Windermere 13 - 16 Mar 17

The next stage of our journey took us around the north end of Coniston Water and through some narrow twisty roads heading towards Windermere. However, with our crazy system of camp sites in this country, we couldn't book into our next stop at Bowness on Windermere until 1300hrs so we had a bit of time to kill. Accordingly, we stopped in Ambleside to have a quick mooch around the many outdoor shops. After lunch we headed down more narrow roads to our next stop at Braithwaite Fold Camping and Caravanning Club site.  This is a small site that looks like a car park because the shed-draggers leave their tugs all over the place! Anyway, after settling in we wandered into the touristy spot of Bowness, had an ice cream, then sat in a pub overlooking Windermere. Suddenly we were plunged into darkness in a  power cut. Luckily the hand drawn ale pumps don't need electricity so we were able to continue supping in the dark.

On Tuesday the plan was to get a bus pass for the day and explore, but the fantastic bus service (one bus an hour) didn't work, so we took the boat to Ambleside, had a great lunch, even better hot cross buns, mooched about and came back by boat.

The following day we managed to get the bus, changed at Ambleside and then went on to Grasmere. We bought some gingerbread from the famous shop there, saw Wordsworth's tomb, wandered around and then got the bus back. The bus pass seems a good idea at first glance, but when there is only one bus an hour the distance that can be travelled is very limited, thus they are not particularly viable. Arriving back at Bowness we took the chain ferry across the water, visited the viewing platform and then set out towards Beatrix Potter's house, but ran out of daylight. We should have taken the scooter!

Wordsworth's grave

Coniston 10-13 Mar 17

On Friday we drove the 70 miles from Skipton to Coniston, albeit it was raining so the views of the Dales were somewhat obscured. We soon settled into the massive caravan club site and walked along the side of Coniston Water into Coniston village, where Debs, with an eye on the weather forecast, invested in some waterproof trousers. 

On Saturday it drizzled - and didn't stop. We walked into Torver and sat in the Church House - a splendid old pub, had lunch, watched Italy v France, then England beat Scotland, then walked back in the dark, slightly the worse for wear. It had rained all day so we were wise spending our time in the pub.

Sunday saw us walking into Coniston, where visited Campbell's and Ruskin's graves, victualed ourselves with doughnuts, water and chocolate and then climbed the Old Man of Coniston. There was no visibility with thick cloud and the occasional shower. It was freezing cold on the top, with no visibility whatsoever, so we didn't hang around, descended and walked back cross-country to the caravan site where we arrived wet and absolutely knackered. 

Ruskin's Grave

Campbell's grave

Skipton 9 Mar 17

Just  a quick one night stop at Niffany Farm in Skipton. Access to the farm was via a rather daunting tight turn across a swing bridge over the canal and into the site, but it was very pretty once there. We walked along the muddy towpath into Skipton, browsed the shops, bought a new steamer, ate a gorgeous hot pork pie, walked around the Castle then wandered back, saying hello to the new-born lambs on the way. Nice site, next to the canal, but a bit confusing on whereabouts exactly they want you to park.

Harrogate 7-8 Mar 17

Tuesday saw us make the short drive over to Harrogate, stopping at  very nice site next to the Yorkshire showground. We walked into Harrogate, revisited old haunts from days gone by and stopped by the hugely impressive Wetherspoons that has lodged itself in the winter gardens. I was looking forward to tasting that absolutely foul smelling water from the drinking fountain but there is now a sign on it saying that it is unfit for consumption. I thought that the whole town "sprang" up from the water sources there?

On Wednesday we walked along the very muddy footpath into Knaresborough. Who would have thought that such a small town could support so many pubs! We took the train back and then had tea in Betty's - something else that has to be done in Harrogate. It was then back to the site and a visit to the very impressive Fodder foodstore next door to the site.

York 5 - 6 Mar 17

The C&MC site at York is situated next to the River, very close to the centre of the city. It is, accordingly, a very popular site with a huge turnover. At opening time there is always a queue of Motorhomes and Shed-Draggers, but the staff have entry down to a fine art, albeit the draggers tend to mess around forever unhitching and moving their sheds. We drove in, found the first empty slot and brewed up whilst others were still faffing around playing that funny windy-down-the-legs game and filling their aquarolls.

We walked into York. It rained.  We got wet. We went to the pub, an awful Wetherspoons which had no real ale worth drinking (can you believe it?). Getting wet was preferable to staying there, so we found another pub and settled in for the duration. 

Getting ready to go into the cellar to find the ghostly Roman Legion

The Treasurer's House

A bit of Simony perhaps?

On Monday the weather was fairly decent so we had a good walk around York, visited the Treasurers House, explored the cellar and heard the story of the Ghostly Roman Legion, climbed Clifford Tower and went to the  Minster, but as the so-and-so's wanted £10 to go into a church we stuck a holy two fingers up to the robbers and went elsewhere. I really detest seeing turnstiles at the entry of churches. They should be ashamed.

Signatures of the Rolling Stones in the splendid Eagle and Child Pub on Petergate

On Tuesday it was up early and a leisurely short drive across to Harrogate.

Tha' can buy t'flat cap here to make thee look reet Yorkshireish

Clumber Park 3-4 Mar 17

We haven't been away for a while for a variety of reasons, so it was time to start the travels again, heading for the North of England. The van was cleaned and waxed in preparation for the muck and grime thrown up by the thousands of lorries that choke the A1.  Dirty and wet we pulled into the newly rebadged Caravan and Motorhome Club site (bloody awful new logo though) at Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire. We then walked down to the village in the afternoon before back for dinner and wine, trying to remember how everything in the van works. There is little phone reception and very quiet and restful in this corner of Sherwood Forest.

On the Saturday we had a lazy morning (it was even warm enough to sit outside), walked to the visitor centre, mooched around Clumber Park then back to watch Saturday night TV for the first time in ages. God it is dire. Did those talentless, irritating Geordie boys really get an award? For what, exactly? I don't think we will be suffering Saturday night TV again any time soon.

Sunday it was up and off, continuing our journey North towards York.