The Last Days Of Summer

I've been holding out for an Indian summer, and just when I'd given up all hope, along came a mini heatwave.

The weekend we've just had will probably be the last hot days of the year so we decided to make the most of it and on Saturday, we headed off to one of our favourite places, Bolton Abbey in the Yorkshire Dales.

We parked up at the side of the river and ate our picnic. Lots of other people had the same idea as us, it was packed, yet even with all those other people around it still manages to be peaceful somehow. Daniel and Eleanor stripped off to their swimming things and enjoyed cooling off in the river, as did Archie.

We stayed until the sun was setting behind the trees.

It was drizzling when we got up on Sunday, but it didn't last long, and although it wasn't as sunny as it had been on Saturday, it was still very warm. We had a few bits and pieces to do at home so we didn't want to go anywhere too far away so we headed off to Lotherton Hall, which is on our doorstep, for a walk.

There's signs of autumn all around, which is quite odd when the temperature is reaching an all time high for this time of year.

Archie loves running through the wood and enjoys all the smells which are heavenly to dogs.

Gorgeous doorways leading in to other garden rooms.

I don't know what's behind this door, it's a secret.

There's still plenty of colour all around though, I love this trough planted up with ivy and bedding plants.

This weekend was an unexpected treat, one which we all enjoyed very much.