Day 8 - Avoiding the Weather

After a week of feeling very lucky with the weather, we had quite a bit of rain through the night and the wind was strong for an hour or so. Van was a chilly 12 degrees when we woke so heating was put on from bed.

We both got up early for showers. The are quite basic cubicles, with shower behind the toilet wall. But they were hot which was good because the cubicle was chilly. The shower button needed pressing every 15 seconds which was rather annoying.

We had breakfast of tea, cereal and toast. We had hoped to do the Ingleton Waterfall Trail but the weather was due to turn very wet and windy by 11am. It would cost £11 each to do the trial so we really didn’t want to restricted by time, and try and complete the 5 mile circular route before the rain started. Will save this for another day.

Instead we walked to the village of Austwick, just 20 mins away. It was a very pretty village with a huge bus stop shelter and lots of old houses. We stopped off at the village pub called the Game Cock as this also housed a bakery. We choose some items to take home.

We had by now made the decision to travel home today rather than wait until tomorrow. The weather is set for heavy rain and wind which will make it an uncomfortable night. With no let up expected in the morning we wouldn’t be able to grab a walk before travelling in any event.

Dalesbridge Campsite comprises of several buildings in the centre with various camping fields all around up to the boundaries. Turns out the buildings are all in the centre because it was a Rural Isolation Hospital from 1909 where children especially, were sent when they had Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria or Small Pox. The buildings had to be at least 40
feet from the boundary to stop infections spreading.

The shop was once the mortuary and part of the bar area was once the Scarlet Fever Pavillion. Later it became a general hospital before closing in 1990.

At 1045 as the first spits of rain started we packed up the van and set off for home. First stop was Downtown Garden Centre on the A1, our usual stop for coffee or lunch.

We arrived there at 2pm both starving, having been sent through the centre of Leeds and then stuck in traffic on the A1. We decided to have a proper meal
so we wouldn’t need to eat later. I had scampi and chips, whilst Jonathan had gammon, egg and chips. Both very good. The restaurant has had a makeover since our last visit and is huge, full of plastic plants and lamps.

We had a wander around the garden centre and ended up buying a lamp for the van and some mealworms for the birds at home. Then it was back to the van for the last 100 miles.

It took us just over 2 hours though we were again diverted off the A1, and then away from the A14 and M11. We ended up going across country and were almost surprised to find ourselves in Halstead.

We should have known we were approaching Essex as the roads were suddenly terrible! We hit one huge pot hole which managed to open 6 overhead cupboards. We had to pull over to stop things flying about.

At 6.45pm we made it back to a wet Tiptree where we found the kids enjoying an Indian takeaway.

We had a lovely time away and as mentioned before were so lucky with the weather. Scotland and Yorkshire are beautiful and we will definitely be back.Read more