Sunday, February 29, 2004
Oh Deer!
The closest I have ever been to a wild deer....about 1m away!
I was called to the front window of the hostel to see the most beautiful example of a male red deer standing a few feet away - staring back at me!!!
Unfortunately for the hostel warden - it spent most of the night around the hostel's bins kicking the door to the shed in - must've been hungry!
I was called to the front window of the hostel to see the most beautiful example of a male red deer standing a few feet away - staring back at me!!!
Unfortunately for the hostel warden - it spent most of the night around the hostel's bins kicking the door to the shed in - must've been hungry!
Saturday, February 28, 2004
On Top Of the World
On Saturday the weather bucked up and we were promised a day of sunshine and less severe winds, so Matt and I decided to tackle the hills again.
This time we decided to walk up a hill close to Breamar called Morrone. It isn't a munro at only 859m but it was quite a climb (over 400m) and the views from the top were spectacular! The wind a the summit however was perishing, and we didn't spend too long soaking in the view through fear of freezing to death.
This time we decided to walk up a hill close to Breamar called Morrone. It isn't a munro at only 859m but it was quite a climb (over 400m) and the views from the top were spectacular! The wind a the summit however was perishing, and we didn't spend too long soaking in the view through fear of freezing to death.
Friday, February 27, 2004
Matt wanted snow?
...he got snow alright!!!
Almost a foot of snow fell overnight and Matt and I decided that after the winds on the top of the mountain we climbed yesterday - maybe a low level walk would be a better idea!
So off we drove to Loch Muick, a lake at the foot of the Lochnager Munro.
Didn't think to much of the fact that it was my turn to drive - I can do snow....not a problem! Until we turned off the main road!!!
We had a five mile journey down a windy little access road to get to the Lochside and this track was covered by a foot of snow with just two faint tracks (obviously a Land Rover!) in front of me and blizzard conditions to contend with, oh yeah, then there was the two foot snow drifts, and the sheet ice as well!
So even getting to our walk was an adventure. When we reached the car park we were suprised to find the visitor centre open, and were even more suprised to see the sun come out!
So we set off on our walk. Five minutes in we saw a whole herd of red deer only metres away from us. Then we found the snow drifts - at one point we were wading through snow up to our waists! Great fun! We had to use our walking poles to check the ground in front of us for gulleys and iced-up streams!
Unfortunately the blizzard conditions returned and we had to turn back, but we had a great day out in the snow, and Matt still had the drive back to look forward to...at least we managed it....the owners of the camper van that was also in the car park weren't going to be so lucky - it didn't look like it was going anywhere!!!
Almost a foot of snow fell overnight and Matt and I decided that after the winds on the top of the mountain we climbed yesterday - maybe a low level walk would be a better idea!
So off we drove to Loch Muick, a lake at the foot of the Lochnager Munro.
Didn't think to much of the fact that it was my turn to drive - I can do snow....not a problem! Until we turned off the main road!!!
We had a five mile journey down a windy little access road to get to the Lochside and this track was covered by a foot of snow with just two faint tracks (obviously a Land Rover!) in front of me and blizzard conditions to contend with, oh yeah, then there was the two foot snow drifts, and the sheet ice as well!
So even getting to our walk was an adventure. When we reached the car park we were suprised to find the visitor centre open, and were even more suprised to see the sun come out!
So we set off on our walk. Five minutes in we saw a whole herd of red deer only metres away from us. Then we found the snow drifts - at one point we were wading through snow up to our waists! Great fun! We had to use our walking poles to check the ground in front of us for gulleys and iced-up streams!
Unfortunately the blizzard conditions returned and we had to turn back, but we had a great day out in the snow, and Matt still had the drive back to look forward to...at least we managed it....the owners of the camper van that was also in the car park weren't going to be so lucky - it didn't look like it was going anywhere!!!
Thursday, February 26, 2004
Up the mountains we go.
Glas Moal is a big(ish) mountain in the Grampian mountains standing at 1068m (3200ft) and we started to climb it...
...starting at the Glenshee Ski Centre, we should have known it was going to be hard when you could only get to the car park in a 4x4 and it was -3.5 degrees.
