Mini Northern tour -Last Stage

Halsall, Southport Friday 15th August to Monday 18th August.

We had a long drive to Halsall, the idea being that it would break our journey home from Edinburgh. The Temporary Holiday site was in a school playground and was run by North West folk group.

Saturday 16th August 2008
As we hadn't done much proper walking over this holiday we decided it was time for a walk. We drove to Formby to do a walk along the coast and parked at a NT car park adjacent to a nature reserve. We walked into the forest and saw several red squirrels. We ended up sitting on a log for about an hour watching them with one coming to within about 3 ft of us. They have had an outbreak of squirrel pox virus in the reserve and the population of squirrels has fallen by about 2/3rds, from 250 but it was lovely watching a few scampering about. We abandoned our walk after that and sat on the beach instead.

Sunday 17th August 2008

It was a bit rainy but we decided to go to Crosby to see the Antony Gormley installation called "Another Place". We parked on the sea front at high tide and could just see a few iron heads sticking out of the water. We walked along the esplanade as the tide was going out and the iron men slowly became more visible. There are about 85 of them along a 3km stretch of coast. We walked to the end of the beach and then back again, stopping at a leisure centre for a cup of coffee.

Mini Northern Tour -Part 3

Edinburgh.
Leaving Beadnell Bay was a bit tricky as several caravans had to be towed off as it had been so wet but John managed to keep going and got to the dry section. We had a steady journey to Edinburgh and arrived after about 2 hours. The site was not so pretty this time being on the Royal Showground next to the airport but did have the advantage of being close to the Park and Ride into Edinburgh and thus another city based break.

Several days were spent walking up and down the Royal Mile, watching street performers and solving clues for geocaches which again led us to some interesting places including a secluded garden and the grave of GreyFriars Bobby.

We had a nice afternoon walking up to Arthurs seat which gave wonderful views across the Firth of Forth.

We were also lucky enough to get tickets for the tattoo which was a good experience.

Mini Northern Tour : Part 2

Part 2: Beadnell Bay, Northumbria

We set off from York and headed towards Beadnell Bay in Northumbria. It was sunny when we arrived but had been very wet so the field was a bit boggy in places. The Temporary Holiday site was about 100 m from the sea, so after some tea we went for a walk on the beach as the sun went down.

Tuesday 5th August 2008
We decided on a walk today as even after all our walks around York city we felt as though we hadn't done a proper walk for ages. We drove to Newton by the Sea and then walked towards the sea and set off along the coast path. We walked beside a golf links and despite getting a little lost we soon found the path towards Embleton and then towards Dunstan Staith where I had a spectacular tumble. I somersaulted down the road ending up sitting in a puddle and having grazed my knee and elbow but luckily had not broken anything. We continued along a farm track passing a war-time pill box which was still in good condition. When we got to Dunstan Staith we turned off the track and headed up the Heughs which was a gorse covered escarpment with good views of Dunstanburgh castle from the top. We followed the top of the Heughs past the war-time radar station towards Craster where we followed the coast path towards Dunstanburgh castle which we looked round using our NT cards. As we were looking round the castle the mist came down and visibility shrunk to about 100m. We could not see the tower on one side of the castle. As we left the castle we found a geocache and then continued along the coast path towards Embleton bay. We walked on the beach back to Newton by Sea.

Friday 8th August 2008

After several days of wet weather where we didn't do much except sit and read in the caravan it finally dried up overnight, so we set off for a walk. We drove to Belford and then walked along the road,down a lane and over a bridge above a very full and fast flowing brook. A field edge footpath was followed past West Hall farm which was like a small castellated castle and towards Swinhoe farm where a lady was giving riding lessons. After the farm we followed the track past Dicks Old Walls (2 stone buildings) and then towards a plantation where we saw a buzzard flying overhead. We followed the perimeter of the plantation with good views to the Cheviots, and we came across some wonderful rock formations called the Singing Hinnies. Whilst looking for a geocache in the Hinnies a RAF fighter flew low and directly overhead. We then continued through the plantation until we came to St Cuthberts cave which was quite impressive.

We walked round and over the cave and through the field beyond to the mound with a cairn on the top. We then followed St Cuthberts Way, through a field with lots of cows, which behaved very well despite making a lot of noise. Our return route was through woodland, seeing lots of chaffinches and yellowhammers. We arrived back at Swinhoe farm and then followed a different route through woods and grassland back to Belford. On the way back to Banburgh we stopped to find a geocache. We walked through a gate, round some rough meadow, climbed a rock outcrop and headed towards some engineering equipment. It turned out to be a wartime bunker and it was possible to go down about 8 m via a ladder to a room below but we chickened out as the hatch lid was a bit rickety and we didn't want to get stuck! We found the cache though.

