Back in Yorkshire with family and friends. Enjoying some local sights and attractions including York Chocolate Factory, Cruise on the River Ouse and Magna Museum based in a n old steel factory. Enjoyed a family party for my uncle’s 80th birthday,
Set off for the Lake District. Ullswater our first stop taking in Glenridding and Pooley Bridge. Paul did a days walk tackling Helvellyn via Striding Edge so Connor, Bosun and I took a steamer boat on the lake to Pooley Bridge.
Thirlmere next stopping at a small farm campsite and walking along to see the lake.
Derwentwater and Keswick next, we spent a night parked just out of the town on the roadside next to the Castlerigg Stone Circle. As I was cooking dinner we were surrounded by sheep on their walk home from the fields. The next day we walked the Latrigg trail which gave amazing views down over Derwentwater valley. Keswick Regatta was on the next day so we stopped around for some festival fun and Connor and Paul had a go in a kayak.
The coast and Whitehaven was our next port of call. The Beacon Museum was interesting full in local Viking finds.
Ravenglass to Eskdale Steam Railway was a fun day out with a chance to get out before the return journey and do a trial walk through forests to a waterfall.
Haverigg and Silecroft next. Both seaside parking. At Silecroft I got to go on a full day horse ride which involved galloping along the beach and riding around the countryside, great fun.
Coniston Water next and a couple of nights in a small campsite right on the waters edge. Connor made friends with a couple of boys who were also there camping in their motorhome. Campfires on the beach with marshmallows and lots of kids play.
We hired a small sailing boat for the morning and had a great time sailing the lake. The next day Connor and Paul went Ghyll scrambling which involved them wading up rivers and jumping into water pools, they had a ball.
Windermere next first going Norh to have a few nights at Ambleside stopping at the local football club who open the grounds for motorhomes when games are not on. We did some great walks around the town and top of the lake and also up the mountains.
We then headed down to the South end of Windermere stopping at Lakeside, taking in a nice forest walk before a refreshing drink at a lovely hotel by the lake.
Blackpool next, the ‘Gold Coast’ of the UK!!! I was so looking forward to our fun city visit with fond memories of donkeys on the beach and fun rides.
The sun shone so Paul and Connor went for a refreshing swim and we all walked along the promenade. Pleasure Beach theme park the next day with the boys going on all the big rides and me stumping for a few of the less so stomach turning ones. A water park for Paul and Connor the next day as I took in a stroll along the beach with Bosun. One thing you note here is how tidal the beach is compared to any in Australia, first there is the water all the way up to the pier so you can not get down and then as the tide turns you have to walk about a kilometre to get to the waters edge.
In the evening we went to a show performed at the Pleasure Beach ice rink which was great.
Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival.