The abundance of christmas markets continues to impress and we are dutifully working our way round the nearest.
Today was Ripley Castle just north of Harrogate. We got there about 10.30 and, judging by the carpark, it was already packed. It was so busy that it made browsing the stalls a bit uncomfortable however it was warm and dry inside the huge, chandeliered, red carpeted marquee.
The ladies on the door were dead posh, all big hats and fur, as were some of the stallholders, so we had a bit of a giggle as we pushed our way around and through the crowds. The first area was dedicated to food. Most of it excellent and also available by mail order. The next area was much more mixed ranging from clothes to bric a brac but some of it was interesting.
If we go again next year we'll book tickets in advance because they were about half the price of tickets on the door.
Your posts do serve to remind me what a down at heel part of the world we live in here in NE Derbyshire. Christmas markets here are mostly tinsel and tat.
ReplyDeleteWe did go to the Lincolnshire food and drink fair a while ago and that was less depressing. Then there's always the Christmas shop at Chatsworth, but that was absolutely heaving. Cars were queueing to park for half a mile along the road and you couldn't get to see anything due to the crush of people around the goods.
But that's what you find at any oasis in the desert, I suppose.
Hi Jean, that's tough. We're probably just fortunate.
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