We finally headed to Seahouses for fish and chips which were eaten sitting on the harbour wall, whilst we watched the tide come in.

Sunday 10th August 2008
It rained all night but was quite bright when we got up so decided on a walk along the coast. We walked towards Beadnell and followed the coast path through a large static caravan park and then onto the dunes. We crossed a narrow bridge over a river and then followed the coast path all the way to Newton by Sea. It was a nice walk across the heath with lots of wild flowers and caterpillars but no sea view. We diverted to walk round the headland and pick up a geocache - and then walked to the pub at Newton, The Ship where we had the best crab sandwiches We've ever had and a couple of pints Dolly Daydream for John and Sandcastles at dawn for me (the pub had its own micro-brewery). There were a couple of bands playing so we sat and listened for an hour and then set off back. We walked back along the coast path but this time after crossing the river we headed down onto the beach and walked along the sand back to Beadnell.

Our mini Northern tour! Part 1

York

Wednesday 30th July - Monday 4th August 2008

We set off on an extend multi-site holiday which started with a Camping and Caravanning Club temporary holiday site at York. The site was on a rugby field which was a 15 minute riverside walk from the city. As we were so close we spent most our stay walking into the city and exploring by doing multi -geocaches which led us to many areas and points of interest that we would not normally have found. One directed us to look for the pig bricks in Swingate, which were quite difficult to spot but once we had our eyes in we found six.

Friday 1st August 2008
We decided on a walk round the city walls which were well preserved and were quite high above the rest of the city giving good views. We had lunch at a coffee house at Walmgate which was an Elizabethan building above the city gate. It was quite nice, full of leather armchairs and a religious library. We finished the wall walk (2miles) and then finished a geocache that we had started yesterday. It was a good walk round and quite fun following in the footsteps of Walter de Gray. Again this walk led us to many places that we would not have spotted - including the area where the Minster stonemasons and lead window manufacturers work.

Leicestershire Round Mountsorrel to Cossington

Saturday 19th July 2008
It was sunshine and showers today so we were off to do a bit more of the Leicestershire Round. We drove to Mountsorrel, parked near the butter cross and headed off towards the LR. We crossed a playground and sports field to a stile which according to our 30 year old guide book led beside a farm but now goes through a housing estate. We followed the LR signs through the estate and then followed a path beside a stream. The official LR path was overgrown and impassable but another path ran on the other side of the stream. Signs suggested an alternative route, but an alternative route to what as there was only 1 route under the A6 and in the opposite direction to the LR. After the underpass we retraced our steps on the other side of the stream and eventually regained the LR - quite a diversion. The path now travelled over fields until we crossed the river Soar at Sileby. The heavens opened here, but luckily we had waterproofs.



We followed the path beside the river spotting lots of butterflies (red admirals) and dragonflies; two herons also past overhead. We eventually arrived at Cossington meadows, an old gravel pit which has been left to return to nature. It was lovely, with large ponds, wild flowers and a wide path mown through the middle. There was lots of wildlife including lapwings, swans and coots. We walked through the meadow and emerged in Cossington. Along the village street were several large oak trees which had been planted to commemorate all the coronations since Edward VII. We had lunch in the Royal Oak and then left the LR to return back to Mountsorrel. As we walked along a lane towards an alternative entrance into the meadows we saw two weasels playing in the road.


We followed a different path back through the meadows to Sileby lock, getting another soaking along the way. Here we continued along the river, which was very busy with motor boats and barges.

The river passed under the A6 and returned to Mountsorrel by another lock. It was a very pleasant walk - good job we had our waterproofs.

Yorkshire 9th -15th July 2008

All treatments are finished and so we decided on a well earned break with a week in Yorkshire accompanied by dad! A few walks were planned for this trip but it was also supposed to be a rest and a chance to collect our new walking boots from Altberg in Richmond. We were staying at the Jervaulx Abbey caravan site and dad stayed at the Cover Bridge Inn just a couple of miles up the road.

Thursday 10th July 2008.
We picked up dad from the Cover Bridge Inn at 9:30 am and drove to Richmond to pick up our boots. Dad enjoyed reminiscing about boot making and even the owner of Altberg came out to chat to him. After a few slight alterations to the boots we were on our way.

After a wander around Richmond we drove to Aysgarth to see the falls, they were very impressive after all the rain we have had.

We walked up to the church and saw the rood screen that had been moved there from Jervaulx abbey during the reformation. We then went for a walk on the opposite bank to the one all the tourists use and had nice views of the falls and rapids as we headed along the river to West Burton. As we crossed some fields towards Burton we noticed two follies, one shaped like a cone and the other like a diabolo. They had been built in the 1800's and served no purpose apart from some slight shelter.

