converted to a helicopter, or is it the other way round.

This was Sophie at 3 months, as those that studies the blackboard in the earlier photo might have already worked out.

- - - o o o - - -

Whilst scanning the social media, as us grey haired surfers do, Loes spotted a posting in Swinton Park and the Druid's Temple.

She had been there before (in her former life) but had no idea where it was until the recent posting gave her sufficient clues,

to not only recognise the place, but to locate precisely it as well.

The location was about 40 minutes north up the A1 to towards Masham and then west into the Dales.

The Swinton Estate has a Grand Manor which prides itself on its Country Club, all sorts of Wellness activities and suitably Fine Dining.

Out on their wider part of their estate they offer Yurt Glamping and a Bivouac Cafe, about 10 minutes further into the hills from the main house.

In the woodland is an intriguing feature built by William Danby (the owner of the Swinton Estate) constructed theoretically in the late 1700's or early 1800's.

It resembles a pagan site with obvious influences from Stonehenge and similar sites that Danby had seen on his travels around Europe.

We parked close to the 'Car Park and Cafe' as the main parking area was already full.

We would walk out to the Temple , then on to the viewpoint, returning on the northern circular path.

Once in the woodland the scale of the undertaking became apparent . . . here was a large Cromlech with a solid cap stone.

Either the rock had broken or a second one may have stood alongside.

I imagine the smaller stones on the top were a later addition when visitors placed their own mark to record their visit.

As well as the Temple there are other rock features in the woods, this one was a stack of a dozen heavy stones.

Each in theory it had the signs of the zodiac engraved on the side (so I learn afterwards) and stood an impressive ten to twelve feet high.

From the high ground by the column we spotted the Temple area in the woodland below.

There's been a lot of tree clearance and replanting which must have made the structure easier to see in recent months.

The Temple forms an enclosure with six capped stone arches forming individual standing or ceremonial areas backing onto the walls.

A square alter type stone can be seen at the far end, next to Loes (in blue). This end a high arch leads to a small Hermitage and Solarium.

- - - o o - - -     It was built at a time when there was a great deal of interest in Druidism as part of the emerging Romantic Period. Several of the Lakes Poets were in fact influenced by similar ideas of the day.   Its exact year of construction is unknown. Some say it was a job creation project for his estate workers when times were hard.   We enter through the tall entrance arch at the far end and into the inner circle. The area has numerous tall, free standing stones in addition to the six cells or capped stone arches.   - - - o o o - - -

We decided to have one last look before leaving, so head back to the centre of the woods.

Another fine cromlech, supported by four uprights, with a forest garden which has developed on top.

Technically it's more difficult to balance a cap stone on four rather than three uprights, so full marks to the builders for getting it level.

The path returned to the Druid's Temple and with it the more numerous visitor numbers once again.

It just remained to return via the forest track to the cafe, perhaps indulge in a cup of tea and one of those rather nice looking cakes.