Spring Tour. England and Wales. 2016. Part 3.

April 29th.

Left Gretna 1000hrs, bound for Keswick. It would only be an hours drive so we took a little tour. Needn't have bothered, weather was horrible, as was the traffic on poor roads. Arrived at Castlerigg Hall campsite 1230hrs. Got a superb pitch, right next to the shop, cafe and facilities block. At the top of the site so excellent view.

Absolutely stunning. We took a walk into town, about 1/2 an hour, all downhill. Strolled around, did the charity shops. Had a couple of beers, then to Booths, the towns supermarket. Certainly different to the usual Tesco, Sainsbury etc. Bought some supplies. Right outside is the bus station so we caught the bus back. £2.20 for Hazel, free for me, love my bus pass. Back to Eevie about 1730hrs, had our showers and settled in for the evening.

April 30th.

Awoke to a better day, sunshine and very little wind. After breakfast walked into town again. When we got there we found it was market day. So more people about.

Hazel got some Lavender Honey for her mum. We walked to the Pencil Museum, only to find it hadn't reopened since the floods caused by storm "Desmond". It will reopen once repairs are complete. We then visited the "Puzzling Place".

 It's full of optical illusions. Many are interactive. Spent a fascinating hour there. We then walked to the waterfront on Derwentwater.

Very pretty, there are numerous boat trips, or hire boats to do your own thing. Had coffee and delicious coffee and walnut cake at the Theatre by the Lake cafe. It had been a very pleasant day. We got the bus back again. When we got back we discovered a couple of Hazels favourite animals.

She just loves donkeys, say that rounded of the day nicely. Heading for Coniston tomorrow.

May 1st.

Left site at 0940hrs, destination Coniston, but with a visit to Bowness on Windermere en route. The main road had been destroyed, storm "Desmond" again, so we had to do the 40 mile diversion over Kirkstone Pass. The foul weather had returned, constant rain and brisk wind. As we climbed into the pass visibility became negligible. The road was narrow and lined with dry stone walls, with continuous bends. It was becoming a nightmare, then we caught up with a stagecoach bus. Salvation, I tucked behind it, even waiting at bus stops til it moved off. It worked a treat, the bus driver did all the work, I just had to follow. Thanks that man. Arrived at Bowness 1100hrs. Found a parking space near the lake.

Just visible beyond the tennis courts. We took a walk, but crowds and rain made it very unpleasant. After half an hour we had coffee for a warm up.

Then back to Eevie, and on to Coniston. Arrived Park Coppice CC site 1230hrs. Found a pitch near the lake, and set up in the rain.

You can see how wet it was in the photo. Stayed in Eevie for the remainder of the day, hoping for better weather tomorrow.

May 2nd.

A better day, dry and sunny. Walked via the footpath,

to the village. Very pleasant, Hazel collected clumps of wool the sheep had shed, to use in her crafting. Very small village but pretty.

I went in a hardware shop, it was like a time warp back to the fifties. The little old lady shopkeeper probably been there all her life, still I got the funnel I was looking for. We then walked down to he lakeside.

This is where the various boat trips depart from. Bit to blustery for a boat trip, we made do with a coffee in the "Bluebird Cafe".

Didn't want food, but it did look nice and was popular. Had a look round the craft shops, Hazel bought some fudge, the back along the path to Eevie.

Quiet evening, leaving for Chester tomorrow.

Spring Tour. England and Wales. 2016. Part 2.

April 27th.

Woken by hail drumming on the roof. Packed up and on the road by 0920hrs. Followed the coast road north, through the Tyne Tunnel. Arrived "Seafield Holiday Park" 1230hrs. Set up by 1300hrs,

then a cuppa. Nice site, mostly statics but a small touring area to the front. 5 minutes walk to village and harbour. Quite small but the harbour is pretty.

There are boat trips to the Farne Islands and Lindisfarne, but sadly for us not operating that day because of poor sea conditions. We strolled around a little more, found a Fish and Chip shop, decided I would get some to take away later. Back onto the harbour wall and the view towards Lindisfarne was beautiful.

Couldn't resist a panorama. The Priory can just be seen about 1/3 in from the left on the horizon. Walked back to Eevie where Hazel watched her Tipping Point on tv then we went to the sites Leisure Centre for a swim.

Beautiful pool, then we lounged in the spa bath for a while, sauna and steam room, shower then back to Eevie. Couple of beers then I went for the Fish and Chips, we were a little disappointed, fish lovely but chips not so. Bit of tv then bed.

April 28th.

Set off at 0920hrs. We were going to Macmerry, 20 miles from Edinburgh. There is a man there who makes 12th scale Dollshouses, but, different. Lighthouses, windmills, fairy houses etc, all different from from the norm. Drove up the A1, arriving at his house 1130hrs. He made us very welcome, showed us round his workshop and made us coffee. Spent an hour chatting then decided on our purchases for Teeny Weeny World. A lighthouse.

A windmill.

A cottage which goes with either, A fairy house, and a wee house. (Not assembled yet). We left 1300hrs, by passed Edinburgh and headed towards Jedburgh. Just short of there I changed my mind mind and we headed across country via the A7 a lovely road that follows the border on the Scottish side. We wanted to be in the Lake District next day so this took us closer. We decided to overnight at Gretna, Braids Caravan Park. Been before and it's fine for a stopover. Arrived 1530hrs and set up.

Same pitch as we had last time. Started to rain, so gave the pub a miss. Couple of beers and dinner did us. Tomorrow we would head for Keswick.

Spring Tour, England and Wales. 2016. Part 1.

April 24th.

Up bright and early to set off on our Spring Tour. Left storage 0925hrs, headed for York. Problem free run with a fuel/natural break at Peterborough. Arrived York Caravan Park 1440hrs. Had prebooked so quickly checked in and pitched up.

We'd been here before, a lovely adults only site with 5* facilities. Didn't do much in the afternoon, after the long drive. Hazel did some of her miniatures for Teeny Weeny World, 

I just lazed in front of the tv. Then an early night.

April 25th.

Caught the 10 o'clock bus into the city, £3 return for Hazel, me just my bus pass. Had a walk round the usual places. Lots still recovering from the winter floods. Went to the Railway Museum to see the "Flying Scotsman", sadly it was in the workshop, so this was as close as we got.

Never mind, another day. We were back on site 1600hrs. Dinner and a few drinks before bed.

April 26th.

Woke to snow falling. Packed up and the sun came out. Left site 1000hrs bound for Whitby. Nice drive across the North Yorkshire Moors. Hit by heavy snow at one point, but didn't last long. Stopped to admire the view.

Onward to Whitby arriving at 1140.

Parked on our pitch and just left everything while we walked to town. It was a gale force wind but luckily behind us. We took the cliff top path, halfway we were hit by a terrific hail storm, it was physically painful when it hit us. It didn't last thankfully and the sun returned.

Once down in the town we were mainly sheltered from the wind. Had a good look round, Hazel got some crafting bits, and we had coffee and toasties in a cafe. Couldn't find the pub I was recommended to visit. "The Boardwalk". After a couple of hours we were both suffering the cold, couldn't face walking back into the facing wind so we got a taxi, was a fiver well spent. Had dinner and checked maps for our next stop. Decided tomorrow would be Seahouses.