North Yorkshire: Robin Hood’s Bay and The Cleveland Way

Robin Hood’s Bay

Robin Hood’s Bay (or ‘The Bay’ as the locals call it) really is a little gem of a place. Though it attracts many visitors and gets very busy don’t let this deter you. The first thing to note is that you can’t drive down to the village – well you can but there’s nowhere to park so you’re left performing an awkward about-turn and returning to the car parks at the head of the village. In any case the walk down is one to be savoured, with its nooks and crannies and haphazardly built small cottages sitting on yards and narrow walkways to explore.

The village survives part of it being swept into the North Sea in the past and a sea defence wall was finally built in the 1970′s.The hugely steep hill down into the village takes one directly to the beach where a very welcoming pub named The Bay Hotel sits. From here views can be had over the North Sea whilst taking a pint or bite to eat. Very popular is the small yard outside too. The last time I was there a travelling family of folkies who were performing at the Whitby Folk Festival were giving an impromptu performance in the yard whilst their children danced to the music. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and truly one of those moments you wish could last forever.

North Yorkshire: Whitby, Runswick Bay and Staithes

I’ve been blessed to be in this part of the country on many an occasion and always enjoyed the variety of rugged scenery, interesting coastline and attractive villages in the area. For those with an interest in walking may I at this point recommend the following website extolling the virtues of the wonderful Cleveland Way, a 109 mile long national trail which in part, hugs the coastline of this county.

Although I concentrate primarily on the outdoor aspects of North Yorkshire there is something for all in this part of the world and on that note I’ll begin with one of the area’s busiest resorts, Whitby.

WHITBY
Whitby has always seemed a town of two parts to me. There is undoubtedly the ‘fish and chip, amusement arcades and ice cream’ area but there is much history here worthy of digging up too.

Nottinghamshire countryside: Stoke Bardolph and The Ferryboat Inn

The waters of the River Trent have a busy and industrious past. These days they are more tranquil in the main and enjoyed by leisure boaters. Decades ago the river was used for transporting coal and other freight via barges and there are odd indications of the river’s hard-working past along the way via the various locks.

Todays walk was a circuit and after some time the path veered left away from the river bank to follow the pleasant meadows of the Trent basin. The fields were still and quiet as winter steadily approaches. They were however pretty, green and somehow welcoming for all that. Thoughts flowed fluently and enjoyably as always happens on these occasions. There is indeed something about the great outdoors that commands a relaxed manner.

Another day and another walk. These days seem to be a little less often than previously but are still totally relaxing and worthwhile.

Today’s amble was by the side of Nottinghamshire’s River Trent. Stoke Bardolph specifically was the beginning and return point as I set off on a cool breezy mid-morning on the tow-path by the river bank.

The Ferryboat Inn at Stoke Bardolph lies around six miles from Nottingham. The pub was originally reputedly built on the site of a boatyard near the river. The Inn enjoys a nice location because of this and often customers will take their drinks outside onto the grassy banks by the Trent.