The PreChristmas Trip. 3rd - 6th December

 Tuesday 3rd

Up early today and Mia delivered to the cattery while I loaded the car. We were away on time at 10.00am, the journey went well and we met up with Peter and Linda at Boggle Hole at 12.30. It felt cold at 5C but it was pleasant and sunny. We were down on the beach by 1.00 but even so the tide was well in necessitating a paddle (and a wet foot as my wellies appear to have perished!!! :(  ) It was pleasant to sit on the beach for lunch of tomato soup with fu;l oil slick and Christmas cake. (We have found yet another piece of last years!!). We managed to get to Bay Town just ahead of the tide enjoying a festive hot chocolate in the old chapel. We had enjoyed lovely views of foraging turnstones on the beach and on the way back along the cliff top were lucky enough to have superb close views of a pair of barn owls hunting in the gathering dusk.

It was a quick drive to Whitby and our appartment on the Crescent up on West Cliff. Peter and I have very happy memories of our first stay here with mum and day 65 years ago. It was, of course beer o'clock while we relived some of the memories.

Wednesday 4th

We woke to a cold and clear morning after overnight rain. Breakfast over, we drove to Sandsend where we parked t our usual spot at Wits End. While Heather and Linda walk along the beach to the village, Peter and I tried yet again to get along the beach and around the headland to a prime folssiling location, normally reached by a very steep path and precipitous steps from the old railway line. We were optimistic today as it was at the bottom of a very low tide. Yet again, however, we were thwarted. Later we were told that it isn't possible. We were pleased to see some rock pipits and a fulmar, however.

Returning to the car park we started out along the old railway, part of the Cleveland Way, to mee H&L. On the way we chatted to some fossil hunters who had been down the steps. Once regrouped and back at the cars we continued to Staithes. Both here and at Sandsend there were a lot of expert looking surfers who said that conditions were perfect. I was certailny impressed watching them. Back in Whitby we wandered down into the town and reconvened at the excellent Black Horse in the old town. An fine hostelry and a fitting end to an excellent day.

                                       

Thursday 5th December

A lazy start for H and myself today and we wandered down into the town at 11.00 all meeting up at Hammonds Jewellers at the bottom of the Abbey Steps for lunch. Sadly there were no crab sandwiches.

During the drive over the moors to Danby Lodge Moors centre we were impressed by the sight of large flocks of lapwings wheeling over the fields. The Moors Centre, as awlays was interesting and on the way back we were delighted to have incredibly close views of a hunting barn owl that didn't seem pahsed by the car at all. Where is the big lens when it's needed.

Tea this evening was fish and chips at the Magpie. A smashing end to a great few days.

Cleveland Way, Day 7. Runswick Bay - Robin Hoods Bay

An early start today as we only had to drive the short distance from The excellent Postgate Inn at Egton Bridge.  We were soon on our way, again with beautiful weather in prospect.  We descended steeply down to the bay where the tide was in and then half way along the beach before climbing steeply up onto the cliffs with excellent views back to the village.  We quickly reached Kettleness, once the site of alum mining and production.  The beach is a scamble to get down to but is one of the best beaches, locally, for fossils.  The path skirts the bay and then follows the cliffs again before descending to the old railway line leading to Sandsend through the extensive remains of the Sandsend Alum Quarries.  The line was the route of the Whitby, Redcar and Middlesborough Union Railway line opened in 1883 and closed in 1958.  This stretch is one of my favourite walks and is one that we have done often.
Sandsend has a plethora of eateries and two of our favourites are The Wits End Cafe and the Sandside Cafe, both serving fine crab sandwiches when in season.  From the village we walked along the excellent beach to Whitby with the views of the Abbey perched above the old town getting ever closer.

 Whitby itself proved to be horrendously busy, only to be expected on an August Saturday.  Although we had to struggle through the crowds we still enjoyed views of the harbour, old town and abbey.  This is one of our favourite places to visit, often in winter, but certainly not in August.

 After climbing the 199 steps, dating from 1370, we reached Caedmon's Cross and the magnicent Abbey.  The first monastery was founded in 657 by Oswy the Anglo-Saxon king of Northumbria with the founding Abess being Lady Hilda from Hartlepool Abbey.  In 664 at the Synod of Whitby it was decided to adopt the Roman manner of calculating the date of Easter rather than the Celtic tradition.  Caedmon was a lay brother in the abbey during the 7th century.  Legend has it that he was originally ignorant of 'the art of song' but learned to compose one night in the course of a dream, according to the 8th century historian, Bede.  He later became a monk and an inspirational Christian poet.
Once beyond the abbey and on the cliff tops once more we realised that one of the reasons the town was so busy was that there was the annual steam rally in progress.  It looked interesting but we needed to push on as we still had several miles to cover.  On the way we passed the lighthouse which can now be rented out as a holiday cottage which sounds fun.  It also gave me the opportunity to photograph it to add to my portfolio of lighthouses.  The miles went by quickly and Robin Hood's Bay was soon reached to complete another great day's walking.

 Sadly the next day it was time to return home, but as usual we found it difficult to drag ourselves away.  We drove to Danby Moors centre for coffee and cake and then drove over the moors to stop and photograph the two Ralph crosses, Young and Old.  Old Ralph is the senior of the two but Young Ralf is used as the symbol for the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. I wanted photographs with the heather in bloom but this was not so easy this year as the blossom didn't seem as prolific as normal, perhaps because of the dry summer?