East Yorkshire

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.

    We were back in the motorhome earlyish so Mike tried to get the TV working but it refused to play the game so we just chilled.

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.  

    We'd previously seen a programme with Helen Skelton and Dan Walker who had explored this part of Yorkshire.  This was the reason we decided to head over this way for this trip.  They had been able to go up the lighthouse to see the view from the top.  Unfortunately, the light house was closed when we were there.  We cycled/plodded on as far as we could with the bikes.  We came across dilapidated buildings that had been in use during WWII and a path that eventually ended  at the actual head of this spit of land but as it was up and down and meandered away we decided not to do that part.

    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.

     We walked around the field but didn't want to venture much further.  I assume there would be walks around here but they would be very up and down!  We are the only ones at this site so it is very quiet - well it would be if the wind died down, but if there are no clouds tonight we will be star gazing for a while.  Unfortunately there were too many clouds - and it was cold.  We did have a very peaceful quiet nights sleep though.

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.