Strumpshaw Fen Bird Reserve

A good walk yesterday round the Strumpshaw Fen bird reserve with M.   We started at the reception hut with a quick cup of coffee and joined the serious twitchers in the hide with their massive binoculars and cameras.   The chap next to us was very forthcoming about what he had seen that morning and let us have a look at some goslings through his telescope.  Watching birds is a very serious business!

We did a looping walk.  On the first loop we had a couple of hail showers but by the time we had come back to reception the sun was out so we collected our packed lunches from the car and set off on the second loop.  Lovely views across the fens, bluebells in the woods, the cuckoo calling and the woodpecker tapping and the robin singing his heart out.  We found a sunny bench for lunch and finished just before it clouded over. 

We walked about 4 miles in total.  Afterwards we went to two garden centres as M wanted to pick up some plants for hanging baskets.  As she only had a very small car, which she filled with plants and compost, I had to content myself with looking!   Quite frustrating for someone who loves to buy plants! After all that walking in Yorkshire it's ironic that this morning I should have a trapped nerve in my hip after a slow amble round the fen on the flat!

Beninborough Hall

Beninborough Hall, Yorkshire: National Trust

The map

Today we 'did' Beninborough Hall...and thoroughly!  The weather was again perfect for walking.  We collected a map and set off,  our route taking us along broad paths, through woodland and along the rivers Ouse and Nidd.  It was a varied and interesting walk of about 4.5 miles.

Woodland path

The house through the trees

Peter at the confluence of the Ouse and the Nidd

Bluebells

Entrance to the cafe with teapot

The walled garden

Back at the house we had lunch and a cup of tea and critiqued the parenting styles of other occupants of the courtyard!  We went into the house, picked up audio guides and spent some time exploring the rooms and the portraits.  The house is rich in 18th portraits due to a tie up with the National Portrait Gallery.  This compensates for the fact that the contents of the house were all sold off at auction before it was handed over to the National Trust.  The auction catalogue was on display.  I was very intrigued by this entry: 6 bath mats, Another 6, Another 6, Another 6.   Clearly there were a lot of bathrooms we don't see on the tour!  We ended up in the lovely walled garden with time to sit in the sun. 

Today's steps

Portraits

Levisham Moor and the Hole of Horcum

Another large hotel breakfast!   Smoked haddock and poached egg for me and scrambled egg, tomato and mushroom for Peter, plus toast and preceded by prunes and apricots.   Well, we needed the strength for walking!
Great weather for a hike, though when we were up on the moor the wind blew mightily. There was a splendid view at the beginning of the Hole of Horcum, a great hollow in the land.

Today's walk

The Hole of Horcum

Peter on the trail

Ruth looking brave

 The path started off wide and gentle and eventually narrowed to a rocky path above a deep ravine.   I was glad of my stick!  The last part of the walk was through the Hole of Horcum itself and then a steep ascent to get out.  

The narrow path above the ravine

Although I was dying to stop and eat lunch, Peter wasn't feeling hungry so after our 5 mile walk we got back in the car and drove to Thornton le Dale where we had lunch.  A nice little village with a beck running through it and a very superior car park which had clearly been a walled garden at one time.

After consuming our sandwiches we went to Malton, an interesting market town and were seduced by a shop selling bags and all sorts of ropes and gadgets.  

Woodall's in Malton

The man in the shop had a very interesting line in sales patter...mainly involving insulting the customer!   He was very dry!   After going off for a cup of tea and another piece of coffee and walnut cake (mea culpa) we went back and bought a bag.   He pretended to be so grateful for our custom that he asked me my name and presented me with a personalised door stop!

Back in Pickering we got out of our walking geat and did a bit of the town walk.   Mainly the church with its amazing wall paintings and churchyard criss crossed by paths. 

Churchyard

Then a half pint of beer in the bar downstairs at the hotel and a short saunter to the Indian restaurant down the road.  Probably the best Indian restaurant food we've ever had!  If you're ever in Pickering, visit Cilantro. 

