We continue with our ‘haven’t been there before’ May holiday; this year it’s Yorkshire. We skirted round it when we went to the Lake District in 2017 but didn’t really get to appreciate the full beauty of the place.
In order to set off early and avoid the traffic on the M25
we pulled Daisy out of storage on Friday night and spent the night on the ‘late
arrivals’ pitch – a pitch we shared with the Gatwick runway, the early bird
song and the fox cubs barking for their breakfast – we left at 6am.
The journey ‘up North’ was pretty uneventful, traffic was
pretty good until we got to the M6 but even then it really wasn’t too bad and
we arrived at Thornbrook Barn https://www.thornbrookbarn.co.uk/. Although the campsite was fully booked each
pitch is placed so you are not in rows, pitches are big, plenty of room for the
car and awning – all hardstanding, so remember to bring your drill to screw in
those tent pegs! There’s just one
toilet/shower block but with just 42 pitches, 30 that are serviced there isn’t
really a queue for the showers; under floor heating, large shower cubicles
(each having a separate dressing area) the only little niggle is it’s one of
those bloomin hold-the-button-in jobbies!
Sunday 26th June
Mike Flately and the Riverdance crew came to entertain us
during the night and most of the morning!
Down came the rain in torrents but hey ho! we were pretty tired from the
day before so we sat around resting and waiting until it stopped, which it did
in the afternoon for a little while. We
decided to stay local and do a bit of exploring. Ingleton village which is just about 10
minutes walk is just how you imagine Yorkshire to be, greystone walls, flowers
on the windowsills, nooks and crannies – just like a chocolate box. After this we stopped off at Country Harvest
www.country-harvest.co.uk which
is just opposite our campsite. We didn’t
really need anything but it all looked so yummy and tasty we just know we’ll be
returning later in the week.
Monday 27th June
Most of our neighbours packed up and left before we’d had
breakfast due to the pouring rain that woke us up this morning. However, by the time we’d both eaten and had
a shower the sky had lightened up a bit and the rain left off, it wasn’t cold,
damp or windy but the sky was quite threatening from time to time. We’d run out of Pink to go in the loo so we
decided to head towards Morecambe where there was a Halfords and to see the
statue of one of our heroes Eric Morecambe.
Morecambe is quite nice, the bay itself is glorious but the actual
seafront entertainment was very rundown; what a shame because I’m sure it’s
probably a very popular family holiday resort.
We had planned on staying for fish and chips but as there was nothing
else to see or do and it was too early for lunch we decided to return to
Ingleton and get fish & chips from the local.
Inglenook Fish & Chip Shop – so good I left a review on
Tripadvisor! We arrived to a queue
(good sign), there was eat in/eat outside or takeaway. Fabulous fish, light crispy batter and fresh,
light chips. Cod & Chips/Haddock
& Chips two cans of drink - £15, we certainly would not get that at
home! When we left the sun was shining
and after a little walk around we made our way back to the campsite – of
course, as soon as I got my chair out......
Tuesday 28th May
Well well well surprise surprise, we were woken up by
glorious sunshine coming through the bedroom window (note to self, pull the
blind down at night). It was going to
be Skipton Castle today, about 30(ish) miles away on a good road the A65 that
runs alongside the moors. It was a
really lovely drive, through a few little chocolate box villages. On the way to Skipton we noticed several
gypsy wagons and horses tethered to the grass verges; these were typical wagons
with the curved roof. Conversations
ranged from “visiting for the Bank Holiday” to “they can’t be travellers (as we
know them) because there are no new vans!”
More about this later in the
day.....
Skipton is definitely one of the biggest towns around here
but once again we were amazed at the number of eateries! Every way you turned there were tea shops,
cafes, pubs selling food, pie shops, cake shops – you name it Yorkshire has
it!
Skipton Castle is in the town centre and very well
sign-posted – it’s quite big so would be really difficult to miss. One thing we found quite impressive was the
information sheet you are given with your tickets, it gives a route around the
many many rooms of the castle and in each room there is a plaque that tells you
a little about the history. Some of the
steps in the castle are quite uneven so make sure you wear flat shoes. It was really quite interesting without
being brain-numbingly-boring-unless-you’re-an-historian! There is of course, a shop which is full of
things that kids can afford with their holiday money. The cafe really did a good selection of lunch
food, cakes etc. and all good prices. Yorkshire loves to feed you so it would be
rude not too.....
After eating that lot and feeling slightly bleurgh we walked
through the high street – yet more eateries, until my legs were starting to
throb. Darling Del left me on a bench
while walking up the hill to get the car..... gotta love a man that gets the
car for you.
