Our Yorkshire Adventure
Our Yorkshire Adventure
Reading the experiences of MEG55 inYorkshirehas prompted me to add our own account of visiting the area a little earlier in the year, during the first half of April.
Driving along the M62 in heavy rain on leaving South Manchester was not the best of starts but, thankfully, we left that behind as we headed for our first visit, Burnby Hall Gardens on the outskirts of Pocklington. This was a very attractive garden to stroll around with two pools both full of sizeable carp and various garden areas. The garden holds a national collection of water lilies which would, no doubt, add an extra attraction in the summer.
A nearby commercial site provided an overnight stay which proved a delightful location with adjacent lakeside walks but not so brilliant next morning as I tried to drive our motorhome off a wet, grass pitch!
Day 2 involved another garden visit at Burton Agnes Hall en route to Bridlington.
Another lovely garden but very different from yesterday. Here we began our exploration with a beautifully kept walled garden but having an unusual feature in that part of it was devoted to giant games of chess, draughts etc, ideal for family visits. The woodland walk is equally interesting and was full of wild flowers.
On then to the Bridlington Caravan Club site and our first visit here; lovely spacious site with the usual immaculate facilities.
At this point I must explain that our motorhome travels are generally in two main formats. One is to tour a particular area but usually having two nights at each site so that we can have a day exploring from the site on foot or using public transport.
The other is to have the bulk of our stay on a specific site from which public transport is readily available or, occasionally, treat ourselves to a hire car. This trip fell into the latter category and so Day 3 was largely taken up with collecting the hire car. The club has already negotiated a members’ discount with Enterprise and, having used them over many years, I cannot recommend them too highly. Despite the nearest office beingScarborough, they came to the site to pick me up and, as always, the vehicle was ideal and their rates are very reasonable.
After driving back with the car, we also visited the Bempton Cliffs RSPB Reserve where the walk on a bright but blustery afternoon was just wonderful. It really is a seabird paradise, especially with the impressive gannet colony, but we were lucky in spotting three early puffin arrivals on the water. Although seabirds are the main reason to visit, it is good place for migrants as well and we saw a wheatear and our very first corn bunting.
During the next few days, we used the car to visit a number of places of which all were interesting but a few really stood out. We experienced our first drive over the Humber Bridge but the Far Ings Nature Reserve we had crossed to visit was closed because of flooding! However, back over the bridge into Yorkshire, we did visit the North Cave Wetland Reserve run by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust which was really good; lots of ducks and waders and our very first Mediterranean Gull.
Another reserve, Spurn Head, again managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, provided another memorable visit, not least the opportunity to see some of the damage caused by the winter storms. One of the wardens here was extremely helpful in assisting us identify some of the estuary birds as his binoculars were clearly more powerful than mine!
Away from the wildlife, three more visits stand out, one being to Scarborough Castle. We have been toScarborough several times but this was our first visit to the castle. Located high on the headland between the two bays, not only are the ruins interesting in themselves, but there is a large area to walk around and enjoy the views out to sea and along the coast.
Driving inland one day, we visited Castle Howard and what a magnificent place this is, as befits one of this country’s premier stately homes. Going round the interior is impressive enough but we are more into the outside space and the grounds here are superb; you can easily spend a full day exploring formal gardens, lakeside and woodland walks. I suppose that our day here was enhanced by the drive through the Yorkshire Wolds; on the sunny day that we were blessed with, the passing scenery was just beautiful.
On our way back, we did divert a little to visit the site of a deserted medieval village called Wharram Percy. The site is managed by English Heritage and accessed by a 15 minute walk from a small car park. Much of thevillageChurch remains but otherwise just a few foundations and the village pond. The later building here (formerly a farmhouse) was apparently used as a base for the archaeologists who have worked on this site over the years. This is a really interesting place in a delightful location and, but for our membership of English Heritage, we wouldn’t have known it ever existed.
Day 9 and our hire car had to go back and we were due to return home ourselves.
However, given the glorious weather, we decided to ‘sneak’ an extra two days and make a more leisurely return home via Pickering and Helmsley. After leaving the Bridlington site, our first stop was at the Forge Valley Nature Reserve nearWest Ayton. For anyone who enjoys a woodland valley, this is a real gem and for much of its length there is a boardwalk alongside the river which provides excellent disabled access too. Parked up in a small layby, we had lunch in the ‘van with birds feeding from seed trays right outside our window.
Travelling a few miles further brought us to one of our favourite villages in this area, Thornton-le-Dale, which also has the luxury of a large car park, suitable for most motorhomes, yet discreetly hidden from the main village. As you wander round this place, one of your first discoveries will be the walk by the stream overlooked by the picturesque thatched cottage, a scene which has been photographed commercially many times. There are the usual gift shops and tearooms here but, for anyone interested in classic cars, head to the local garage which has specialised in older vehicles for many years. In fact, they now have a small museum and, for the princely charge of £1, you can wallow in nostalgia looking at the likes of an MG TA sports car, Jaguar XK 140 coupe, Rover 2000 and many more.
Our choice of site for our first extra day was one also enjoyed by MEG55, the caravan club site at The Howard, Rosedale Abbey. What a location this is with glorious scenery all around a beautiful village which, although very small, still manages to have a hotel, two pubs and two tearooms, one of which is also a small shop! The site doesn’t have a toilet/shower block but who cares in such a beautiful spot; the only downside might be the all-grass pitches in wet conditions, especially for motorhomes. There is the opportunity of walks direct from the site and our walk towards North Dale was lovely.
Day 10 saw a reluctant departure from Rosedale Abbey as we headed towards Helmsley and a visit to Rievaulx Terrace, a National Trust property nearby. Parking is somewhat limited here but we were able to park in the small coach park which we shared with a fellow motorhomer. As its name suggests, this is a terrace walk which was set out by the local lord of the manor at nearby Duncombe Park to impress his guests. It certainly does impress as you stroll the three-quarter mile terrace with superb views down to the valley below, especially the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey. At either end of the terrace are two classic temples, one of which was open and the table set for the sort of grand dinner that might have been given here.
Our second visit was to Helmsley Walled Garden which is on the edge of the town, overlooked byHelmsleyCastle; again, there is ample parking for motorhomes here.
This restored garden was once the kitchen garden forDuncombeParkbut now provides a colourful and restful place to explore with tearoom to complete your visit.
A nearby commercial site, Wombleton Caravan Park, provided our overnight base and comes highly recommended. The very friendly owners have developed a really attractive site on part of a former RAF base.
Our final day and time to head home but not before one last visit to another National Trust property, Nunnington Hall. This is a really interesting house to explore where three things stood out for us: the Nursery where some of the toys we could actually remember, the display of dolls houses and other miniatures and a photographic display of British Wildlife Award Winners. Another interesting touch was in providing a basket of dusters at the bottom of the oak staircase and inviting children to take one and assist them with the dusting as they walked upstairs!
The garden isn’t extensive but is still a pleasant place to wander and relax for a while.
And so it was back to the motorway and a return home after what had been a really enjoyable trip with plenty of sunny weather and having enjoyed some really beautiful places.
