Sunday Picnic in the Dales

Yesterday we enjoyed a pleasant few hours in the Dales near to Swinithwaite. We have a favourite picnic site there which is only half a mile or so from the road but cannot be seen as it is hidden behind trees and down a steep bank. There is a large area of water which I call "the creek" as it's studded with rocks and a lovely walk through a leafy wood to some stepping stones.

The girls enjoyed swimming in the creek ...

And found a huge rabbit hole to explore - Whiskers was able to get her whole body inside this one !

We enjoyed a lovely picnic consisting of home-made quiche and potato salad which I made on Saturday, lettuce leaves from the garden, strawberries from the allotment, vine tomatoes, carrot sticks and hard-boiled eggs ...

And a glass of pink Cava with our strawberries !

On the walk to the stepping stones we passed this beautiful scenery ...

And saw this lovely bunting strung up along one of the fields ...

And a beautiful white horse and foal ...

Then at the stepping stones ...

We saw a group of walkers, and some beautiful thistles !

This time we headed up a path on the other side of the stepping stones and found this wonderful old tree with a hollowed out trunk - the perfect home for fairies, elves and woodland creatures !

The best part of the walk back to the car was when Lucy caught some sticky grass around her head and it looked like a crown :)

I hope you all had an enjoyable and relaxing Sunday too x