So, this brings me to the return journey along the lovely
A65, the journey that took us just 35 minutes from campsite to Skipton. It seems that our gypsy friends walk up and
down the road with their horse & carts slowing the traffic down, for no
particular reason than to be bl**y annoying!
It took 45 minutes to do just 4 miles because... well just because.
(Later I googled it and it seems that there
is a large Horse Fair here around 5th June, so I assume they are
here early to get their ‘spot’. Why they
have to walk up and down the A65 creating long lines of traffic I have no idea).
Anyway! Stop moaning
woman, it was a great day, Skipton Castle is well worth a visit.
Wednesday 29th May
Today bought overcast but quite bright and we set off for
Ribbleshead Viaduct and Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes. We’d not been on this route before taking us
North East from Ingleton – about 30 miles; but what a beautiful journey it
was! The long and winding road (now
you’re singing that song aren’t you?) took us through the simply stunning
scenery of the Yorkshire Dales. No
pylons, no street furniture, no phone masts, just undulating green fields and sheep. The viaduct is breathtaking, we managed to
park the car and walk underneath the viaduct, I actually felt quite dizzy
looking up at the enormous arches.
Onto Wensleydale Creamery to see how the cheese is made –
there was a great talk and demonstration, followed by an all-you-can-eat tasting
session of all the different types of cheeses they make. Nothing goes to waste, even the whey they
sold on for such things as fitness drinks and yoghurts. We bought a few different cheeses – Del’s
favourite was the Wensleydale with Cranberries.
To quote the demonstrator “we buy the cranberries from the States, we
bring them back to the UK to make the cheese, we then sell the cheese back to
the States for extortionate amounts of money!” As they say business is business......
As if we hadn’t tasted enough cheese we then sat down to a
bowl of Caramelised Red Onion and Cheese soup – it was really rather tasty and
filled us up for the rest of the day.
Great day and as Chelsea won the Europa Cup it was a great
evening too!
Friday 31st May
Nothing to report on yesterday because it rained nearly all
day and we didn’t do a thing except laze around crafting, watching TV etc.
etc. However, today was what is
traditionally known as ‘last day souvenirs and spend your pennies day’. We didn’t actually buy any souvenirs but we
did spend some pennies in the butchers at Country Harvest opposite.
We decided to go and see what the town of Settle had to
offer; in order to avoid the A65 and the gypsies we found a lovely road that
took you across the Dales. Wow, amazing
beautiful views, up and down we went and there was some pretty sharp bends too
but it was stunning. Unfortunately we
couldn’t say the same for Settle, we were rather disappointed. Anyone driving a motorhome, there is parking
in the carpet in town. After a short walk
around we decided to leave, I’m sure the town has lots to offer but all we
could find were more and more tea rooms/cafes!
One little thing that made us laugh - we realised that we didn’t have a
colander in the caravan so have been on the lookout for a small one. We found a shop that was like an indoor
market stall selling every form of plastic utensil that one should require, we
walked around but couldn’t find one. “Can
I help you?” said the proprietor. “We’re
looking for a colander” said Del. “No
sorry, but try next door but one they’ll have one...yeah the card shop will” It wasn’t until we started walking to the
card shop that we realised he thought we’d said “calendar”.......
After Settle we decided to go to Malham, a pretty little
village some 7 miles away. Once again,
we were up and down dale and at 5.5 miles were met with a ‘DIVERSION’ sign – we
both decided that maybe taking a Diversion in the middle of the Yorkshire Dales
was probably not a good move; so, we turned round and made our way back to
camp. On route we made plans for our
return journey, up and out by 6am and we were!
And for those of you confused by the title of this piece:
ON ILKLEY MOOR BAHT 'AT
(Traditional English - Yorkshire)
Wheear 'as ta bin sin ah saw thee,
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at?!
Wheear 'as ta bin sin ah saw thee?
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at?!
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at?!
Tha's been a cooartin' Mary Jane
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Tha's been a cooartin' Mary Jane|
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Tha's bahn t'catch thi deeath o'cowd
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Tha's bahn t'catch thi deeath o'cowd
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then we shall ha' to bury thee
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then we shall ha' to bury thee
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then t'worms 'll cum and eat thee oop
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then t'worms 'll cum and eat thee oop
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then ducks 'll cum and eat oop t'worms
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then ducks 'll cum and eat oop t'worms
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then we shall go an' ate oop ducks
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then we shall go an' ate oop ducks
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then we shall all 'ave etten thee
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then we shall all 'ave etten thee
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
That's wheer we get us oahn back
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
That's wheer we get us oahn back
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
 |
| Always bought me Sunshine - RIP Eric |