We then followed field paths back to Aysgarth. The guidebook said it was a 4 miles walk but we all thought it was more like 6 (actually 5.5).



Saturday 12th July 2008
Dad arrived at about 9.45 and we set off to Studley to see Fountains abbey. We decided on a walk first as it was a bit cloudy and waited for a brief shower of rain to pass and then set off. We walked to the lower car-park and then onto a bridleway beside the old abbey walls. It was very muddy but quite nice with slight views of the abbey. The first problem came around the farm where the footpath went through the yard which was full of cows. They would not move and we couldn't open the gate without letting them out or without getting showered with poo or wee! We eventually found a way round the back of the barn which led into the correct field but which meant wading across a boggy field to get back to the footpath. We then headed through woodland past a ruined arch and onto the Ripon Rowell way. We then followed the path through fields of oilseed rape and wheat and round Markenthwaite Hall. Here we had to cross a field with cows, young calves and a huge bull. He was quite content to ignore us and we quickly moved to the next field where we disturbed several curlews and lapwings. We emerged onto Straint lane, a green lane not wide enough for wheeled traffic and followed the path past barley fields, through to Whitcliffe lane. Here we found we had gone off the path and emerged further up the lane than we should but this cut the road walking down a bit. Next through a field of peas to reach the next stile which led to a water meadow. Unfortunately after yesterday's rain we could not find a way through. Dad got very wet feet trying! We went back over the stile and followed the field edge until we found a low fence that took us into a drier area of the field and back to the path which took us between buildings and back onto Fountains road. We entered the abbey from the bottom entrance and looked at a landscape photographic exhibition. We chatted to the photographer about how he takes his pictures and then walked through the park to the abbey and onto the teashop. After a spot of refreshment we walked back through the gardens with dad taking photos. The walk 11 miles -so much for a restful day!
We left the carpark at 5.15 and pulled into a farm advertising local produce as we wanted some veg. The shop was open but no-one was about. We then noticed the sign saying "self-service". There was an egg box with money and a book to record purchases. What trust. We bought veg and some yorkshire honey.



Sunday 13th July 2008
We decided on a quiet day today and so walked along the river Ure to Coverbridge. The river banks were lovely, full of giant bellflower, meadowsweet, meadow cranesbill and vetches.

There were lots of different types of damselfly too. At the Coverbridge we decided to walk onto the Blue Lion at East Witton where we had a drink and a bag of crisps and then returned along the river to the caravan tohave a cup of tea and slice of cake. We then thought we would walk to the ice-cream parlour. We walked across Jervaulx park but missed the footpath so came out at the wrong place. We eventually found the road and walked up to Brymores. It was packed as mini cooper, motorbike and TVR rallies had all descended on the carpark. We then walked back across Jervaulx park.

Leicestershire Round - Woodhouse Eaves to Mountsorrel

Thursday 4th July 2008
Today we parked in Woodhouse Eaves to do a celebratory Leicestershire round walk as I have finally finished my radiotherapy. The idea was to just walk to the reservoir and back so I wasn't worn out too much. We set off across a good footpath through a field of corn towards a farm and then across a field with a herd of sleepy cows. We then walked through a field of maize until we got to Bunny bridge over the Great Central Railway. We followed the road to Swithland reservoir where we had originally decided to turn round and retrace our steps, however, we decided to continue the walk to Mountsorrel as we were both feeling ok.

Halfway round the reservoir the heavens opened. We managed to stand in the lea of some trees to shelter until the storm passed (about 20 Minutes) and did not get too wet. When the sun came out we continued walking round the reservoir taking care not to tread on the little froglets that were hopping across the wet road. We did pass a lad slopping along in soaking socks, carrying his dripping shoes - he obviously had not been able to find any shelter.

We crossed the road and continued towards Mountsorrel, walking round a quarry and past the castle mound.

We had lunch at "The Swan" whilst another shower passed and afterwards followed the road towards Mountsorrel Quarry where we lost the path and were shown the correct way by a worker. Apparently the bridleway is shown on the map as going through the middle of their weighbridge building. The diverted path took us around the back of the quarry buildings but was not well marked. We dodged the quarry lorries and eventually found the footpath which passed through woodland, until we came back to the road that goes around Swithland reservoir. We retraced our steps and just missed seeing a steam train pass under Bunny bridge- We saw clouds of steam. We walked back across the fields which were a lot wetter than when we had passed earlier. I was exhausted by the time we got back to the car but was pleased to have made it despite having finished radiotherapy yesterday. We walked 14 km.