It was a dull and overcast morning as I drove up the A1 motorway with Jen and the two dogs, on route for the Himalayan Gardens and Sculpture park. Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic I had to book the tickets online several weeks ago, consequently I had no control of what the weather was going to be like on the day I booked the tickets. The gardens are situated between Ripon and Masham in the Nidderdale area, just a 50-minute drive from home.

On arrival in the car park we scanned our pre-paid tickets through the scanner and after looking at the garden map agreed a pleasant walk around the three lakes and back to the café for brunch. This was our first visit to the gardens so didn’t really know what to expect, other that the gardens had won the Yorkshire in Bloom award for 2018 & 2019. 

We followed a path down the side of the valley, care had to be taken as due to the steepness of the gradient, and the steps and handrail gave good support and reassurance. We passed several artistic sculptures on our route to the lake that took our attention as well as giving us a breather. By mid-morning the weather had improved, and the sun was trying to break through the grey and cloudy sky. We skirted around the lake admiring what looked like a huge floating magnolia flower head on the lake and a beautiful Chinese themed pagoda on the waters edge. There were some great photo opportunities around every bend of the footpath, be it the views, the colours of the trees, especially the Acers and shrubs and grasses as well as some of the Sculptures. 

Meg and Gracie were thoroughly enjoying their second walk of the day, this time in completely different surroundings to what they are used too., lots of different smells and water!

We stopped every now and then along our route to enjoy the view and surroundings, some of the sculptures were very clever, some unusual, some amusing but all were set in a lovely setting amongst the trees. 

After a good ninety-minute ramble through the gardens we arrived back at the café for a lovely brunch. Due to the current Covid 19 regulations, face masks had to be worn in the café where we ordered our food and drink which had to be eaten outside, there were lots po picnic benches around the outside of the café and there was plenty of places to sit and eat, Meg and Gracie were thankful for the rest too. After our brunch and cup of tea we headed home having enjoyed a very pleasant walk around the gardens.