Rutland and Saxmundham

Rutland is a landlocked county. It is 18miles north to south and 17 miles east to west, it can be described as small. We stayed at a very nice caravan site in the village of  Greetham.

One of our visits was to Woolsthorpe Manor. Isaac Newton was born in this modest manor house in 1642 and he made many of his most important discoveries about light and gravity here in the plague years of 1666-7.

 

Sue is standing next to the famous apple tree that inspired his thoughts on gravity. The photo on the right was part of a display of scientific photos at the manor. This one shows surface tension supporting a paperclip.

         Rutland Water is one of the largest artificial lakes in Europe and is probably best recognised by the photo of the partly submerged St. Matthew’s Church, now deconsecrated.  The lower half of the church, was filled with stone and rubble, and a concrete cap constructed just below the level of the windows. An embankment was built around the church leaving it a prominent feature on the water's edge,

Rutland Water with St. Matthew’s Church across the lake.

The village of Hambleton has been closed off on three sides by Rutland Water and the area is known as the Hambleton Peninsula. We had a very nice geocaching walk there. Here I am retrieving a cunning cache which was hidden in the hollow tree. On the right can be seen the ‘Hambleton Post and Telegraph Office’. They don’t move very quickly with the times here.

     

Cottage in Hambleton

Oakham Castle – fortified manor house

Butter Cross and Pump, Oakham

5 hole stocks – why?

         We moved on to Saxmundham in preparation for Saturday’s wedding. David and Carol joined us at the caravan site so we took this opportunity to do  a few geocaches.

Carol and Sue

Lych gate St. Mary & St. Peter, Saxmundham

     Geocaching around Dunwich Heath. The caches were put out by the National Trust and in each one there was some information on the area around the cache. It was all very well done.

Visit to Aldeburgh

The ‘House in the Clouds’ is a water tower at Thorpeness. It was built in 1923 to receive water pumped from Thorpeness Windmill and was designed to improve the looks of the water tower, disguising its tank with the appearance of a weather boarded building more in keeping with Thorpeness's mock-Tudor and Jacobean style. Today it provides family holiday accommodation.

 

Thorpeness Windmill – a sorry sight with no sails

A rainbow to finish off our holiday.
The wedding photos are coming in the next blog -
watch this space!

Whitby, Staithes & Robin Hood’s Bay

Whitby is a town on Yorkshire's east coast. Whitby has a ruined abbey, a working harbour, a delightful collection of red roofed pantile cottages, narrow cobbled streets, and claims to have the country's best fish and chip shops! Talking of fish and chip shops we can recommend ‘Trenchers’. The f&c’s are excellent and the loos have to be best in the North of England.

View across the River Esk to the ruined abbey

View down towards the swing bridge

    

Whitby steam bus – vintage 1931

Bram Stoker was inspired by the church yard and abbey in Whitby to write 'Dracula'

 

199 steps up – puff puff

The ruined Benedictine Abbey

As a small child my (Stuart’s) parents brought me to Staithes for the annual family holiday. On the right I am standing outside one of the possible properties which was our B&B when we visited. Sue and I can be seen outside the Cod and Lobster pub where my parents went when they had a baby sitter for me!
Staithes has a sheltered harbour, bounded by high cliffs and two long breakwaters. A mile to the west, Boulby Cliff is the highest cliff in England. Capt. Cook was Staithes most famous resident, he worked at the grocer’s whilst living here.

       

Staithes Harbour

Staithes Beck

Captain Cook’s cottage – on the right

Outside the Cod and Lobster

      

Robin Hood’s Bay
In the 18th century, Robin Hood’s Bay was reportedly the busiest smuggling community on the Yorkshire coast. Today it is a magnet for tourists and it is also the end of the ‘Coast to Coast’ walking route from St. Bees.

  

Taking a rest – it is very hilly. We had a cinder toffee ice cream after this stop – highly recommended

View from the top

 

Oldie Photo – taken at our wedding in 1969
Jean, Paul, Neil (best man) Stuart

 You haven’t changed a bit!

 

On to Scarborough

We weren’t expecting such a high profile welcoming committee for our arrival in Scarborough. We soon realised that it was Armed Services day and that the welcome was not for us. The following week there were a few Danish Schools’ bands. Here is one of them.
We stayed at the Camping and Caravan Club Site just to the north of Scarborough. It is a huge site with lots of facilities. The bus stop was nearby so trips into Scarborough were easy.

Scarborough Harbour

Scarborough Castle – the harbour is in the foreground

     

Scarborough Harbour

   

They make ‘em BIG in Scarborough

Diving Belle A statue on the end of Vincent pier. It was built to celebrate Scarborough as the first seaside resort in Britain

 

We had made arrangements to meet up with Jean and Paul, friends from college days. It was lovely to see them and catch up on many years of news.

In their garden

BBQ preparation

 

Sue at South Sands

Lifeboat Station, South Sands

                      

Close to the caravan site was the start of ‘The Cinder Track’ bike trail on the old railway line Scarborough to Whitby.

View from the trail

Another view on another day when out cycling with Paul

Paul on his bike

 

Beach huts – they brightened up the day even if the sun didn’t

Lots more to come on Scarborough and it’s surroundings