Last Sunday, my Spanish grandaughters went to fairyland. Actually, they went to Mother Shipton’s Cave. This long-established tourist site is where, back in the 1500s, a woman we now know as Mother Shipton apparently prophesied many things which came to pass, such as the Great Fire of London, and the invention of the iron ship. It’s also where you’ll find a source of water which petrifies into stone any objects left long enough beneath the roof of the cave from whence the water drips: calcified teddy bear anyone?
These days the paying public expects more, so this season, the woodland surrounding the cave has been transformed into a fairyland of exactly the kind beloved by small children. Anaïs and Olivia were entranced, especially when they met a real live fairy, all the way from Greece.
My featured photo is of a bench much favoured for sitting on by would-be fairies. The remaining shots are from other parts of the site.
For Jude’s Bench Challenge.
From Pyrenees to Pennines 
Beautiful. Perfect for fairies of all ages.
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Indeed. I suppose fairies can grow old too?
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mother Shipton’s Cave, eh? Looks brilliant for the little ones. oh, and a great bench for Jude to boot!
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They had a great day, so in consequence, we did too.
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Excellent!
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We were there sometime last year, I think. Minus fairies. Logan got to be an angel at a Lego exhibition this year. A long suffering angel! Your little girls are lovely xx
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Of course they are. Grandchildren are, by definition.xx
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Perfect day for your fairy enthusiasts.
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Quite. Enough is enough though.
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My sentiments too. We must be getting old.
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Well, I am.
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What fun. I visited Mother Shipton’s cave as well, many years ago. A perfect spot for little girls.
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Definitely. Gung-ho types need not apply!
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Quite a pretty adventure for littlies
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Oh my, Olivia is walking! Seems only yesterday that she was born. The fairy bench is definitely too delicate for me! I think I have visited Mother Shipton’s cave when a child, I don’t remember being very impressed. And the things people hang up to calcify are quite weird.
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Walking and talking. New English words on this holiday (because until then it was just Catalan) ‘boing’, ‘Quack quack’, ‘Bye bye’ – among others. The calcification craze is weird. If you like I can buy you a calcified small teddy for £60 …
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This looks just the ticket for fairy fans.
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Absolutely. My two had a great day.
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That looks the perfect place for a family outing, especially with little girls! Fairies never lose their appeal, do they?
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Definitely not with my two granddaughters (make that all three of them, actually). It was a pleasant place for a day out, but you can safely leave it out of your next Northern Tour.
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As long as they still have Bobby Davro’s petrified sock they can do what they like with the outside. Overdue trip to Knaresborough to check methinks.
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Sorry. Didn’t see it. Mind you, I didn’t look.
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The faries stole your mind.
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Inevitably.
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Your grandchildren look entranced
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Fairies generally entrance the under 5s. And she was good at her job!
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Excellent
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👍
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What a lovely idea to include a fairy garden and a real fairy. 🙂
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A real fairy all the way from Greece! Who knew?
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Like in a fairy tale: beautiful!
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It is well realised – a small child’s dream.
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what a delight for little girls. I love the soft lavender colour of the fairy seat and surrounds
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They have done it quite well. And yes, despite my daughter’s best efforts, the grandaughters are very prone to pink, and fairies.
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The biggest rip off site in Yorkshire.
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Oh absolutely. It was my first time there, and only because we knew the fairies would attract the girls’ interest. Having said that, this temporary addition was well done, in contrast to the basic offering, which isn’t. Years ago, my son had a vac job there, which was fun. Everything from cooking and cleaning, to leading tours (he was ticked off for not treating OMS with sufficient reverence).
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The Forbidden Corner near Middleham is worth a visit wit children.
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Oh definitely! Love it! We’ve done it with all the grandchildren but the Spanish lot. Next year, I’m thinking. See you there!
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That’s a great place for the fairies to sit!
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Definitely!
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