Wednesday 22nd October - Willow Lane CS, Beverley
We set off early-ish (8.30am) as we were going to travel over 200 miles up to Beverley in East Yorkshire. I was the first to drive and after a bit of a break, it did take a short while to get the hang of it again but the muscle memory soon kicked in. It was easy roads anyway (no single tracks like in Scotland). We wanted to get to our destination as soon as possible so took main roads which made for a slightly boring driving & passenger viewing but our goal was to ‘get there’. We saw quite a few ‘wide loads’, one of which was taking up 2 carriageways and had an escort with them. We also saw what appeared to be a shed being trailed by a van. It turned out it was a coffee trailer being taken to its next gig. It did bring a smile to our faces though. Nothing else of note apart from no road works on the M1. That was a surprise!
Seven hours later we arrived at Willow Lane CS, it's not far from the Minster and a relatively easy walk into Beverley town.
On arrival we were able to choose out own pitch. There were fallen apples everywhere so it was seeing which pitch had the least trodden apples and wasn't not too much in the shade. There was a Bentley car parked in one pitch - the most level one - which was strange on its own but didn't think much of it. It also meant we had to choose a different pitch. Anyway we set up and sat down for a cuppa. Later, we see the Bentley drive away and leave the pitch free. It was a little annoying.
Thursday 23rd
A relatively good night's sleep. We'd come prepared for a cold night with hot
water bottle and blankets but, although I had a bottle neither of us needed the
extra blankets and we didn’t have any heating on either. No doubt later in the year we will require
these extras.
After breakfast we walked into Beverley. I'm
glad I went back for my walking stick as I needed it even though we only walked
a total of 2.5 miles.
Beverley is a real surprise. It's a lovely town. Mainly pedestrianised, the old buildings
housed many different shops, some chains but also independent and several charity shops. There were roads called Saturday Market and
Wednesday Market, presumably each had their own markets on their particular
days in the past. There was a lovely market square
surrounded by shops and in another open space, a band stand. There were also some framed photograph prints
on walls and railings taken by a man called Fred and recreated in a ‘soft’
way. Fred came from Beverley. Of course there was also the Minster. I would have called in but it was £8 entrance
fee and I didn't want to see it that much.
I realise these places need to make some money for upkeep but I would
prefer to make a donation. Mike did take my picture outside it and as I had a
hat on it was dubbed, ‘Paddington does Beverley’.
A rest in the afternoon as we are going out to
dinner at a Greek restaurant later.
Going out at night is really different from the day time. So many lights and the minster lit up too. We called into the Monks Walk Inn for a beer before our meal. A wonder olde worlde pub which seemed to go on for ever. It even had a beer garden although it was too cold for that.
Dinner at Greko's was a real treat! It was a meze style where you order several dishes and they come out when they are ready but each dish is for sharing so you are able to try a variety of dishes. Not too expensive either, although we didn't have wine but plumped for and Ouzo each and a Mythos. I would recommend it if you like Greek food.
Friday 24th
We moved onto another site but as we couldn't get onto it before 1pm. We packed up, slow time, then meandered across to Spurn Head to stay at Kew Villa in Kilnsea. Basic amenities and luckily we didn't need electric as there was a caravan already hooked up to the only electric supply. Hard standings but not very level. Once set up, we took our bikes and headed to Spurn Head. Part of the road has been worn away by the wind and sea so we had to push the bikes across the beach. It was relatively hard sand but not hard enough to ride on. It was a hard slog. Eventually we could re-join the road/path but then parts of that had been covered in sand and again we were unable to ride on that, although we tried and nearly came a cropper a few times. Eventually we got to the lighthouse.
Then it was turn around and go back the
way we'd come. Another hard slog across
the sand but we did see some very impressive waves with the wind taking spray
off the top of them. By the time we got
back to Daisy we felt very wind battered and very tired. So tired in fact that
we decided to go to the pub for a meal instead of cooking.
A lovely sunset over the Humber estuary then to the pub. The food sounded good but I'm afraid my chilli seemed like it was simply mince cooked up then spices added later and there were no kidney beans but a few chick peas. quite disappointing. Mike's pie looked and tasted OK, although the carrots were not liked. The staff were welcoming enough and it was very well attended, so much so, that we were offered a table then asked if we would prefer a quieter table, which we took. We felt so exhausted that we went back, played a few games of Uno then fell into bed!
Saturday 25th
A slow start then set off for Hornsea. Leaving
Spurn Head we travelled through Patrington where the meridian line runs through
and also Welwick famous for Guy Fawkes who was born there and his parents both
buried at St Mary's Church. There is
also a sculpture just outside the village of Guy Fawkes and his friends whilst
they were plotting the gun powder plot.