Helmsley to Rievaulx Abbey and back

The route

 Breakfast at the hotel...very quiet and polite.  Delicious prunes, apricots and Greek yoghurt followed by a full Yorkshire and toast!  Then into the car with the walking gear and a drive to Helmsley where we parked and wandered around a little and bought our picnic lunch - Yorkshire pork pie (large and tasty), tomatoes and apples. 

The beck in Helmsley

We set off on our walk along the Cleveland Way.  Lots of lambs in the fields and good paths though much more up and down than we're used to in Norfolk!  In fact the 7 mile walk was much more effort than expected. 

Little lambs eat ivy

Add caption

There are some pretty steep places on the path but we eventually reached the Abbey and we allowed in without paying as we were only venturing as far as the picnic tables.   We enjoyed our lunch and cup of tea from the café with the abbey in the background.

Rievaulx Abbey

The path up to the Rievaulx Terraces

Rievaulx Abbey from Rievaulx

Then climbed up a long winding and steep path edged with wild garlic to the Rievaulx Terraces where we toured one of the Temples and admired the view of the Abbey from above. This diversion added another mile to the walk but was worth it.

Then back to Helmsley, fortunately down hill most of the way.   We fell into the Beck Tea Shop and consumed three cups of tea each and a piece of coffee and walnut cake!   A very good day's walking with light cloud and little wind.  Perfect!

Pickering, North Yorkshire

The White Swan

This afternoon we arrived in Pickering, North Yorkshire for a 4 night stay at the White Swan.

A quick walk round the town revealed at least 4 bakeries, 2 chemists, an Indian, a Chinese, 3 pubs, an Italian, a fish and chip restaurant and a couple of cafes...and a Co-op supermarket...and several charity shops.   A bit short on delis!

We also investigated the station of the North Yorkshire Steam Railway.  A wonderful time warp.

Pickering Station

Looking South

The kiosk

We had a good meal in the hotel restaurant and a great bottle of wine.

 My pink lamb was fantastic, though Peter's steak was average.  When asked for our desert order we elaborately described the makings of an affagato only to be told it was on the menu (admittedly on the back) making us look like a couple of complete, pompous idiots!

Tomorrow, walking off the wine and food!

18th April 2017

Progress on all fronts at Southwold.   The new shed has been toned down with preservative and shelves have been made.  The conglomeration of pots, bits of wood and tools has now been cleared.  Pots have been filled with plants and the tools stowed in the shed. 

The old green plastic table which for several months was covered in tools has now been moved and will become a platform for a flower pot garden.   At least, that's the plan.  I have started to plant up pots and hope that soon the table will disappear under a wealth of trailing plants. 

New garden furniture has been installed.  We bought it at a pop-up sale in Reydon Village hall, despite the very hard sell from the wife of the team.  We almost walked away, her patter was so relentless!   We like the furniture, and so do the seagulls and pigeons who seem determined to decorate it!   Not much we can do about that.  There's very little chance they will observe a no-fly zone!

The bulbs I planted in the autumn are up and blazing with colour.   I hadn't realised how bright they would be!  Other things are also growing well including the most vigorous mint and parsley I have every grown.  They are monsters!  The crab-apple tree has survived the planting and the winter and is about to burst into flower. 

Inside, the living room is finished and we have done some re-arranging which makes better use of the space and the furniture.  Our bathroom has been painted and our next job is to do the finishing off (bath panel, mirror, shower rail, clean up the floor times) and make a curtain. 

A couple of weeks ago Rupert and Laura came down with the chainsaw to remove the holly tree.  Eliot came down with the boys so that Nancy could do some painting in their kitchen so we had extra hands to bring the tree down and chop it up.   Abe and Saul really worked hard with their secateurs!

Rupert and Laura have enjoyed a couple of weekends at Southwold and Simon and Tania have a couple of weekends planned too. 

Planters given to me by the family for my birthday

Sweet williams and tulips

More tulips

Sitting room views

The shed and herb bed

Abe and Saul hard at work

Rupert saws, Eliot pulls

Ready for meals in the sun

Checking the level of the shelf