By the time we reached a mini mountain at 977m, the wind was hitting 60mph, the temperature was -7º and the wind chill about -27º!! Added to that it was snowing a blizzard so hard that the ice crystals hit you face like they'd come from a shotgun. Ouch!
So in the interests of fun and wanting to live beyond 30 we turned round and took the 1h30m descent through the snow back to the car. There are some photo's of Lucy being windswept which I'll get online as soon as we get to Ben's in Inverurie.
Have fun. :-)
...starting at the Glenshee Ski Centre, we should have known it was going to be hard when you could only get to the car park in a 4x4 and it was -3.5 degrees.
By the time we reached a mini mountain at 977m, the wind was hitting 60mph, the temperature was -7º and the wind chill about -27º!! Added to that it was snowing a blizzard so hard that the ice crystals hit you face like they'd come from a shotgun. Ouch!
So in the interests of fun and wanting to live beyond 30 we turned round and took the 1h30m descent through the snow back to the car. There are some photo's of Lucy being windswept which I'll get online as soon as we get to Ben's in Inverurie.
Have fun. :-)
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Och Aye da Noo!
So we arrived in Edinburgh late afternoon yesterday, and today we have explored this beautiful but cold city on a budget!
First of all - a thank you to Lindsay - whose Guide to Scotland contained the fabulous pages on "Edinburgh in a day" which were the basis for our sightseeing...but with some price streamlining!
So with Edinburgh castle's admission price of £9.50 each - I am afraid we had to give it a miss (something to go back for - being as it was on the Don't Miss list).
It was then on to the Grassmarket and around the old town - which is stunning. A detour to the old toll booth to visit The people's story museum, which was very good value at FREE and whiled away a good few hours learning lots about Edinburgh's ecomony and living conditions. Then it was a short walk up to St Giles Cathedral, a visit to the Parliament of Scotland's visitor centre, again FREE, a walk in the Princes St gardens and the new town finished up by coffee in the Scottish National Trust's Headquarters' cafe.
Our feet were walked off so we decided to sample one of the pubs featured in Britains Best 500 Pub's - a big thank you to Helen & Neil for that book - the Guildford Arms where Matt and I thought it rude not to sample one or two of the of the pub's speciality bitters!
First of all - a thank you to Lindsay - whose Guide to Scotland contained the fabulous pages on "Edinburgh in a day" which were the basis for our sightseeing...but with some price streamlining!
So with Edinburgh castle's admission price of £9.50 each - I am afraid we had to give it a miss (something to go back for - being as it was on the Don't Miss list).
It was then on to the Grassmarket and around the old town - which is stunning. A detour to the old toll booth to visit The people's story museum, which was very good value at FREE and whiled away a good few hours learning lots about Edinburgh's ecomony and living conditions. Then it was a short walk up to St Giles Cathedral, a visit to the Parliament of Scotland's visitor centre, again FREE, a walk in the Princes St gardens and the new town finished up by coffee in the Scottish National Trust's Headquarters' cafe.
Our feet were walked off so we decided to sample one of the pubs featured in Britains Best 500 Pub's - a big thank you to Helen & Neil for that book - the Guildford Arms where Matt and I thought it rude not to sample one or two of the of the pub's speciality bitters!
Monday, February 23, 2004
Have a laugh!
Every now and again you receive a joke on email which you just have to pass on.
Malcolm - thank you for one of best laughs I've had in ages... I just had to share...
A new priest at his first mass was so nervous he could hardly speak. After mass he asked the monsignor how he had done.
The monsignor replied, “When I am worried about getting nervous on the pulpit, I put a glass of vodka next to the water glass. If I start to get nervous, I take a sip.”
So next Sunday he took the monsignor’s advice. At the beginning of the sermon, he got nervous and took a drink.
He proceeded to talk up a storm. Upon his return to his office after the mass, he found the following note on the door:
1) Sip the vodka, don’t gulp.
2) There are 10 commandments, not 12.
3) There are 12 disciples, not 10.
4) Jesus was consecrated, not constipated.
5) Jacob wagered his donkey, he did not bet his ass.
6) We do not refer to Jesus Christ as the late J.C.
7) The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not referred to as Daddy, Junior and the spook.
8) David slew Goliath, he did not kick the sh*t out of him.
9) When David was hit by a rock and was knocked off his donkey, don’t say he was stoned off his ass.
