After all the messages, emails and texts from you all, desperate for a new blog post, here we go!
We have had such great weather during May, June and July it’s been difficult to keep up with all the processing, we’ve just been out and about all the time, but the recent rain, and my bad cold, caught I feel sure at the doctors this week, means we have been stuck in the caravan for a few days and are almost caught up.
First, Llandudno, where we found ourselves a little house, but still found time to drive down to Snowdonia. I can’t tell you how much we love being so close to such a beautiful area, we can actually go there for the day! So, we repeated a walk around Llyn Idwal. It has been changed from 25 years ago, there is no longer the big drop that I had to sit down on my bum and lower myself over, or the ledge across the face of a waterfall. It is now an easy stroll.
Senior man in red fleece jacket taking photos on his cellphone, at Llyn Idwal, Snowdonia, North Wales, UK, on a beautiful sunny spring day with clear blue sky.
We then moved on to Yorkshire to visit mother, and then on to Whitby, where we had a few days with the awesome foursome, Stuart, Kate, Vicky and Ricky. We have been to Whitby many times now, so tried to find something a bit different from the usual 199 steps.
A beautiful sunrise at Sandsend Beach, Whitby, North Yorkshire, England, UKSandsend Beach, Whitby, North Yorkshire, England, UK, early on a sunny spring morning.Whalebone Arch, Whitby, North Yorkshire, England, UK. The bones are from a bowhead whale, and were acquired by Whitby from one of its twin towns, Barrow in Alaska, in 2002, replacing previous bones which had been in place since 1963.Rows of colourful beach huts on the promenade at North Beach, Whitby, North Yorkshire, England, UK, on a beautiful sunny morning in spring.
We could walk along this beach into Whitby from our caravan site, which was lovely. We had ice cream and fish and chips and the usual seaside stuff – walking up and down and round and round!
Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire on a beautiful sunny spring day, with cow parsley in the foreground.
We actually paid and went inside the abbey grounds.
Our next idea was to move on to Durham and refresh the photos we took in 2011.
As you can see, the cathedral had other ideas!
It’s hard to get a shot without that tower, but we tried !
Durham Cathedral, the Old Fulling Mill, now an archaelogical museum, and the River Wear, County Durham, England, UK.
The cathedral looks a bit odd from this angle!
The old keep of Durham Castle, now part of Durham University, surrounded by trees in full leaf.25 May 2017: Durham City, England, UK – students and tourists enjoying the sunshine on Palace Green.25 May 2017: Durham City, England, Uk – Saddler Street on a sunny spring morning.
Next, the ever lovely York, my favourite city.
Sir Thomas Herbert’s House, Pavement, York, North Yorkshire, England, UK. This 16th century house now has a shop on the ground floor.
Colin has bought himself a new camera, with which he took this. It’s two shots taken manually and joined together, so pretty successful I think. I have decided to keep my old camera, I just like it better.
People of all ages relaxing on a sunny day in the Museum Gardens in front of the Yorkshire Museum in York, North Yorkshire, England, UK.Forecourt of the York Art Gallery on a sunny day in York, North Yorkshire, England, UK.31 May 2017: York, North Yorkshire, England, UK – The Treasurers House, with people playing croquet on the lawn.
Then, on to Chester. We had found an on line solicitor, and decided to go to their office to make sure it wasn’t a scam! A good opportunity to visit Chester, but it rained for two days. Our only shot was this, inside a shopping centre…
5 June 2017: Chester, UK – St Michael’s Row, An arcade of shops in the city of Chester, leading to the Grosvenor shopping centre.
Then, on to Cheddar. We were getting very short stays at these very popular places due to our late booking.
5 June 2017: Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, England, UK – The village of Cheddar, famous as the home of Cheddar Cheese.A dry stone wall at the top of the Cheddar Gorge, and a view of the Somerset Levels, from the Gorge Walk, Somerset, England, UK.
We did get the chance to do the Cheddar Gorge Walk, hard work but worth it. You climb up and walk around the edge, and back down the other side. More fun than it sounds!
