Next stop: Ripon

After that outburst last week, we had a think.  And then we thought some more.  And some more.  And we realised that we really need a base here.  For us, and for our daughter.  Home-hunting was as depressing as it always is.  Until we had an idea.

Our new flat's near here

Would Ripon, a mere 10 miles from Harrogate, but too far for regular commuters to Leeds, Bradford and York provide a more affordable answer?  It did, in the very first flat we looked at to rent. It’s small, but the complex has been thoughtfully developed on the site of the old College of Ripon and York St. John. Its trees and parkland have been preserved.  By car, it’s out of town.  On foot, it’s a ginnel or two away from the town centre.

And we love Ripon.  It’s so near to Harrogate that we can easily maintain our relationships there, but it has a different centre of gravity, with the open spaces  of North Yorkshire so near to explore, and Fountains Abbey as a near neighbour.

Market Square

For over a 1000 years, it’s been a market town.  Its Thursday market is still busy and lively and there are plenty of independent shops in the  ancient streets clustered round the market square.  It has a Cathedral, and a lively cultural life.  I’ve just discovered it’s twinned with Foix, departmental capital of the Ariège.  I think we’re going to be happy here as we divide our time between France and England.

Ripon Cathedral seen from the River Ure

Author: margaret21

I'm retired and living in North Yorkshire, where I walk as often as I can, write, volunteer, and travel as often as I can.

12 thoughts on “Next stop: Ripon”

  1. There are so many wonderful cozy little restaurants there, with fantastic menus. I love the cathedral. Until we moved back to the US, we walked from the cathedral to the abbey every Christmas and met back at a friends house for a hearty stew and fresh bread. I know you’ll love living there.

    Like

    1. I think so too. New Year in Ripon’s already a fixture. Quick Watchnight service in the Cathedral, followed by fireworks and fun in the Market Square.

      Like

  3. Really pleased to hear this and hope you will be happy there on your visits back home.

    Like

    1. Indeed. I often wonder whether you miss the States. Not so easy to hop over there if you’re craving ….whatever Germany can’t supply from your American heritage

      Like

  5. I agree it’s a lovely area – that’s why we are moving out that way! Really glad you are going to be more and it sounds the ideal life. By the way, many people I work with in Leeds live much further out in the sticks than Ripon!
    Great to see you last night. x

    Like

  6. Hi Margaret,
    We were in Ripon not long ago, sadly for the funeral of a very dear friend, and we loved it! Well done you. In an ideal world, us peripatetic but Francophile Brits would come home after Toussaint each year to be with our families for Christmas, possibly up to Easter, and miss the worst of the Ariege winter to boot! Everyone, of course, wants to come to us in summer! Bien fait, though. Family must come first. Lola

    Like

    1. Sorry not to reply before. Now then, not sure I agree about coming to the UK for the winter. Those dark English evenings begin so very early and it’s so depressing. And summer in the South of France can be so VERY hot: the older I get, the less well I cope. And May? So beautiful in both countries. What to choose?

      Like

Comments are closed.

%d bloggers like this: