Cold côtes on Monday

Monday 21st May: Cool and windy – just how cool we found when we braved the shingle beach near Le Hourdel – for all of three minutes.

We’d started the day with another look at the CF Baie de Somme – No. 1 “Aisne”, in attractive red livery, making a fine sight on the quayside at Saint Valery. After lunch, we would explore the coast – not staying long at Le Hourdel, then checking out the amazing lines of beach huts at Cayeux-sur-Mer (just along from Brighton Plage…)

We paused briefly at Ault – perhaps come again when it’s a bit warmer? – then on to Mers-les-Bains, and the wonderful belle epoque seafront buildings. Lastly, the short journey inland (it seemed longer, stuck behind the road train…) to the small and historic town of Eu.

Dry afternoon…

Making the most of a brief dry interlude – a wander with the camera, to the Severn at Jackfield and Coalport. A little light would have been too much to hope for…

A plaque on a brick plinth marks the site of the Caughley porcelain works, an undertaking which became better known when manufacture moved to nearby Coalport. Someone has placed small pieces of broken china atop the plinth – presumably found nearby

Old Haunts

Three days in Yorkshire, for an exploration of  places that once were familiar and regular venues for family outings

Bridlington:

Sutton Bank:

A walk from the top of the once-notorious ascent, on the main road from Thirsk to Scarborough, along to the gliding field and the White Horse

Scar House and the Druid’s Temple:

The road to Scar House dam follows the trackbed of the railway used when the reservoirs were built, to the site of the contractors’ “village”. Reservoirs aside, the upper reaches of Nidderdale are remote and bleak. An old track, impassable to all bar walkers, leads over Dead Man’s hill to Coverdale

From Lofthouse, a hill road leads to Masham (that’s “Massem”, not “Mashem”). The Druid’s Temple is near Ilton, a little way off the direct routs. It’s not as old as it looks (see http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/england/north-yorkshire/featured-sites/druids-temple-ilton.html) and was a fun place when we were children – no-one else knew about it. It was rather crowded on this cold, clear February day (dodgy-looking “druids”…)