Castleton, Peak District - 23-27 Apr 19

Happy St George's Day - and off we go, in beautiful warm sunshine, to Castleton in the Peak District to finally conquer Mam Tor. Setting off fairly early (it would have been earlier, but we do have chatty neighbours) we had time to pitch up at the Cackyvan and Motorhome Club Site at Castleton in time to enjoy sitting outside in the sun, enjoying a glass of bubbles and commenting upon the number of small, yappy dogs that motorhomers and cackyvanners seem to delight in filling their small metal boxes with. I wonder if it is compulsory to have a dog or 6 if you are a "vanner"? The smell in some of them must be delightful. 

Wednesday we finally managed to conquer Mam Tor. It was a straightforward march up to the top and a delightful amble along the Great Ridge, back down through Hope, a couple of pints and a scrummy local pork pie in the brilliant Old Hall Hotel, then across the fields back to Castleton. We did manage to see a new born lamb, still steaming, just arrive on this earth, always a sight to gladden your heart, make you smile and be amazed at how quickly these animals are up on their feet and walking around.

Thursday morning was spent doing a bit of admin awaiting the arrival of Martin, who was spending a night at the site. It was fun watching the race for pitches when the site opened at 12. 5mph my arse! More like 30mph with cackyvans bouncing and crashing over the speed bumps like big white spacehoppers. Martin arrived and we wandered into Castleton for a bimble around and a lovely late lunch and accompanying pints in Ye Old Nags Head.

On Friday morning Martin departed for the Peterborough show (sadly we wont be going this year) and we set out to walk up Win Hill before the forecast rain set in. It was bloody steep climbing up the last bit and it was blowing a hooley up there, so we didn't hang around too long. We did watch a couple of maniac cyclists ride down the sheer drop from the top. Madness! The rain arrived later that day so we had dinner in the van (resisting the fish and chip van that had arrived on site) and enjoyed a relaxing evening.

The following day it hosed it down, accompanied by a fierce wind. It was a turbulent journey home but we made it in one piece.

Great Yarmouth 9-10 Apr 19

April is the expensive time of year - the MOT, habitation check and service, all done by the main dealer. Happily, we sailed through. Whilst the van was having it's annual medical, we took off for breakfast at Ormesby Broad, then into Great Yarmouth, a bit of a dive of a town, but the historic old row houses and the Time and Tide Museum are excellent. It was very worrying seeing museum exhibits of things that we were so familiar with. Who'd have thought!

Ormesby Broad

Raleigh Chopper

No coin box for the calls?

Harrogate and Whitby 21-30 Mar 19

Heading North again - this time to Harrogate and Whitby, Harrogate to make the most of free tickets to the Harrogate Motorhome Show, and Whitby because it has been ages since we have been there and this was the time of the year to go before it gets too crowded. We set off late on the Thursday, breaking the journey at the Cackyvan and Motorhome Club site at Clumber Park for a very peaceful night's rest, albeit reading the notices and chatting to the wardens it would appear that thievery and nuisance boy racers abound at this site. Shame.

The gates to Clumber Park

On Friday we continued the journey to Harrogate, getting stuck in the traffic in the middle of the town. We found the rally being organised by the Leeds DA of the Camping Club at a wonderful little spot between Harrogate and Knaresborough. We quickly parked up and then followed the foot/cycle path into Harrogate to meet up with Martin for lunch and a bimble around this lovely town, enjoying a gin tasting at Slingsbys and finishing up with a cup of coffee in Bettys.

Bettys

That famous Yorkshire battle cry

On Saturday we went into the Motorhome show, meeting up with those lovely people at Giso Microfibre (excellent products - highly recommended) before retiring back to the Gardeners Arms for a lively evening with some of the folk from Leeds DA. What a great pub this is - a tiny cottage that has been converted and left much as it always has been.

Giso

The Gardener's Arms in Bilton

On Sunday we walked along the old railway track into Ripley, had a cream tea in the tea rooms, a wander around the castle and a "world famous"(?) Ripley Ice cream.

Ripley Castle

On Monday 25th we headed over the North York Moors to our next site just outside Whitby. There we met up with Martin once again and walked into town along the cliff top, stopping at the Whitby brewery for a couple of pints in the sunshine, then into Whitby for more "world famous" fish and chips. We get the impression that "world famous" is a much overused expression in Yorkshire.

Whitby Holiday Park

Whitby Abbey

The following day we had a very long walk along the world famous cliff tops to the world famous Robin Hood's Bay where we had a world famous fish finger sandwich in a charming little tea room. Having completed the 7 mile walk we decided to get the bus back into Whitby for dinner. It's awful that a taxi would have been cheaper than getting the bus.

The Meggermobile

Robin Hood's Bay

Whalebone Arch Whitby

199 steps

On Wednesday 27th we purchased another overpriced bus pass and popped into Staithes and then into Scarborough. Staithes is lovely. Scarborough is not.

Staithes

Scarborough

Anne Bronte's grave

Thursday was bright and sunny so we decided that we would re-do the walk to Robin Hood's Bay, but take in the world famous Boggle Hole (bit of an anticlimax) then walk all the way back along the old railway into Whitby, have dinner then back to the van. 21 miles later...…..

Boggle Hole

On Friday we were a bit stiff  from the previous day's exertions, so we decided upon a gentle bimble around Whitby. We did notice that a Friday, bright sunshine, payday and the end of the month brought out the crowds and it was noticeably busier. We thought that we would probably hate to be here at the height of summer (or what passes for summer in North Yorkshire).

Kippers - delicious, but a bit smelly

On Saturday we headed for home, stopping off at Brownhills for a look around the new motorhomes. A rather nice Rapido was the only one to catch our eye, but a bit out of our price range.