The West Front of Wells Cathedral and Cathedral Green, Wells, Somerset, England, UK. Wells Cathedral is considered to be one of the most beautiful cathedrals in England.
Wells is close by. Last time we were here, we didn’t manage to photograph the famous West Front, as you have to be there in the afternoon for the light.
8 June 2017 Wells, UK. Interior of Wells Cathedral looking towards the Lady Chapel at the East end.
We even went inside, for a second time! It’s such a lovely cathedral, and still more to do on another trip.
Next, Devon. This is Lynmouth, famous for a disaster in 1952.
12 June 2017: Glen Lyn Gorge, Lynmouth, Devon, England, UK – A view of the gorge on a sunny summer day.12 June 2017: Watersmeet, near Lynmouth, North Devon, England, UK – The confluence of the East Lyn and the Hoar Oak rivers.
We had a cream tea, sitting on the lawn and overlooking this view (above).
Nearby is Valley of the Rocks
Sign post at Valley of the Rocks, Lynmouth, North Devon, England, UKCastle Rock, Valley of the Rocks, Lynmouth, Devon, England, UK.
We had a full week at Ifracombe. As usual, it was full of people our age and older, all eating ice cream and fish and chips, walking up and down and round and round.
14 June 2017: Ilfracombe, North Devon, England, UK – The harbour on a bright sunny morning in summer, with Capstone Hill in the background.14 June 2017: Ilfracombe, North Devon, England, UK – Verity, by Damien Hirst, which stands at the entrance to the harbour.
The locals aren’t too impressed with this, which is on permanent loan from the artist to the town.
14 June 2017: Ilfracombe, North Devon, England, UK – The Landmark Theatre and the Visitor Centre.
They aren’t too impressed with this either, which they had to pay for with their rates. They say visitors ask them if it’s an old factory. It does look a lot like cooling towers.
14 June 2017: Ilfracombe, Devon, England, UK – The busy harbour and quay on a warm summer day.
It’s a lovely town, and very dog friendly. Dogs are everywhere, and signs all over saying dogs can go inside this cafe or that pub.
15 June 2017: Barnstaple, England, UK – The Pannier Market in Barnstaple, North Devon. This was built as a vegetable market in 1855-6, and is now used for a variety of market functions.
Barnstaple is a town that isn’t as nice as its name makes it sound. That seemed to be the case with lot of the local towns – pretty name, boring town.
17 June 2017: Woolacombe, North Devon, England, UK – People enjoy the sunshine on one of the hottest days of the year.17 June 2017: Woolacombe, North Devon, England, UK – The busy beach on one of the hottest days of the year.17 June 2017: Woolacombe, North Devon, England, UK – Ivy covered sign on the South West Coast Path above Barrican Beach.
We aren’t really fans of beaches, and going down there and taking photos of people with hardly any clothes on is a bit embarrassing really, but we do it sometimes, though from a distance.
17 June 2017: Woolacombe, North Devon, England, UK – Couple sit overlooking the beach as people enjoy the sunshine on one of the hottest days of the year.
Or from the back!
19 June 2017: Lynmouth Devon, England, UK – The old cottages of Mars Hill, with the rising sun reflecting on the windows of the Rising Sun Hotel.
Back to Lynmouth for some early morning light…these places are all very close together.
The Rhenish Tower on the quay at Lynmouth, Devon, UK. This tower was built in the 19th Century, modelled on watchtowers on the Rhine, as a salt water reservoir for bathing.
And hurrah! they’ve removed the scaffolding from this tower. Still didn’t get the harbour at high tide with the light in the right direction.
The rocky beach at Combe Martin, North Devon, England, UK, with the village in the background.
There was this lovely long walkway, covered at high tide, and very slippery. Not exactly photogenic, but it got us to this spot.
Next, Exeter, land of the sumo suit.
