Yorkshire to Nottinghamshire

Another moving day as we were departing Yorkshire for Nottinghamshire. We’re really sorry to be leaving this lovely pitch by the river but we’re off to Teversal C&C Club Site which has brand spanking new facilities.

The journey was thankfully uneventful considering we were on the A1(M) and the M1. We checked in just after noon and were given our pitch …

After an afternoon cuppa we took Hamish for a walk in a park which was once a slag heap but has been completely changed …

We worked our way up via one of the footpaths through a beautiful plantation of pines …

and found ourselves right at the top with a view of the M1 …

our campsite …

and Hardwick Hall …

There is a statue as a tribute to the miners of the Nottinghamshire coalfields …


and then we came down the direct route …

Ripon and Fountains Abbey

We only have one day in Yorkshire and so we decided to visit Ripon and Fountains Abbey. We began with Ripon and very easily found a car park which was close to the Cathedral. It was just a short walk and then we were right beside it …


Also in the vicinity was the Old Courthouse …



We then walked down to the canal …


before finding the town centre where Mike found some interesting pies in the local butchers …

and the monument dominated the square …


We then returned to the RV, left the city and made for Fountains Abbey. This is a National Trust property which is free for members and dog-friendly! Perfect! As we walked down towards the Abbey we saw a primary school party who were all dressed up as monks and enjoying their tour around …


We were making our way to the Fountains Hall …

and then to the Porter’s Lodge …

before looking at the fabulous building of the Abbey itself …

Hamish had a good look at the bridge and some ruins …


and then we began the walk through the Abbey. Here are just a few of the photos I took …







We followed the river …

to the bridge …

but as it was nearing lunchtime we didn’t walk around the Water Garden but returned to the Visitor Centre and gave Hamish a drink …

before reaching the RV for lunch. We made our way back to the site via Nidderdale where the views were fantastic …

South to Yorkshire

Another moving day today and so after saying our goodbyes we left the site and headed to the A1 to go south to Yorkshire. I’m sorry to be leaving Northumberland as it’s a lovely county and so much to see in too little time. Hopefully we’ll get back here one day.

The traffic began to get quite heavy and we knew we were on the outskirts of Newcastle. As we crossed the Tyne I took a photo into the city …

and as we left the city behind there was the Angel of the North against a very cloudy backdrop ...

We took a slight detour to Richmond and Catterick Garrison as we needed a Tesco both for food and fuel and then it was back onto the A1 and A1(M) to find our campsite at Roecliffe although officially it is the Boroughbridge C&C Club Site. The warden pointed out our pitch and I couldn’t believe our luck! We are right beside the river Ure …


Magic! We spent the afternoon catching up on washing as there's a laundry on site and hoorah I can get on the internet! I’m now blogging away to try and catch up on all our travels. We had a couple of boats go by …


but it is basically a very quiet river with just a couple of fishermen pootling up and down in a row-boat.

Berwick-on-Tweed, Holy Island & Preston Tower

Today we were off to Berwick-on-Tweed and after crossing the river …

we hoped to find the harbour car park but ended up crossing the river again …

and parking in Spittal. We went for a walk along the promenade towards the harbour …

and saw cormorants diving into the sea for fish …

We went back into Berwick and parked so we could have a wander around and after being given a map of the town we found we’d parked very near to the Barracks …

and the Ramparts …


There was also an old Cromwellian church …

After crossing the river again we set off for Holy Island as we wanted to see Lindisfarne Castle. We’d checked out the tide tables before we left home and so knew that this week was a good time to be crossing to the island. For those who get it wrong there is a little hut on stilts where they can shelter and watch their car disappear under the sea!


We parked beside the sands …

and after lunch we began the walk past the welcome sign …

and made for Lindisfarne Priory …



It was then time to walk out to the Castle passing some upturned hulls which are now huts …

There were several boats in the harbour with the castle in the background …

When we reached the Castle we were allowed to walk round the field with Hamish but couldn’t go into the Garden or the Castle ...



It was a lovely walk and when we reached the beach we found loads of cairns built so we added a small one of our own which Hamish had to check and make sure we'd done correctly …


Walking back to the RV we stopped at the Hotel to see some Birds of Prey …

When we got back the tide had gone out even further and I could see the long line of markers very clearly …

As we drove off the island there were signs to warn people of the dangers of the tide …


We were now heading back to the campsite but decided to visit Preston Tower which was on the way …

It was built in 1392 when warfare between England and Scotland was endemic and it was really interesting. Here’s a selection of the photos from it …

The rooms had been furnished as they might have been in 1400. The clock was installed in 1864 and it has a mechanism similar to that used for Big Ben. It still works and strikes on the hour - very loudly!