The GCW Tour, A Few Bits of the UK and Ireland: The Price of Admission

I wouldn't have bet on it ahead of time, but the North York Moors National Park of all places covered the price of admission for this trip. 

In my opinion, you can add the moors to the list of places in the world that photos and descriptions just don't convey (and yet I keep typing). I mean, I've read Hound of the Baskervilles. I've seen countless film and television versions of Hound, and even seen it performed on stage once, though that's not really relevant here. I've seen American Werewolf in London more times than I can count (and only in part because, once again, Jenny Agutter, naked). And I'm sure there are plenty of other movies and television shows set in the moors which have passed in front of my eyeballs.

But standing there is way different. Way different. But it explains a lot about the above noted stories. Eerie and beautiful are pretty much the first words that come to mind, so it's easy to see why the moors were used as a setting for eerie. 

The only down side for our trip is that, per our farmer, the moors don't "come out" until the last two weeks of July. When I pointed out that it was, in fact, July 27, she noted that they were late. Which lead to the follow up question, "come out?" Like they're hiding? Nope. The moors are covered in heather. For two weeks each summer the heather blooms purple. So when the moors "come out" they're covered in purple. We saw a few hints of the coming bloom, but I bet in a week or so it'll really be something to see.

So if you ever get the chance, visit the moors. All the better if you can do it when they're "out." But if you can't, here are a few photos -- even if they don't really do it justice...