20 June 2017: Exeter, Devon, England, UK – The West side of Exeter Cathedral on a fine summer day.24 June 2017: Exeter, Devon, England, UK – The Martyr’s Pulpit, installed in 1877, in Exeter Cathedral, Devon.21 June 2017: Exeter, Devon, England, UK – Pubs and restaurants at Exeter Quay on a fine summer day.Windswept hawthorn tree at Combestone Tor, Dartmoor, Devon, UK.
Dartmoor, one of my favourite places on the planet.
A section of Exeter’s old city wall, near Exeter Quays. About 70% of the wall survives, and much of it is nearly 2000 years old.26 June 2017: Budleigh Salterton, East Devon, England, UK – The beach and cliffs under a spectacular blue sky, with magnificent white clouds.
Lots of lovely places nearby to visit. This wasn’t quite this nice, so I gave it this lovely sky.
Here we have moved on to Lyme Regis, and the Jurassic Coast. This area is so interesting we have decided it needs a trip all to itself, so that we can get round the various bits in good light with the tide in the right place.
1 July 2017: Lyme Regis, Dorset, England, UK – Visitors enjoying the good weather on The Cobb.
The Cobb, mentioned in Jane Austen’s Persuasion. Now that I have been, I must read it again.
1 July 2017: Lyme Regis, Dorset, England, UK – The harbour from The Cobb on a beautiful sunny summer morning.
Another of Colin’s hand held joiners – too wide to do all in one shot. He loves his new camera.
Ammonite fossils in a rock lying on Monmouth Beach, Lyme Regis, Dorset, England, UK
They have signs all over, warning that the cliffs may fall on you. After finding this, I chickened out, and we walked back. There are lots of fossil shops with huge ammonites. We also had breakfast in a retro cafe, outside in the courtyard, with Elvis for background music. Towards the end, a couple of Bellowers arrived, but they just added to the fun.If you don’t know, a Bellower is a particular type of English person, who speaks VERY LOUDLY so that you know just EXACTLY how POSH they are.
The lighthouse at Portland Bill, Dorset, England, UK. Long exposure.Rufus Castle overlooking Church Ope Cove on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England, UK.Pulpit Rock, a quarrying relic from the 1870’s when a natural arch was cut away to leave the landmark stack, with the open book for which it is named. Portland Bill, Dorset, England, UK.
Nice place for clambering around.
Chesil Beach and the town of Fortuneswell, Dorset, England, UK
At last, we have been to Chesil Beach. Reminded us of Birdlings Flat!
Some of the pebbles of Chesil Beach, Dorset, England, UK, which stretches for 18 miles.2 July 2017: Weymouth, Dorset, England, UK – Some of the sights of Weymouth Promenade, including a pantomime dame, some pretty girls and the famous Jubilee clock tower.2 July 2017: Weymouth, Dorset, England, UK – Donkey rides on the beach at Weymouth, Dorset, England, UK.
The seaside. I can’t remember if you girls ever had donkey rides when you were little, can you remember? Doesn’t seem to be that popular, there is only one child riding, and quite a few donkeys!
2 July 2017: Weymouth, Dorset, England, UK – Passengers with a dog boarding the pleasure boat My Girl at Weymouth Docks on a sunny summer day.2 July 2017: Weymouth, Dorset, England, UK – The River Wey and the old docks on a bright sunny summer afternoon.The Cobb, the historic harbour breakwater at Lyme Regis, Dorset, England, on a summer evening.The historic harbour at Lyme Regis, Dorset, England, on a summer evening.
A couple of Colin specials! With his new camera, he can hand hold in this light, so does not need a tripod, hurrah!
3 July 2017: Sidmouth, Devon, England – Jacob’s Ladder Beach, Sidmouth, Devon, on a sunny summer afternoon.3 July 2017: Sidmouth, Dorset, England, UK – Visitors strolling on the promenade on a sunny summer day with blue sky and huge cumulus clouds.
More Jurassic Coast, more old folk!
Then, on to beautiful Bath. We turned North, as we knew our house was nearing completion. We’ve done Bath, and in 2011 got some photos which we know we can’t beat, so looked for something different.
8 July 2017: Bath, Somerset, England, UK – Pulteney Weir, one of the attractions of the city, and a pleasure boat moored nearby.
Went in a cafe overlooking this view, had coffee and bread pudding, yum!
Bath, Somerset, England, UK – Bath Abbey seen through the York Street Arch.5 July 2017: Bath, Somerset, England, UK – Buskers in Kingston parade, a small square beside the Roman Baths.5 July 2017: Bath, Somerset, England, UK – Graduation Day for Bath University students, team photos being taken in Parade Gardens.5 July 2017: Bath, Somerset, England, UK – Pleasure Boats at Pulteney Wear on the River Avon.8 July 2017: Bath, Somerset, England, UK – The Pump Room, a detail of the front of the building.8 July 2017: Bath, Somerset, England, UK – Shopping in the SouthGate shopping centre. Above is the city’s installation of 1000 umbrellas.
That is my hat, bought in Tauranga in February! It’s great to have a hat that actually fits my big head.
For Bath, we stayed at Longleat Caravan Park. It’s advertised as the only caravan site in England where you can hear lions roaring at night! We didn’t, but there were some strange noises, probably an ape of some kind, also some rich smells, and quite a few flies. We had to keep our fly screens closed!
We had a side trip to Bradford on Avon…
7 July 2017: Bradford on Avon, Somerset, England, UK – The 16th century Bridge Tea Rooms, one of the top places in the UK for afternoon tea.
Did not have tea here!
7 July 2017: Bradford on Avon, Somerset, England, UK – Couple with dog walking on the tow path beside a row of narrowboats moored along the banks of the Kennet and Avon Canal.7 July 2017: Bradford on Avon, Somerset, England, UK – Built in the early 14th century as part of the Manor Farm of Bradford on Avon, which belonged to the nuns of Shaftesbury Abbey.
We also went yet again to Wells, to visit the Bishop’s Palace, still not quite finished the processing.
9 July 2017: Wells, Somerset, England, UK – The Market Square on a sunny morning in summer.9 July 2017: Wells, Somerset, England, UK – The Rampart Walk, Bishops Palace.
Then, back to Llandudno. We did a walk in Snowdonia 25 years ago, up to the Castle of the Winds, and I had always wanted to go again, so since we aren’t getting any younger, decided to give it a go. The walk up was quite easy, took us 4.25 hours, brilliant walk. At the farthest point, my knees decided to start hurting, badly. The journey down was one agonising step after another. It took us 5.75 hours to get down! I kept wishing someone in a helicopter would spot us and hoist us up and give us a lift back to the car park, but no such luck.
Castle of the Winds, Castell y Gwynt, the famous summit on the Glyders ridge, Snowdonia National Park, North Wales, UK.
We have pretty much had to accept that we will never get up there again, very sad. Will look for some shorter walks, at lower level.
Tryfan, a mountain in the Ogwen Valley, and part of the Glyders Range, Snowdonia National Park, North Wales, UK, on a fine summer day.
A day trip to Chester, to sign for our house.
18 July 2017: Chester, Cheshire, England, UK – Half timbered houses in Bridge Street, and Carluccio’s restaurant, with people sitting outside in the sunshine.18 July 2017: Chester, Cheshire, England, UK – Group of young women having a photo taken beside a vintage tour bus in Northgate Street.
Chester is our nearest big town, aren’t we lucky!
We are now in Yorkshire for a few days. Going back to Llandudno Monday, when we will have to get into all the work that needs doing. Lots of emails coming through from Ryanair, offering cheap trips to Paris, Barcelona, etc, much more tempting!
Fine. I haven’t had any problems with them before, so it was a bit of a shock! The walk was on the Thursday, we were up on the Great Orme on the Tuesday, no problems.
Stunning weather!
Somehow, an unfinished version of this was published. Colin says it was the fault of WordPress.
Yes, we have had some stunning weather. Most of these photos have not been fiddled with, that is just how it was. Beautiful again today!
Lovely photos. How are the knees?
Fine. I haven’t had any problems with them before, so it was a bit of a shock! The walk was on the Thursday, we were up on the Great Orme on the Tuesday, no problems.