Euan's guide & Reviews

 Hello all!

Today's post is about a website, a group of people, a charity called Euan's guide.  That help disabled people via disability access reviews.  People write reviews on their website of places that they have visited and encourage others to do so as well.  Although it's not just about the reviews, well it is but there are also the "Red Cord Cards" .... You know the Red Cords that hang down from the disabled loos well, every disabled loo should really have one! ... the cards attach to them letting people know that they should hang loose.  Trust me I've seen a few that haven't... shockingly, along with Raydar keys the keys for disabled public loos some of the locks and cords are broken and out of use. I wonder if there is anything called disabled access activists...ohhhh I could tell of you of a few places lol! Anyways! 

https://www.euansguide.com/ is the link to their website to have a look on and if you go right to the bottom to the little foot menu it will mention the red cord cards i was on about.  =Rae

Free Landing and Aldwalk Bridge, North Yorkshire

 Rae's curiosity lead her to...

Aldwalk Bridge...

There has been a river crossing here for hundreds of years - the area once called Rudford Wath, wath meaning a fordable stream - and a ferry once ran between the banks. However, it was dangerous and unreliable in the winter weather, and in 1772 an Act of Parliment was granted to John Thompson of nearby Kirby Hall to build a bridge.

Today, this is the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic, or just res and watch the river traffic flow by.  Nowadays, the commercial traffic has been replaced by pleasure craft such as powerful cruisers and jolly narrowboats.  Keep an eye open for the damselflies, such as the banded damoselle.  You might even be lucky enough to spot a brilliantly-coloured kingfisher and you will almost certainly see noisy groups of mallard.  The wild flowers have been a picture in spring and summer in this area.  

This has long been a popular site for fisherman who seak out roach, perch, barbel and pike.  Thompson agreed on condition that the bridge remained in private hands - and today the Aldwalk Bridge remains one of the only eight privately owned toll crossings in the country.  Costing 40p to get across well as of May 2021!  The stury iron crossing you see today was opened on 6th April 1877 two years after the first bridge, designed by Harewood House architect John Carr, fell into the water.

Serene as the scene is today this was the site of a tragedy where in 1810 you men stood on the bridge to watch ice floes speeding beneath on the flood water.  In their excitement, they raced from one side of the bridge to the other - tracgically the railing gave way and 13 fell into the water.  But only one of the bodies was ever found. 

Nun Monkton and Geocaching

 Nun Monkton & Geocaching

Situated over the river bank from Beningborough Hall and gardens, Nun Monkton is one of the rather up market  little area of North Yorkshire.  It's a village with a civil parish in the Harrogate district of our area.  It's situated about 8/9 miles outside the city of York about North Westish from the city.  The village is at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Nidd, with cottages and houses which are grouped around the village green and the 'pub / restaurant' The Alice Hawthorn. The Alice Hawthorn .  (see link in blue!)

 

The Geocaches there were on a nice route but hard to get to if you didn't know the right foot path which was annoying as we seemed to be searching everywhere, with no luck.  It's nice for a walk around near the river though when you get to where your wanting to end up... 

The church in Nun Monkton is St Mary's Church an Episcopal church in the village.  Postcode if your wishing to park nearby the area and telephone number if your of the Christian Religion and visiting the area are: YO26 8ES and 01423 331142

Lovely Church to visit and was nice and cool on such a hot day when we visited.  

Until next post, Rae.