10) We do not refer to the cross as the “Big T.”
11) When Jesus broke the bread at the last supper he said, “take this and eat it for it is my body.” He did not say “Eat me”.
12) The Virgin Mary is not called “Mary with the Cherry”.
13) The recommended grace before a meal is not: Rub-A-Dub-Dub thanks for the grub, Yeah God.
14) Next Sunday there will be a taffy pulling contest at St.Peter’s not a peter pulling contest at St. Taffy’s.
Malcolm - thank you for one of best laughs I've had in ages... I just had to share...
A new priest at his first mass was so nervous he could hardly speak. After mass he asked the monsignor how he had done.
The monsignor replied, “When I am worried about getting nervous on the pulpit, I put a glass of vodka next to the water glass. If I start to get nervous, I take a sip.”
So next Sunday he took the monsignor’s advice. At the beginning of the sermon, he got nervous and took a drink.
He proceeded to talk up a storm. Upon his return to his office after the mass, he found the following note on the door:
1) Sip the vodka, don’t gulp.
2) There are 10 commandments, not 12.
3) There are 12 disciples, not 10.
4) Jesus was consecrated, not constipated.
5) Jacob wagered his donkey, he did not bet his ass.
6) We do not refer to Jesus Christ as the late J.C.
7) The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not referred to as Daddy, Junior and the spook.
8) David slew Goliath, he did not kick the sh*t out of him.
9) When David was hit by a rock and was knocked off his donkey, don’t say he was stoned off his ass.
10) We do not refer to the cross as the “Big T.”
11) When Jesus broke the bread at the last supper he said, “take this and eat it for it is my body.” He did not say “Eat me”.
12) The Virgin Mary is not called “Mary with the Cherry”.
13) The recommended grace before a meal is not: Rub-A-Dub-Dub thanks for the grub, Yeah God.
14) Next Sunday there will be a taffy pulling contest at St.Peter’s not a peter pulling contest at St. Taffy’s.
Driving through the North Sea
Today we went to Holy Island (used to be called Lindisfarne but if you've ever heard the band you'll know why they changed it...didn't Gazza do a single with them?)
It's a bit of an adventure to get there - you have to check the tide times because the drive is across a 2 mile causeway flooded at high-tide!
What's more important is getting back before the next tide - otherwise it's a 12 hour wait - and there ain't that much to do there once you've seen the castle (closed), abbey (expensive) and er, the Post Office.
Have a look at the official website.
It's a bit of an adventure to get there - you have to check the tide times because the drive is across a 2 mile causeway flooded at high-tide!
What's more important is getting back before the next tide - otherwise it's a 12 hour wait - and there ain't that much to do there once you've seen the castle (closed), abbey (expensive) and er, the Post Office.
Have a look at the official website.
Sunday, February 22, 2004
1st Glimpse of Snow
Just to let you know we have just arrived in Berwick upon Tweed (the last town on the way up to Scotland) and we have seen the first snow shower on our journey!
Not fantastic amounts - and it hasn't stuck but it made for a very pretty scene down by the river Tweed as we looked at the old ruins of Berwick castle.
Not fantastic amounts - and it hasn't stuck but it made for a very pretty scene down by the river Tweed as we looked at the old ruins of Berwick castle.
Saturday, February 21, 2004
Food Glorious Food!
A request to everone reading this.....
....wholesome meals under a fiver? Email them to us will ya?
At the moment we are making the most of the self catering facilities of Youth Hostels. So any help will be appreciated! So far we have:
Corned Beef Hash
Bangers and Mash
Bananas and custard
Stir Fried Chicken
....wholesome meals under a fiver? Email them to us will ya?
At the moment we are making the most of the self catering facilities of Youth Hostels. So any help will be appreciated! So far we have:
Corned Beef Hash
Bangers and Mash
Bananas and custard
Stir Fried Chicken
Centre of the Universe
Today - for one day only - I truly was the centre of the universe...well the centre of Britain anyway!
Haltwhistle is a small town in between Carlisle and Hexham which boasts being the absolute centre of Britain, as it is equidistant between the outer coastal towns in all directions on the compass.
