Hi, and welcome to a haphazard pot of memories from our road trips, some of which feature in an article, some of which don’t. Also, I like trees, bear with me!
Tunstall Beach up beyond Hull, UK, and we had become besotted with the idea of finding a lovely fossil inside a stone (nodule), and actually did. See below, lots of little ammonites!
Watching the amazing “Yorkshire Fossils” YouTube videos throughout rainy days was lazy, but fun and quite obsessive!
We happened upon this beautiful tree whilst lost (as usual). We were looking for a cave with carvings in it, but walked from the wrong side of the hill – so didn’t have enough time…. Hey ho, we’ll get there another day!
The Capon tree, in Jedburgh. A massive, very old english oak tree that is supposed to be one of the last surviving from the ancient Jed forest, maybe up to a thousand years old. By the side of the A68 road leading into Jedburgh.
In the churchyard of the church next to Sutton Scarsdale Hall, stands this beautiful Yew tree, with what looks like a body of a human shaped into its bark. Sutton Scarsdale Hall, near Chesterfield, has just been made safe and renovated by English Heritage, and offers a wonderful couple of hours marvelling at its dining rooms and bedrooms.
The Chained Oak, an oak tree found around the back of the Alton Towers Leisure Resort, within hearing distance of some of the biggest rides. It is found by parking near the Pink lodge on Farley Lane and walking into the woods down by the stream. The tree is a large oak which has had chains added to it all over, on first sight, probably as a safety feature. But legend tells a different story….. one of a family curse made by an old woman, who was refused a ride and sanctuary from the bad weather. She cursed the Lord of the Manor, saying that every time a branch fell from this tree, a member of his family would die. After a few deaths had occurred, he decided to chain up the branches of the oak, so that none of them could fall to the ground!
Just in front of St Mary’s Church, Astbury, near Macclesfield, stands a magnificent sycamore tree, in the middle of a triangular village green. Story has it that English Civil War soldiers pitched up one day and decided to stable their horses inside the church. They needed to make some room, so removed the pews and chairs and even took the organ itself out, leaving it on the village green…. The church is a magnificent building, having been added to over many years with extra parts, and the graveyard holds some very interesting finds for those who don’t mind traipsing through nettles etc.
Near Keswick, in the north of the Lake District, is the Castlerigg Stone Circle. This magnificent circle is thought to date back to 3000BC and is very well worth a visit. It is high up and gives magnificent views of the area, with Helvellyn and High Seat in the background. oh, and sunset there is just wonderful…
For info about Castlerigg (www.english-heritage.org.uk)
In the village of Mow Cop, on the border of Cheshire and Staffordshire, is built high up on a hill with magnificent views degree views. Right on the top of the hill though, is the Mow Cop Castle, a ruined folly built in 1754. The Castle is famed for being the birthplace of the Primitive Methodist Movement, and was used as a place to preach from by several of the early pioneers. Expert Tip is – Wear a coat, it can get very windy up there….
Dale Abbey village, to the north-east of Derby, is a nice little village harbouring several viewable sites. The biggest being this archway from the original Abbey founded somewhere around 1300. Parking is sparse, but the short walk is worth it.
Founded in 1176, the Cistercian Abbey at Croxden housed monks through to the Dissolution, in the 1530’s. English Heritage have restored and made safe this marvellous ruin, which is a great visit and has some really interesting things to view.
For more information (www.english-heritage.org.uk)
Hulton Abbey, or its few remains, stands on the edge of a housing estate in Abbey Hulton, near Stoke on Trent. A small woodland area opens up to show the bases of pillars and a few walls. The Abbey was Cistercian and built in the 1300’s, but was much smaller and poorer than some of its grander neighbours throughout England and Wales. A quick visit was sufficient really, but still a wonderful place to see and think about.
The Imperial Hotel, Llandudno. We love it here! Big old seaside hotel, with lavish furnishings, a great restaurant and the most wonderful swimming pool…. It is opposite the beach with easy access to everywhere. Llandudno itself is just the most fabulous location to spend a few days.
For info on the Imperial hotel (the imperial.co.uk)
So, we stayed at the fantastic Lindisfarne Inn, Beal, thinking we would saunter down to the causeway, take some photos, not go across because that wasn’t our plan! Wrong! ‘Someone’ had misread the tide times – twice. at 09:35 we drove across, thinking we had about an hour to get back across, only to be met with a road very quickly covering with seawater. Oops, stuck on an Island! Did the church – beautiful, and did the Abbey – truly awesome. Left the castle that day so that we have to go back – we are clever that way!
For info on the Lindisfarne Inn – (inncollectiongroup.com) Our room was warm, clean and very comfortable. Breakfast was lovely. Staff very helpful.
Whilst enjoying a Twixtmas couple of days in Nottingham, we sought out somewhere Kirst has been wanting to visit for a long time, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem. The self-claimed oldest Inn in England, dating back to 1189 AD, is said to be a place used by Templar Knights, Crusaders and plotters of various sorts. It sports the ‘Haunted Galleon’ in its upstairs bar area, which is said to bring death to anyone who handles it. Lovely bar, and an interesting place to visit.
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