The day started out not too bad, but then, we had to turn around. Forgot the maps to the heritage sites. And we start out again, and this time Emily seems to want to take us in the wrong direction, but we follow along, and sure enough, she knew what she was doing. But then we decided to take another wrong turn, and off into the back roads we go. We wanted to go back to Scarborough Castle, but it took us longer than it should have, as we kept going in the wrong direction. Lovely back lanes. This time the wind wasn’t howling at 50mph. We wandered around for a while. In and out and up and down. This castle was built on the remnants of a Roman fort and signal tower. The Romans were here in 350AD. We decided to sit out side at the Master Gunners Tea House and have potato & leek soup for lunch. It was very good and o so hot!
We came in a different way than we did last time. This time we took about 3 turns and poof at the castle. Last Saturday, it seems like we went down every small lane that Emily could find. Today was great we drove along the North Sea, up and around to the castle. So we went back the same way, and made it down to sea level. Parked the car and off for a walk on the beach and out to touch the North Sea. Enough of that, it was cold! Back in the car and pick another castle, and away we went.
We went back west along the bottom of the Moors, toward Middleham Castle. It seemed to take a long time to get there. Going down the wrong roads and doubling back to where we should have turned had nothing to do with it. We crossed the A1 and then off down more back roads, and when we got into a village, down the back lanes too. Today was not a good day for Emily and me. The navigator is not taking any responsibility for this, it is all Emily’s fault. We finally got to Middleham, and of course I turned wrong again, and down a back street and up a back lane around in a circle to get back to where I was so that I could go in the right direction. I must be directionaly challenged today. So up the street, through the square and turn left up this little road (aka back lane), and poof there is the castle right beside the car. Park and get out quick before I turn wrong.
This castle had lots of walls left compared to Scarborough. We wandered about for a while, up and down and round and round (just like in the car). We went up the tower, only about half way, no more stairs to climb. Nice view.
This is the last castle that we can see on our heritage pass as it runs out today. That was a good deal, we saw 20 castles and priories for the price of about 4 of them. This was a neat castle, there were stables across the lane. Back in the car and off toward Clive’s Cottage, only 1 or 2 more wrong turns and down some narrow roads and lanes, and we were back on the A1 headed in the right direction.
The day started out with blue sky and hardly any clouds but as the day progressed the clouds built up from the west, we followed the blue sky until we turned back toward Middleham. As we got closer to the castle the clouds cleared up a bit the blue sky prevailed. The temp was about 16 or 17.
Tonight is our last night in Clive’s Cottage, tomorrow we return to a big city 🙁 This has been great staying in a little village.