Click on the following link to learn more: http://www.haltwhistle.org
Haltwhistle is a small town in between Carlisle and Hexham which boasts being the absolute centre of Britain, as it is equidistant between the outer coastal towns in all directions on the compass.
Click on the following link to learn more: http://www.haltwhistle.org
Friday, February 20, 2004
Uphill in all directions
Kielder Water was a great idea - flood a valley and the people of the North East get fresh water.
So Kielder Forest sounds great for outdoors type stuff - except - as is obvious really - the reservoir is surrounded by hills and that's where we cycled, mainly up them! I think we almost reached the Scottish border, it certainly felt that way and we were following the "Cross Border cycle route"....
...what we found was deserted forest tracks, all heading upwards...though all I will say (with a big grin) is 7 1/2 miles of downhill riding on the way back.
The tea shop at Leaplish does great tea and comfy sofas- much needed as Lucy describes her bike saddle as "Razor-like"....ouch.
So Kielder Forest sounds great for outdoors type stuff - except - as is obvious really - the reservoir is surrounded by hills and that's where we cycled, mainly up them! I think we almost reached the Scottish border, it certainly felt that way and we were following the "Cross Border cycle route"....
...what we found was deserted forest tracks, all heading upwards...though all I will say (with a big grin) is 7 1/2 miles of downhill riding on the way back.
The tea shop at Leaplish does great tea and comfy sofas- much needed as Lucy describes her bike saddle as "Razor-like"....ouch.
Thursday, February 19, 2004
Int' the Romans Brilliant!
It never ceases to amaze me just how much the romans actually achieved. A 75 mile wall across Britian (to keep the Scots out - fab idea!) Fortresses, underfloor heating, baths, roads, drains. A bloody civilised lot really.
Spent a day wandering along the marvel that is Hadrian's wall - visited the Sycamore tree which features in the 'Robin Hood Prince of Thieves' film and took in Housesteads fort and was completely amazed at just how much of it is still there and recognisable.
So the Romans came, saw, conquered and buggered off again, and 200 years later we were living in squalor again....no heating, drains, baths.....took us another 1500 years to reach civilisation really. All that from the people who gave us Prada shoes!!!!
Spent a day wandering along the marvel that is Hadrian's wall - visited the Sycamore tree which features in the 'Robin Hood Prince of Thieves' film and took in Housesteads fort and was completely amazed at just how much of it is still there and recognisable.
So the Romans came, saw, conquered and buggered off again, and 200 years later we were living in squalor again....no heating, drains, baths.....took us another 1500 years to reach civilisation really. All that from the people who gave us Prada shoes!!!!
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
The Mind Boggles!
After a very luxurious stay in Scarborough we checked out of our hotel on Sunday (15th Feb) and travelled up the North Yorkshire coastline headed for a place called Boggle Hole near Robin Hoods Bay. The journey was spectacular so taking a wrong turning and winding up 500m from our destination at a dead end was not a problem, and after journeying up and down 25% inclines we can be sure that the Land Rover has been put through it's paces.
When we did eventually reach Boggle Hole, our destination being a Youth Hostel housed within an old mill right on the beach, unfortunately it was full, so we carried on to Robin Hood's bay (via the backroads) in search of shelter there.
With the Youth Hostel in Robin Hoods Bay closed, we took time out to have a cup of tea and take in the view before heading on to Whitby.
It was in Whitby that we started to realise our gross assumption! Namely that Youth Hostels and Camp Sites are not necessarily open in the UK. So with B&Bing our only option we booked in to the Boulmer Guest House, which was lovely.
We headed down into Whitby and had proper Northern fish n chips on the front and then rushed back to the comfort of our room cos it was freezing!
The next morning we walked around Whitby on the Dracula Trail, a walk outlining all the spots which Bram Stoker included in Dracula!
Then it was off back to Boggle Hole (anyone know what a boggle is?) - where the Parking arrangements were very interesting! The only access to the hostel by vehicles was accross the beach and through a river - which of course only Land Rovers could manage! Matt had great fun driving it and there are pictures to proove it (I knew there was a reason for buying a land rover which is cold, expensive to run and leaks in the rain!)
