Cornwall & York

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The year started out being unusually cold and wet.   So, in March, we decided to head off to Cornwall in the hopes of finding a little warmth and sunshine. In general, we were not successful and it turned bitterly cold whilst we were there. We arrived back home just a couple of hours before heavy snowfalls brought Sussex and the South to a standstill.

On our way down to Cornwall, we stopped overnight at The Highwayman’s Haunt pub at Chudleigh in Devon. The pub is owned and managed by our friends, Gordon and Jacqui, who are past owners of a Carthago. It was lovely to see them and enjoy their hospitality.

Our base in Cornwall was, Padstow Touring Park above Padstow; a good base to reach the places of interest in the area. The weather was not very friendly for photography so here are just a few snaps

above: Old fisherman’s cottages near Padstow on the Camel Estuary

below left: Dramatic coastline west of the mouth of the Camel the rocks are known as The Bridge

below right: Low tide at Trevone beach on a cold, dull, stormy day

While in Cornwall we were pleased to meet up with Nick, Desnée’s cousin in Rock (other side of the Camel from Padstow) and with our friends Tony and Angela who live in Lostwithiel. Tony and Angela introduced us to a lovely old pub, The Earl of St. Vincent, in Egloshayle near Wadebridge. The pub is full of hundreds of clocks of all types and sizes. On the hour the chiming of all these clocks was amazing!  But what a job to dust them all!!!   The grub was pretty good as well.

In April, after the March, rather cold and wet trip to Cornwall, we joined our friends, Bob and Caroline, for a trip to York. The weather was still cold for the time of year but this time we did get some sunshine as well! In fact, the day we arrived in York Caravan Park we were able to sit outside and bask in the warm sunshine while we had our tea.

We split the journey up to York with a night stop over at the Caravan Club CL site at Braunston Marina. This is a really interesting location with plenty to watch in the Marina and it is just a short walk along the canal to an excellent, canalside pub for an evening meal.  Above the Marina is the old village of Braunston and this is also worth a walk around.

Evening on the Grand Union Canal at Braunston.

Braunston Marina Bridge with the village in the background

The lock and shop just east of Braunston Marina

On to York. York Caravan Park is a very pleasant site, conveniently placed just to the west of the city and with a bus stop right outside. Bus passes out and you are in the city centre in 10 minutes.

In the Shambles, Desnée found a shop that was selling bags of pork scratchings. Apparently, they were delicious but we did not get the opportunity to verify for a second opinion.

While the girls went to the Castle Museum and shopping, George and Bob nipped off to the York Railway Museum. It had been expanded and updated since my last visit and very well presented. Outside we took a short ride down the old goods yard in a brake van pulled by ‘Teddy’.

Northwards again, to Pickering and a day out on the North Yorks Moors Railway.  In Pickering we met Adrian and Debbie (Desnée’s nephew and his lovely partner).

right:  Adrian checks with the driver at Pickering whether he needs any help.