Rocketing in to Richmond

Well, not really, but it wasn’t a long day and not much climbing. 18 kilometres. A few narrow gaps in stone walls, but eventually we came to a gate without a fence. We all dutifully went through the gate.

There was a bit of a climb up to Marrick on a path known as the Nuns’ Steps. Apparently the nuns from the Marrick Priory constructed 375 steps up the hill. The old priory is now partly in ruins but is the site of an Outdoor Education Centre.

We had a break in the tiny village of Marske, where there is an old church, St Edmund the Martyr. He was a Saxon king, knocked off by the Danes in 870. At the back of the church was a table of snacks for sale, money for the church maintenance funds.

Richmond has an old castle on the top of a hill in the middle of town, with cute little houses in narrow streets backing the castle walls. I’m not sure about the roads here though, they seem a bit weak, lucky we’re walking not driving.

Tonight was a good chance for a change from pub meals. Pasta at a Sicilian restaurant was great.Read more