A 20km cycle ride woke us up the next morning before leaving the hostel and making tracks to Newcastle. Stayed in Jesmond, visited Jamie & Jo, had a great Chinese meal and took a trip out to Durham (all in the space of 24 hours - whistle stop or what!) and then off to our next destination - Once Brewed on Hadrian's wall in the Northumbria National Park. Will it be Once Brewed, Twice Shy?
When we did eventually reach Boggle Hole, our destination being a Youth Hostel housed within an old mill right on the beach, unfortunately it was full, so we carried on to Robin Hood's bay (via the backroads) in search of shelter there.
With the Youth Hostel in Robin Hoods Bay closed, we took time out to have a cup of tea and take in the view before heading on to Whitby.
It was in Whitby that we started to realise our gross assumption! Namely that Youth Hostels and Camp Sites are not necessarily open in the UK. So with B&Bing our only option we booked in to the Boulmer Guest House, which was lovely.
We headed down into Whitby and had proper Northern fish n chips on the front and then rushed back to the comfort of our room cos it was freezing!
The next morning we walked around Whitby on the Dracula Trail, a walk outlining all the spots which Bram Stoker included in Dracula!
Then it was off back to Boggle Hole (anyone know what a boggle is?) - where the Parking arrangements were very interesting! The only access to the hostel by vehicles was accross the beach and through a river - which of course only Land Rovers could manage! Matt had great fun driving it and there are pictures to proove it (I knew there was a reason for buying a land rover which is cold, expensive to run and leaks in the rain!)
A 20km cycle ride woke us up the next morning before leaving the hostel and making tracks to Newcastle. Stayed in Jesmond, visited Jamie & Jo, had a great Chinese meal and took a trip out to Durham (all in the space of 24 hours - whistle stop or what!) and then off to our next destination - Once Brewed on Hadrian's wall in the Northumbria National Park. Will it be Once Brewed, Twice Shy?
Saturday, February 14, 2004
Barns and Rain in the North Yorkshire Moors national park
Hello from wet and grey Scarborough!
There's a lot to catch up on so here goes with the edited highlights...
We decided on Pickering, N Yorks as our first place to stay, we stayed at the Burgate House B&B which is v.nice. Did a few days walking and cycling before checking into the very exciting...
...Cliffe Farm Camping Barn...
What can I say about camping barns, other than NEVER stay in...
1) They are cold (no heating)
2) They are cold (no insulation)
3) Did I mention they were cold?
4) They're damp.
5) They used to be barns or farm outbuildings and if the builder told the farmer he was doing a "conversion" he needs suing as they still resemble barns!
6) Being very barn-like, this particular one smells of silage.
7) They are cheap (5 quid/night)
8) Tents are better - at least you know the mould is your own.
Other than those few minor points, it was great :|
So now we're at the very plush St Nicholas Hotel in Scarborough, complete with gym, sauna, 4 course meals and trendy bar....this was Lucy's Valentine's present to Matt so we can be excused for the indulgence.
Right, enough for now...
See you all later once we've worked out where the next stop is.
Bye for now,
Matt & Lucy
There's a lot to catch up on so here goes with the edited highlights...
We decided on Pickering, N Yorks as our first place to stay, we stayed at the Burgate House B&B which is v.nice. Did a few days walking and cycling before checking into the very exciting...
...Cliffe Farm Camping Barn...
What can I say about camping barns, other than NEVER stay in...
1) They are cold (no heating)
2) They are cold (no insulation)
3) Did I mention they were cold?
4) They're damp.
5) They used to be barns or farm outbuildings and if the builder told the farmer he was doing a "conversion" he needs suing as they still resemble barns!
6) Being very barn-like, this particular one smells of silage.
7) They are cheap (5 quid/night)
8) Tents are better - at least you know the mould is your own.
Other than those few minor points, it was great :|
So now we're at the very plush St Nicholas Hotel in Scarborough, complete with gym, sauna, 4 course meals and trendy bar....this was Lucy's Valentine's present to Matt so we can be excused for the indulgence.
Right, enough for now...
See you all later once we've worked out where the next stop is.
Bye for now,
Matt & Lucy
Is there anybody there?
Hi,
hopefully you've reached our weblog, watch this space for updates on what we've been up to on the trip round the UK...
see you later, Lucy & Matt
hopefully you've reached our weblog, watch this space for updates on what we've been up to on the trip round the UK...
see you later, Lucy & Matt