In the village, and taking credit from the village fame, was a pub called
the Plotters Bar. We continued across
country along some B and C roads which meandered around crop fields so there
were plenty of 90 degree bends. Looking ahead and seeing chevrons you knew
exactly what was coming. The land is
very flat so you can see for miles but not see very much as there is nothing to
focus on. However, very good land for growing crops.
We had planned to get set up then cycle into
Hornsea 4 miles away but as we were still knackered from our jaunt yesterday
decided to find a place to park up on the way.
We got to Hornsea and drove around looking for somewhere to park but
many of the car parks had height restrictions and those that didn't weren't
large enough for us to park without hemming someone else in. Even the sea front didn't have anywhere that
we could see. But there were some
amazing waves - again. The parking issue
got very frustrating. In the end, Mike
dropped me off at the Hornsea Pottery Museum and went to park up outside of
town.
The Museum was very good and included the farm
house dwelling and barns of the Burn family who had farmed there continuously
for 300 years. The displays captured
farm house life during the 19th century and the barns held displays of other
work such as blacksmith, dairy, milling.
There was also a display of the railway at Hornsea and the Life Boat
men. The Burns family had the horses
that pulled the life boats out of the water after a shout. And of course the Hornsea pottery
display. There were over 200 items
displayed but apparently that is not the complete collection. It was sentimental seeing the coffee, tea and
sugar canisters that Mike bought for my parents before we were married. It was called Tapestry. I noted there was also a set called Claire
but it was very floral and not really to my liking (so I didn't take a
picture).
Mike and I met up again and travelled onto the site. I'm glad we weren't cycling; it seemed so far! We had to pay at a house down the road a short way. It turned out the house was on the site of the local Pumpkin field and was open to families wanting pumpkins for Halloween. Having never been to one of these before, I was surprised at the other merchandise also for sale - anything to make a fast buck. Although, having said that, this site is cheaper than the one at Spurn Head and includes electric and is very well kept and spacious.
Sunday 26th
Another jaunt across country heading to
Flamborough Head. Some of the roads were
so small we had to go on the verge when passing cars. We noticed plenty of Kestrels in the area and
put me in mind of the book Kes by Barry Hines. We headed over to Bempton Cliffs to the
RSPB bird sanctuary there. We became
members as it was £8 entrance but £20 for both of us to be members. We will have to source other twitcher haunts
now! Another very windy day but we
walked along the cliffs hoping to spot some sea birds. There were plenty of feral pigeons,
apparently food for the peregrine falcon, which we didn't see. We did, however, see a Gannet and possibly a
young Gannet and also a Razorbill and Cormorant. We thought we also saw a seal in the sea but
as it wasn't moving decided it was a lobster pot buoy. Back to the café to warm up and some lovely
leek and potato soup.
Next stop in Daisy was the stop for the night
near Flamborough Head at Seaward?? Farm.
There was a long driveway and I was very pleased we weren't going out
for a meal! The wind continues and now
the rain. Batton down the hatches
tonight.
Monday 27th
We start the day to relative calm and
sunshine! Slow start then head off southwards now to wend our way towards home.
We headed to the Humber Bridge.
At one point we thought it might have been closed due to the winds but
luckily we were able to cross it. There was a really straight road, A15,
between the M180 and Lincoln, so much so that you could see Lincoln Cathedral
well in the distance. Our stop for the
night was The Fox Inn at Kelham near Newark-on-Trent. The pub is on the A617 and is quite busy. I tried to get down to the river for a walk
but the walk was within the grounds of Kelham Halls and that entrance was quite
a distance away so just walked around the roads a bit. Crafting in Daisy then
and a quiet afternoon until our meal at the pub in the evening.
The pub was OK and the food was
excellent! Mike had rump steak and I had
Moroccan tagine. Sadly this experience was slightly marred by the smell
emanating from the gents loos. Apparently there was a blockage and not only the
urinals but the floor was swimming so when Mike came back to the table all I
could smell was ‘the bad smell’. He
wiped his feet on the grass on the way back to Daisy which did the trick. We were also advised to empty the black waste
down the disabled loo which we didn't want to do so took it with us to our next
stop.
Tuesday 28th
Onto our next stop near Banbury, The Lodge Farm. Just a field on an old runway so plenty of hard standing. Very basic but there was black waste and water if you need it but apparently the pressure is low. We are on the top of a hill - Edge Hill to be precise; the site of a battle during the civil war. And as we are on top of the hill the views are amazing! You can see for miles and miles to the North.
Wednesday 29th
Travelled home. We tried to keep away from really big main
roads but at one junction a lorry came around the corner not thinking there
would be a large vehicle also trying to turn in the opposite direction and came
across to our side of the road. Nothing
happened, thankfully, but we did take a wrong turn because of the change of
focus. Never mind, my navigational
skills came to the fore and we got down to Swindon and only joined the A419 at
the last possible moment. A good time
away but nothing is beating Scotland yet.
