Yo! Yorkshire – the East Yorkshire coast

We took off for a trip to Yorkshire last week. Our intention to spend some time at places we’d never really had time to visit properly whilst living “up north”.

On a desktop, or laptop, computer you will be able to access an interactive Everytrail map of each day, some with photos on them (marked by the red pins on the maps), if you click on the title above the map.

If you want to see all the pictures on Picasa, go to the Yorkshire Coast 2012 album, otherwise you can watch a rather speedy video slideshow on Vimeo …

East Yorkshire Coast 2012 from David Harrison on Vimeo.

Day One saw us leave Leeds for Scarborough …
To Scarborough at EveryTrail

We headed first for Beverley, somewhere we’d surprisingly never visited. Apart from finding a lovely cafe – The Indulgent Tart – to have a lunchtime sandwich, we also of course spent some time in Beverley Minster which is a lovely church with an interesting history including links to the churches in Bywell, which Jenny knew and visited as a child. It brought home to me the real importance of the church in days gone by as regional power centres. As a non-historian, I’m learning things that are obvious to others every day!

From Beverley we headed for Scarborough where we aimed to spend three nights on the Camping & Caravanning Club site. The first night we just took a pitch by the entrance, but moved to a nicer pitch (quieter) for the next two nights.

Day Two saw us go back south to Bridlington, Flamborough Head and Filey…
Bridlington, Flamborough & Filey at EveryTrail

We were drawn to visit Bridlington by the excellent Michael Portillo Great British Railway Journeys programme which highlighted the Station Buffet and its impressive floral display. We weren’t disappointed, either by the flowers, the station, or the buffet and enjoyed a nice cup of tea and a pint of Yorkshire Guzzler. On from the station which surprisingly in its heyday had at least six platforms – I only know that because 4 and 5 were designated for Sheffield and Hull and 6 took you to Scarborough on a single-track – we walked down through the town (not too exciting, rather tired looking) to the harbour where we each had a tray of chips (we also had some sandwiches with us!) and then on to Cooplands Secret Garden cafe for a cup of tea and a strawberry tartlet each!

From Bridlington we drove up to Flamborough Head where we’d once spent a glorious Boxing Day (before we had a family, of course) and which I’d visited also with field trips in my earlier incvarnation as a Geographer. The Rescue Helicopter visited us as we arrived and then we took in views of cliffs, clouds and lighthouses before returning to the campsite.

Day Three saw us cycle up to Hayburn Wyke and back …
Hayburn Wyke and back on the bikes at EveryTrail

I really wanted to try out the Cinder Track – a cycle track that makes use of the disused Scarborough to Whitby trackbed. We cycled from the campsite to Scalby and then cycled 5.5 miles up to Hayburn Wyke, had a pint at the Hayburn Wyke Inn and walked down to the coast. Back for another pint – Black Sheep – and then the ride back. A really lovely day, the sun shone when it mattered and only a few spots of rain.

Day Four saw us return to Scarborough, before heading off to Whitby …
Scarborough and Low Moor at EveryTrail

We’ve really made use of our CADW (Wales’ equivalent of English Heritage) this year, nearly all in English Heritage sites. So a drive into Scarborough and a climb up to the Castle from the North Cliff side saw us walking around the cliff top enjoying wonderful views and watching surfers enjoying the gentle swell. A high point was the chutney and a cup of Yorkshire Tea at the cafe! Then we walked down to the town, visited a most unexceptional market and then walked back to the van via M&S where we picked-up another meal deal and the seafront which we walked through as quickly as possible.

Day Five was Robin Hood’s Bay and Whitby day …
Robin Hood’s Bay & Whitby at EveryTrail

Robin Hood’s Bay was a delight! Lovely narrow streets and well painted little houses all connected by narrow lanes and alleys. It also had a few pubs and we stopped in the Bay Hotel for a drink before climbing the hill and having our sandwiches overlooking the coast and the town. Then we set off for Whitby, the Abbey (another EH site) and fish and chips in The Magpie Cafe. A lovely day, amazing abbey with views and lovely f&c.

… and then we headed inland for the Dales and Grassington, after failing to get our preferred sites at either Hawes or Leyburn.

A fast walk in the woods

Chris Brydone on a flying visit to us suggested a walk; I offered him four possibilities – this is the one he chose; not that I’m into blame you understand, just that I knew how it was going to end up knowing that Chris needed to be in Bristol by 16:30 the same day!

So … I give you “Wye Valley Yomp” …

Wye Valley Yomp at EveryTrail

The real challenge with this walk is the amount of time you spend in the forest. The morning is OK, you’ve got Offa’s Dyke to look out for, some impressive real estate, quarries and possibly some bird and animal life. We had the challenge of finding the right path off The Offa’s Dyke Trail to get down to Tintern – we failed and found ourselves on a very overgrown trail; machetes would have been useful – but it’s a good walk.

No the problem is the afternoon, a really long path leading up towards the ridge out of Tintern should be a warning; it’s not the climbing that’s the problem – it’s the unrelenting woodland. Only when you get to Eagle’s Nest, and again at The Alcove do you see the River Wye and these views are splendid. It’s just that they’re both accessible from the Tintern – Chepstow Road and you don’t need to walk through miles of woodland to get to them! The 365 Steps are a challenge too. I’ve only gone down them towards the end of this walk so far, when I’m getting tired – they’re challenging and slippery in places too. I’m guessing that they’re easier to go up than come down.

In between the morning and afternoon was a lunch break at Tintern and here we can give a thumbs up to The Rose and Crown – a good pint of Hancocks HB and a nice plate of ham sandwiches and steak and kidney pie set us up well.