October 2018 – North Yorkshire

 

With a few days of good weather forecast and an empty diary we headed to Yorkshire and our usual B&B (Pear Tree House) in Pickering. We arrived at lunch time and immediately set out on a walk up the valley beside the Pickering Beck. It was a lovely walk and we were treated to views of several trains including the one below,

The next morning we set off for Whitby visiting Grosmont station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) en route.  Annie was looking in the station shop (Gerry was looking at engines) and found a book detailing a walk from Goathland Station to Grosmont via the track bed of the old 1834 railway line.  The book was packed with fascinating information so we decided that we should do the walk the next day.  However, on that morning we continued our drive to Whitby.

We had a stroll around Whitby which was surprisingly busy before visiting The Magpie for a wonderful lunch. After lunch we headed across the Moors to Farndale for one of our favourite walks beside the River Dove returning along a road which gave us superb views over the Dale. It was a great way to end our day.

The next morning, in brilliant weather we drove to Grosmont Station and caught the steam train to Goathland. We then followed instructions in our new book to meander the three and a half miles back to Grosmont. We thoroughly enjoyed the walk noting many bits of industrial archaeology that we wouldn’t have without the book. The walk is very gentle following the old track bed until we approached Grosmont.  Here we deviated from the track bed as it joined the current railway line and we were not allowed to walk through the tunnel.  Instead, we had to climb up and then down a fairly steep hill.  However, the view of the station and the surrounding tress and town from the top of the hill made the effort worthwhile.

After coffee and a snack in the car we drove to Tbornton Le Dale a small town a couple of miles east of Pickering. We then set out on one of our favourite “strolls” along riverside field paths to the hamlet of Ellerburn with its ancient church and the Tea Cosy tea rooms.  We enjoyed a cup of tea and some cakes before heading back to Thornton le Dale.

On our way back we passed this lovely cottage beside the beck.

We returned to Pickering feeling that our walks had earned us an evening visit to Spice 4 U, a really good curry house that we have visited at least once if not twice on every one of our stays in Pickering.

The next day, we headed home via Thorner and lunch with Bridget and David Lindley at their local Italian Restaurant.  The journey back to Gloucestershire was very busy with the Sat Nav adding many minutes for delays  (volume of traffic and rush hour).  Gerry doesn’t like traffic jams and so we decided to drive down the Fosse Way.  It may have taken as long as the main roads with their delays but we met no traffic and Gerry was able to enjoy the drive.

The week was rounded off with an overnight visit from Lucy, James and Emma.

Emma enjoyed splashing in the puddles left by the heavy rain that fell after our return from Yorkshire!

Then on Monday, we spent the day in Bristol looking after Oscar and Felix whilst Jon and Jess went to a couple of Primary School Open Days – It’s hard to believe, but Oscar will start primary school next year.