After our entertaining duties are over following the Isle of Man TT, we are on our way to Liverpool this afternoon and the boat will be busier than normal as the previous two fast and overnight slow boats were cancelled because of the storm yesterday.
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
We stay tonight at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Liverpool pier head (100 yds from the ferry) and venture out in the evening for a walk around some of the newly named Royal Albert Docks including a stop at the rather overlarge model of the Beatles for a photo opportunity.
Friday 15 June
Watch the Mannannan go out from it’s berth in a very fast moving inward tide – quite impressive as we have never seen it depart before, we are always on it – never watching it from the land. These fast ferries are so manoeuvrable.
Head off for the Scarborough area of North Yorkshire, finding a lovely garden centre near Brighouse for lunch – very crowded – but later on, traffic on A64 towards Scarborough is very slow so we are 30 minutes later than anticipated.
View form our bedroom window
Our home for the next week is a converted barn on a working farm just north of Scarborough.
The Old Granary Cottage has a big kitchen and living / dining area downstairs with comfortable seating for 6 and 3 bedrooms upstairs one of which has an en-suite shower room and a wonderful view over the rolling countryside (our room)!
As a welcome pack, we are left 6 eggs, several biscuits, coffee and of course Yorkshire Tea, all very delicious.
Lucy’s oversize cage
John & Deirdre arrive soon after us with Lucy (their dog) who is possibly somewhat puzzled by the size of the cage that the owners have left for our use.
Saturday 16 June
Not a particularly hot day but very little rain and we head for Dalby Forest for a few walks. The forest has lots of hiking and cycling trails and a “Go Ape” that has an amazingly long zip wire which seems to bring out the screams in everyone!
Dalby Forest
A popular place with, probably, locals as well as tourists with a well stocked café and shop as well as an interpretation centre aimed more at youngsters.
We, however stick to the walk around the lake which was just as nice as climbing up steep banks or walking in amongst the trees at height.
Whilst entrance to the park is free, if you walk or cycle but if coming by car the parking charge is a steep £9 for any length of stay.
Sunday 17 June
Rosedale Abbey
Rosedale Abbey church with Priory staircase on right
Our visit today is to Rosedale Abbey, a little village in the dales not far from Pickering.
We are told that there never was an Abbey here but in fact there was a Priory between 1154 and the dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536 with the only remaining visible evidence being the stairwell and perhaps some outer houses such as the Reading room.
Near the church in Rosedale Abbey
It is a pretty village with a good tea room and a workshop with some very expensive glass blowing. A couple of fairly flat walks and a view inside the church followed by the ubiquitous refreshments whilst we watch cyclists and walkers pass through – even some on a bus.
Our return is via Cropton and Wrelton where we holidayed in 1994. (Cropton was where we bought take away beer in “milk cartons” and Wrelton is where we all stayed in a holiday cottage – Beech Farm)
Monday 18 June
Runswick Sands
Sight of the sea is required today – withdrawal symptons setting in! Sandsend is our first stop, then tried Runswick Sands but don’t stop there, car park quite high up and for £2.00 an hour, a little expensive, so onwards to Staithes, a pretty little coastal village where we have lunch at the quaint Dotty’s Tea Rooms – do try the fruit scones.
A long and steep walk down to the beach from the car park at the top of the hill so some dropping off and collecting is required.
Staithes
The village has a couple of piers so is a sheltered harbour which makes for a nice walk and photo opportunity.
Tuesday 19 June
Peasholm park
Drop Lucy off at some nearby kennels and we are off to Scarborough for a Jet boat ride, a tramway ride, a visit to the newly renovated Scarborough market – then off to North Beach for a walk around Peasholm park.
Evening meal at the Falcon Inn , a short drive away in the Whitby direction.
There are some impressive looking Yurts / glamping pods in their grounds which look new.
Wednesday 20 June
We are off today on a steam train ride to Whitby on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, a preserved railway predominantly run by volunteers.
Our train to Whitby
We are pulled by Southern Railway’s engine number 926, Repton, which was built in 1934.
This is a very crowded train of 7 coaches with a couple of parties and some people in wheelchairs.
We opt for the very comfortable first class compartments at a nominal £2 supplement and are joined by two Chinese girls with large travel cases on our way to Whitby.
Disused Railway viaduct in Whitby
It is surprisingly very windy and quite cold in Whitby but with only a couple of hours there, we only have time for a crab sandwich and a stroll along the harbour watching the boats take tourists out for a ride onto the North Sea before we are back queuing for our not so crowded train back to Pickering.
Boat rides on an old lifeboat
No 1st class compartments on this train this time and certainly not so crowded with diesel hauled from Whitby to Grosmont and steam hauled from there.
So much wildlife to see by the side of the track but they are all moving quickly away from the moving train which is either making a lot of noise as it battles up the hills from or is coasting at speed downhill in an attempt to make up some of the time as it was at least 30 minutes late leaving Whitby.
Our engine for our return journey
Dinner tonight at The Plough Scalby, the slightly less popular of the two virtually adjacent pubs, the other being The Nags Head which was heaving with customers for their wine tasting event.
Thursday 21 June
A more leisurely day with less wind and cloud and we head for Falling Foss Tea Rooms which were a little difficult to find if you don’t see the sign in the car park!
Down a steep hill so coming back up was courtesy of a very nervous me driving down to collect them over terrain that is far more suited to a 4 x 4 vehicle.
The falls themselves were suffering early onset drought so not flowing freely.
Falling Foss Waterfall
Aidensfield was our next stop (otherwise known as Goathland).
If you look on a map of the area, you won’t find Aidensfield as it was a fictitious name for a town featured in a 1960s based TV series, Heartbeat, that was filmed there from 1992 onwards for 372 episodes.
1960s style Police car
Some recognisable features are still there including the old garage and a police car.
Interesting car parking arrangements with sheep surrounding the car on our return – fortunately no damage.
Car Park at Goathland
Back towards our cottage for the last week and we stop at the nearby Grainary Tea Rooms before returning to pack for our departure tomorrow.
Friday 22 June
John and Dierdre collect Lucy, who is obviously pleased to see them. The kennels are on a remote headland, a lovely location.
Off now to a lunch at a National Trust property – Hardwick Hall before we leave John & Deirdre and head off for our next adventure in Wales.
Receive a phone call just after we get on the motorway about possibly returning to work for a short period of time – interesting prospect.
Friday 15 December
More Travels with the Reads 