Monday 20 February 2017

A Weekend Outing

I was hoping for a dry weekend so that we could get out and about. Archie loves having a good walk, preferably somewhere that's safe for him to come off his lead so that he can have a good sniff about, so when Saturday dawned bright and dry we decided on a trip to Roundhay Park, one of Leeds most popular attractions and one of the biggest city parks in Europe. Roundhay Park actually holds special memories for Mick and I as we held our wedding reception in The Mansion, a beautiful Greek Palladian style mansion which is a Grade II listed building and set within the 700 acres of parkland, wood and lake. You can just get a glimpse of it here through the trees. The brightly coloured train was doing great business on Saturday giving people rides around the park.


It's so muddy everywhere at the moment so we kept to the paths but Archie went a little off piste running around on the grass, sniffing trees, snuffling in the leaves and playing with other dogs whilst we headed down towards the lake.


Waterloo Lake was constructed by soldiers who had returned from the Napoleonic wars and was therefore, named after the famous battle. It was landscaped from a former quarry and covers thirty three acres. It took two years to build.


There's always lots of birds by the Lakeside Cafe, they're used to people feeding them in this area.


This Canada goose was out of luck, we hadn't taken anything with us.


On our way back to the car we passed the cricket pitch. It looks as though it's being looked after during the winter months though I doubt it'll see a match played on it for some time yet.


After our walk, we called at a lovely pub restaurant for a spot of lunch. We often call in here when we have Archie with us as they allow dogs in the bar area. There was a roaring fire burning in the fireplace, though it was actually much warmer out than it has been, but it was lovely and cosy all the same.

32 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great walk, the weather was so mile over the weekend, spring was definitely in the air.

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    1. Saturday was lovely here, Sunday was rather dull but dry at least. It's nice to be able to get out though.

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  2. That looks like a perfect spot for a wedding reception :-)
    I was only saying to Mark at the weekend that we should make an effort to go somewhere one weekend soon, i'm afraid that we have been bogged down with kitchen shopping for what seems like months! all work and no play!

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    1. It was quite the place to hold a wedding reception back in 1990 and since it's been refurbished, it attracts a whole new set of brides and grooms now. I think we do have to make an effort to get out sometimes, especially in the winter months, but having a dog gives us a reason to go for a walk.

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  3. What a beautiful park, it looks so big just from the pictures of the lake. Lovely place for Archie to have a run around xx

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    1. Roundhay Park is huge and there's so many different areas to it that you could easily get lost there. It's definitely a great place to walk dogs.

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  4. It looks and sounds like you had a good day out, which is always welcome at this time of year. Flighty xx

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    1. I really do heave a sigh of relief when the weather cooperates on a weekend so that we can get out. We have so many lovely places on our doorstep that there's plenty of choice for a good walk.

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  5. Sometimes you just have to get out in the fresh air. I'm like Archie I want to sniff everything.

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    1. It does me no end of good when I manage to get outside in the fresh air, particularly during the winter months. Archie seemed to be pleased to have a good walk too.

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  6. We have been really lazy at the weekends so far this year, must try and get out and about.

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    1. It's so easy to hunker down on not get out much during the winter months, I really have to make an effort but I'm always glad when I do.

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  7. It's very pretty there. I enjoy watching geese even though I never remember to bring anything with me. My husband and I had our first date in a park with a pond and many geese, we still reminisce about trying to avoid the droppings as we walked around. Very romantic. :)

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    1. That made me laugh, yes, they can be very messy things. This area of the lake is very popular, there's always lots of families there feeding the water birds.

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  8. Lovely Jo and I've visited Roundhay Park a couple of times whilst over, but the first time brings back memories as that was in 1991 when we brought the 2 boys with us & we had a whole afternoon exploring. I think I've go photos of the show garden thingy's they do at Chelsea from there. Am I right? Have a great week & take care.

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    1. I showed some of the show gardens in a post I did a few years ago:- http://jo-throughthekeyhole.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/roundhay-park.html
      I also wrote a post about them on my old blog :- http://jo-thegoodlife.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/roundhay-park-gardens-in-july.html
      It's a lovely park with so much to see and do here.

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  9. I was sure you were going to tell us that Archie had gone for a swim in the lake! LOL

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    1. That's the story I would have been telling if we hadn't put Archie back on his lead near the lake, he loves water and would definitely be in there given half a chance.

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  10. Oh what a lovely day, it looks a very nice place to visit.

    I love those trains that go around the parks, we often enjoy a ride with the grandkids on them ... and sometimes without the grandkids!

    Hope this week is a good one for you

    All the best Jan

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    1. I think the trains are a lovely feature, it's a way for people who can't walk so far to see all the park has to offer. Roundhay Park can be a little hilly so it's a good way to get around.

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  11. Even though it was a dull and perhaps chilly day, Jo, a walk in the countryside is uplifting, and you certainly had a nice time (and so did Archie!) The pub for lunch sounded just our cup of tea (no pun intended!), a roaring fire and although we don't have dogs, it's lovely that there are places that admit them.
    Margaret P

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    1. Saturday was a nicer day that we've had just lately and was much warmer too. We really enjoy visiting this particular pub, the food's good so it's always very popular and as it's not far from Roundhay Park, it's convenient to combine a visit to both.

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  12. It looks like a great place and lovely that you can let Archie have a good run in safety..

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    1. We're spoilt for choice really with the number of lovely parks we've got in Leeds, Archie certainly has some great walks.

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  13. What a lovely walk - isn't it good to get out and enjoy the better weather!

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    1. It certainly is. I'm not a lover of the cold weather but it's a big improvement when it stays dry instead of raining all the time.

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  14. Glad you got out again this weekend. It's good that it's getting milder, but hope you're doing better than us. It's turned wet and windy down here. There's nothing better than a nice pub lunch after a walk.

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    1. It's really windy here today, so different to what it was like at the weekend. I think Archie enjoys the pub lunch as much as we do as this particular pub dishes out doggy treats too.

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  15. Now that sounds my idea of a good walk Jo with a perfect ending :)

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    1. I'm no fan of winter so it does me good to get out on the brighter days, especially when a pub lunch is waiting for me at the end.

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  16. What a scenic place for a walk, especially one which has such a happy place in your past. Finishing with a pub lunch really rounded the day off well I'm sure.
    Lisa x

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    1. It always brings back happy memories when we visit Roundhay Park, we held our wedding reception in The Mansion and our night do was in a hotel through the park so I actually walked the whole way through the park in my wedding dress. I'm always happy to eat out in a nice pub.

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