First visit to the Yorkshire Arboretum!

Yesterday was my first visit to the Yorkshire Arboretum near Castle Howard in North Yorkshire.

 After an early morning start, driving over the North York Moors in a combination of torrential rain and mist, which I found very atmospheric and inspiring ...

 ... we stopped at Rievaulx Abbey, another beautiful place in North Yorkshire's history, before continuing through Helmsley down to the Arboretum.

 What a change in the weather! Suddenly the skies cleared and turned vivid blue as the sun shone on us!

 Such gloriousness of autumn colours!

A grand finale of tea in the Arboretum cafe, as the evening sun illuminated the golden colours of the trees. The first of many visits to come!