Scarborough

Scarborough [Enlarge & More]

We drove to Scarborough about 10 miles away and spent a few hours there. We parked at North Beach and walked over to the main town along the seafront. I had overheard an old couple talking in Whitby that Scarborough had “held it’s own and Whitby had taken a downward turn”. I’m not sure there was much in it, I liked Whitby as it is small and had a charm of it’s own and you can see the modernisation in Scarborough. I think they are both worth a visit.

Ravenscar [Enlarge & More]

On our return to Whitby we took a detour to Ravenscar to have a look, it had a stunning view of Robin Hood’s Bay so if you are not going to walk any of the costal path then this is a great “cheat” to get a stunning view of the bay.

Morris Dancers [Enlarge & More]

It was a glorious evening it felt like someone had brushed everything with a pink wash as the sun was setting. On our way to get something to eat we randomly came across some Morris Dancers! Not sure if it is a regular thing but it had most people intrigued. We ate at the Bramblewick, gorgeous food so a definite recommendation if you make it to the bay.


Great trip and a good source of information about Robin Hood's Bay is the Local Community Site.

York Minster [Enlarge & More]

On the way back to Swindon we went via York. We only spent a couple of hours wandering around and I felt like I wanted to spend more time there. I’ve been before when I was at Uni and it felt like it had changed. Mainly it’s got bigger, I think there are more shops and I don’t remember the York Minster
being so imposing.


In summary:

770 Miles by car
£186 Accomodation in Robin Hood's Bay
£100 Petrol
£200 Food


The Route:

View Larger Map

Cleveland Way

6.5 Miles to go[Enlarge & More]

Up relatively early this morning and took an Arriva bus (Bus Timetable)to Whitby. We had a wander around there first, quaint enough, it was still early and the place had the feel it was still waking up. We’d decided to walk back to Robin’s Hood Bay along the coast so we headed up the 199 ( I counted 201) steps to the Abbey at the top of the hill and started the 6.5 miles back. The day got better and better, the sun was out and the sea was a lovely deep blue. The views were spectacular and the walk wasn’t too strenuous, we made it back in about three hours with a half hour stop for lunch along the way.

Robin Hoods Bay

High Tide [Enlarge & More]

Made our way from the west to the east coast today. It took us just under three hours to get to North Yorkshire coast and Robin Hoods Bay. I came here as a student when I was based in Hull and wanted to come back and spend some time here. We are staying at the Lee-Side B&B about five minutes from the bay. We left the rain behind in the Lakes to some more clement weather.

Low Tide [Enlarge]

Later on in the day the tide went out and changed the bay dramatically. It is a beautiful bay and was well worth another visit.

The Fairfield Horseshoe

On the Way [Enlarge]

What a beautiful day, had a fantastic walk in some of the most spectacular scenery in the Lake District. The Fairfield Horseshoe is a 10.5 mile, 6.5 hours walk that at its highest point is 2863 feet with an ascent of 3150 feet. The start and finish is from Ambleside which is near Windermere and also Rydal water. We found the walk in the “Fifteen Walks from Ambleside and Grasmere” by Paul Buttle.

At the Top [Enlarge & More]

The Brewery arts centre in Kendal had a band on during the day called the Picasso Brothers. It was another lovely day so they drew a big crowd to hear the usual fare of covers, the best of which was Hotel California by the Eagles. Today the Olympic athletes are home from Beijing to another dreary day at Heathrow and it’s no better here in Kendal. Went for a drive to Coniston lake to take some pictures but it was raining and unspectacular today. We ended up having something to eat in Coniston and then coming back.

Lydiard Park

Lydiard Park [Enlarge]

I’ve been in Swindon just over two years now and moved into my Flat two years and one day ago. In all that time I’ve never been round Lydiard Park. It’s lovely, not the best of days today but a lovely green space just off junction 16 of the M4. From me it’s only 10 minute drive.

Swindon Pride

I found Elvis! [Enlarge]

Swindon held it’s first Pride festival this year and it was just down the road from me in the Town Gardens. We popped in for a look earlier in the day and then went back later to see some of the acts. The highlight for me was seeing Elvis and when he started singing Moody Blue, it reminded me of pestering my parents to buy me a couple of Elvis singles when I was a kid. Elvis was dead by then but one of the brothers of a friend was a big fan. His passion for Elvis made me want them and they ended up being my first ever single purchases. My Dad had to help me order them from WH Smiths, it’s strange how some memories are so vivid, I can even remember where I was standing in the store asking the assistant for the records. It must have been odd for the assistant being asked for Elvis by a 10 year old or so.

Pizza Making

Pizza Ingredients [Enlarge]

While making pizza tonight I thought I’d take a snapshot of the ingredients as they were laid out in such a nice arrangement. I use a bread making machine to make the dough and then add whatever I fancy, usually what ever is left over from cooking in the week.

Bishopstone Circular Walk

The Start [Enlarge]

Today we braved the weather and went for a 6 mile circular walk to from Bishopstone taking in some of The Ridgeway. We got the walk from “Pub Walks Along The Ridgeway” by Charles Whynee Hammond. The book goes into a lot of detail but we managed to follow the directions without getting lost. We parked in The Royal Oak car park. Bishopstone itself is a lovely Village set around a village ponds. The walk started along the road before heading up to the Ridgeway, it was pretty straight forward with nothing too strenuous.


On The Way Up [Enlarge]
The worst of the walk was wading through waste high stinging nettles only to realise at the other end that we could have taken the easier bridle way which was just the other side of the barbed wire keeping us in. The view from the Ridgeway was very dramatic today as there was loads of clouds cover with the sun peaking through every so often. Apart form the smelly pig farms the walk was nice and relaxing. I’m not a big fan of pigs and their sties stink .



On The Ridgeway [Enlarge]


Crayfish Lunch [Enlarge]
Two hours later we were back at the start and I enjoyed a lunch of whole Crayfish at the pub. It was a little messy cracking into them but worth it as they tasted divine.

Go Ape

Go Ape Zip line
Originally uploaded by Homdaum

We went to GoApe yesterday, what a great few hours mucking around in the tree tops. I had a blast going from tree to tree. This video was taken with the camera dangling by my side while I was holding on for dear life