Trip number 7 Boot (again)

Friday 10th - Monday 13th April 2009

Day one
Well day one didn't happen on the day it was supposed to. An emergency with a webcam at Harlow Carr denied us the pleasure of arriving on Thursday night and so very early on Friday morning we hit the road. We decided to take a different route to the lakes this time and headed off towards Harrogate, through the dales and on to the Western Lakes. We arrived, pitched up and then met my friend Fi for a hot cross bun (a really nice hot cross bun bought from the campsite shop). We then took her up on the offer of a long walk and then a pub dinner. We had a great time on the walk, directed by a nine year old who was a lot more skilled than me at reading the OS map! We had a great time visiting Gill Force waterfall, the secret tarn in the woods, reciting the Gruffalo and playing the trolls on the bridge game.
Day two.
What a glorious day - not a cloud in the sky, unusual for a bank holiday weekend! We took the miniature railway to Ravenglass today and then did a 5 mile walk round Ravenglass and Muncaster. It was a lovely walk but there were serious amounts of mud, everywhere, meaning that the walk felt a lot more like 10 miles than 5 by the time we’d finished. We rewarded ourselves with a rather nice cream tea at Ravenglass station and then headed back to the campsite, before carrying out the usual tradition of a night in the pub with a pint of real ale and a game of scrabble.
Day three
What’s going on - no cloud in the sky and sunshine for the second day in a row!! The only downside being it was literally freezing overnight. ( I may have to cheat tonight and have a hot water bottle). We had a lazy morning then went to Church at St Catherine’s in Boot for Easter Sunday communion. It was a lovely church with bells rung to announce the beginning of the service. We then set off on our third walk of the trip, this time up hill to Eel Tarn via the cutely named Little Pie! we then descended to the woolpack in for a half of their own brew before finishing off the walk along the river back to the Church. The views and the walks here are amazing - I suspect we will come back here again and again. We spent the afternoon reading in the sunshine and then cooked a rather yummy mushroom risotto on the Cobb, much to the interest of the rest of the campsite ( I think risotto and a glass of wine had not been considered in their meal plans!). As you guessed the evening ended with a pint and scrabble in the Boot Inn. Although this time we were roped into a charity pub quiz where we forged an unlikely alliance with the table next to us in a vain attempt to beat the locals (they cheated really they had nine in their team!)
Day four
A shorter walk today lower down, with only a bit of a climb round Stanley Ghyll. Again the weather was great but we had complications following the route! We ended up having to climb over barbed wire and a fallen tree. I guess it all added to the adventure. We then packed up and headed home. Another great adventure.

Details for those who are interested!

Cost: £19.47 per night with electric hook up and awning (high season)
Website: www.siteseeker.co.uk/aspx/details.aspx?id=9030
The Boot Inn: http://www.bootinn.co.uk/
Eskdale railway: http://www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk/

Trip number 6 The Epic Tour

to be added

Trip number 5 Beadnell Bay

Friday 25th - Sunday 27th July 2008

Day one
As usual not much happens on day one - we set off for Northumberland after work and pitched up at Beadnell bay. The weather was fantastic so we sat outside and enjoyed the fresh sea air. Beadnell Bay camping and caravanning club site is perfect for a ling weekend - no electric hook up is available but it is across the road from the beach - you can't ask for more!
Day two.
It was a hot day but plenty of sea fog. We decided to take the bikes and cycle to seahouses to explore. We then dutifully joined the national trust again and hopped on a boat for the Farne Islands. It was AMAZING! Matt took lots of great photos and I was like a little kid so excited at seeing so many puffins and shags close up. On the way back Matt got lens envy and a rather trusting woman allowed him to have a go on her professional series lens worth a couple of grand eek. I wonder how long before he anounces he is buying one himself? I shouldn't complain he got some great shots of seals steaming on the rocks! After arriving back in Seahouses we bough some langoustines from the quayside and cycled back to the van. The evening was spent cooking our langoustines on the cobb grill and enjoying a bottle of wine in the evening sun - perfect.
Day three
What a scorcher! we packed up the van and decided to go to Cragside National trust porperty on our way home. It was so hot we had to change into our shorts before wandering around the grounds. It's a fantastic place to explore and we would have loved to have spent the whole day there but we had a long journey back so we had an ice cream and then headed home in the afternoon.

Details for those who are interested!

Cost: £14.98 per night (high season)
Website: http://www.siteseeker.co.uk/aspx/details.aspx?id=8010
Glad Tidings tours of the Farne Islands: http://www.farne-islands.com/
Cragside: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-cragsidehousegardenandestate