What's He Up To Now!: steam railway

14 July 2013

Pickering summer break...

Our summer holiday this year is another return trip, this time to Pickering, North Yorkshire. We first visited this area just over a year ago, in April 2012. We had a good holiday then but the weather wasn't great. There was plenty of rain, some hail, sleet and even snow. But, we liked the area and had decided that we would give it a try at a warmer time of year. Little did we know that we'd be coming back during the heatwave of 2013! It was hot and dry for the full week - almost too hot!

Our base for this holiday was a lovely cottage at Southholme Lodges, just on the outskirts of town. It was far enough from the town centre, down a little country lane, to be very peaceful but close enough that we could enjoy an easy walk there for breakfast each day or to look around the shops etc. Ideal!

Our cottage and the gardens...

Our holiday cottage.

Just a small part of the gardens.

A little bit of shade.
We spent a lot of time here!

The stroll into town was not only nice and easy, and almost traffic free, it was rather scenic too. A lovely old mill building and a stream too. We often paused to watch the ducks and the fish!

Vivers Mill. The old water mill.

The old mill stream.

When we arrived in the town centre the traffic was still very light, the buildings rather nice and, much more importantly, the breakfast superb! Finding a good spot for breakfast is always a priority for us when on holiday! This time it was the Feast Deli & Cafe. We can highly recommend this place! They had a great range of local real ale for sale too!

St Peter's and St Paul's Church, Pickering.

Looking down Market Place, Pickering.

One of the cottages in the town.

On our last visit to Pickering we travelled on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway to Whitby and back. This time we only went as far as the village of Goathland - better known as Aidensfield in the TV series Heartbeat and as Hogsmeade Station in the Harry Potter films. As such, it is a tourist hot spot but even with all the crowds it was still a pleasant trip. Lunch, with beer, in the local pub was rather nice too!

Stanier Black Five 45428. Our loco on the day.

Goathland village.

Rush hour in Goathland village.

Lynda, being a tourist!

The local garage!

Enjoying an ice cream.

Just up the road from Pickering we came across the pretty little village of Thornton-le-Dale. This was only a brief visit but it was a very nice village. There was also a great garage here specialising in the sale of classic/vintage cars. I could have spent a lot of money there!

Thornton-le-Dale cottage.

Lynda and a Thornton-le-Dale cottage.

A rather nice little place, Thornton-le-Dale.

Thornton-le-Dale cottages.

Mum and the kids enjoying the sun.

The weather on our last visit to Pickering meant that when we took a drive up onto the moors we returned slightly disappointed. The only view we got was of low cloud, mist and rain. It certainly gave us a feel for how hard life could be living up there but it wasn't quiet what we had hoped for. This time we had no such problem! The weather was gorgeous, the views stunning. And the cotton grass was in full flower too - result!

In the middle of nowhere - Levisham Station.

Cotton Grass, up on the moors.

Moorland view.

Heather up on the moors.

We enjoyed some great days out and about during this holiday but, with such great weather, we kept on returning to one favourite spot... the garden back at the cottage! The picnic table and its umbrella were used day after day. We sat and read, we ate out there, we drank plenty. There was often a Little Owl hunting the fields close by and rabbits running around. We played Boules most evenings. We were even treated to a low-level helicopter flypast!

Lynda enjoying a bit of shade.

Low level flypast.

Ready for another game.

Game over... time for a drink!

A last night treat!

Thank you, Pickering. We will be back... please order some more great weather for us!

22 April 2013

Watchet, re-visited...

We first visited Watchet back in October of last year. Before that, I have to admit, I'd never even heard of the place! But now it's a firm favourite with me! Nice and quiet, plenty of great food - and drink! - steam trains, boats and always something new to see and do close by. Oh, and did I mention great food AND drink!

So, onto this our second visit. It's now April and the weather is warming up, the spring flowers are starting to break through and even the skies are, mostly, blue. Lets get going! But first.... we have a table booked at The Star Inn for Saturday evening. And they serve Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild too! Result!

A walk around Watchet on a Sunday morning, after enjoying a full English breakfast first....

Watchet street view.

Corner House cafe, Watchet.

Watchet street view.

Watchet Methodist church.

Watchet Esplanade.

Rainbow over Watchet harbour.

Watchet harbour.

Awaiting work in the boat yard.

Looking across the outer harbour.

Looking over West Beach, towards Minehead.

With Watchet, and the surrounding area, having one of the highest tidal ranges in the world (approaching 50 feet!) it means there is always quite a lot of beach to explore at low tide. So that is where we head next...

Rocks on the beach.

Looking back towards Watchet.

Rocks on the beach.

Limpets.... you can eat these?????

Seaweed... but don't ask me which type!

A VERY small lighthouse!

My rock tower building skills still leave a lot to be desired though...

My rock tower.

Monday was spent looking around the nearby town of Taunton. It was a rather pleasant little trip.... if you take the choice of transport out of the equation! We chose to leave the car behind and use the bus - all a lot less hassle, or so we thought! Just a few miles down the road from Watchet and the bus started to sound a little "strange". Then it started to smell, err, "strange". Then it stopped in a cloud of it's own steam and smoke! Judging by the large pool of oil it dropped on the road, it was terminally ill! We had to wait for a replacement!

On the plus side, Taunton has a good choice of food and drink options and a very nice park to walk around too.

Taunton Castle - now a museum.

The Municipal Buildings - built in 1522.

Vivary Park War Memorial, Taunton.

Vivary Park, Taunton.

Our next little adventure was just 24 hours later when we took advantage of the fact that the West Somerset Railway uses the station in Watchet, just a few short minutes walk from our holiday home. We rode the steam hauled train from Watchet to Bishops Lydeard, then all the way back down the line to Minehead. After a couple of hours in Minehead it was back on the train again for the return to Watchet. Plenty of time, on each part of the trip for a bottle of real ale, without having to worry about driving. All very "holiday like"!

Watchet station.

9351 about to take on water.

9351 ready for the off.

Crowcombe Heathfield Station.

Minehead, end of the line.

88, about to return to Bishops Lydeard.

Wednesday was a lazy day spent in Watchet. Breakfast in one of the cafes, which we do almost every day, then a walk around the town and the harbour, with a large latte! The days when over a thousand shipping movements a year were recorded from the harbour may be long gone but there is always something going on to pass a little time.

Taking time out on the harbour wall.

Lynda, and a rather small lighthouse.

Getting ready to lift one of the boats.

Lifting gear in place.

Moving into open water.

Half way there.

Mind the wall.

In she comes.

On to Thursday and it was a short drive up the coast to Kilve, for a walk along the beach and to go looking for fossils. We weren't to be disappointed. The weather was kind to us, if a little breezy, and we came across a number of great fossils.

Kilve beach view.

Kilve beach.

Kilve beach fossil.

All too soon the week was coming to an end, with Friday arriving much too quickly for my liking. But, it was also one of the best days of the week. The weather was great and our day out very enjoyable too. We visited the village of Selworthy, part of the National Trust's Holnicote Estate. There really does need to be more places like this in the country! Gorgeous cottages, a beautiful church, some great woodland and moorland walks and stunning views.

View from Selworthy church.

Selworthy church.

Selworthy churchyard.

Cottage in Selworthy.

Cottages in Selworthy.

Garden in Selworthy.

Woodland walk in Selworthy.

Moorland above Selworthy.

Selworthy Beacon (1,010ft), one
of the highest points on Exmoor.

On the way back to Watchet, we called in at Blue Anchor beach... so I could fly my kite! Something I'd not done since I was a kid. Which is probably what I still am... a big kid! :-)