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Out Of Mothballs
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Out Of Mothballs

England - Netherlands - Belgium - France Read more
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  • SQUIRREL TALESOut Of MothballsTraveler
    Architecturally inspired by a pencil ????
    Markthal ... fresh food market inside, apartments on the outsideThe interior boasts the biggest work of art in the world (this pic is just a very small sample)Bike parkingCity surfingCube housesEach 'cube house' has 3 levelsGreat coffee at Ripsnorter Coffee Roasters (a strong Australian influence)Had to try the award-winning 'Best Hamburger Netherlands 2024'Out 'n' about in RotterdamDescribed as a sculpture, the bubbling water spells 'no matter, try again, fail again, fail better'Modern architecture heaven

    Rotterdam - Exploring the New

    October 4 in the Netherlands ⋅ 🌬 14 °C

    Rotterdam has a vibrant and edgy atmosphere, great food, and some amazing buildings. Mr Fit-Body was in modern architecture heaven all day.

    We spent most of the day exploring on foot but, when the weather got a little nasty, we jumped on the 'tourist tram' and were chauffeured through the city for a while.

    The unique Markthal (market hall) complex, the very unusual 'cube houses', inner-city surfing lessons, award winning hamburgers ... what an amazing place to explore.    Read more

  • SQUIRREL TALESOut Of MothballsTraveler
    Nieuwe Binnenweg, lined with quirky and eclectic shops, cafes, and entertainment venues

    Rotterdam - Exploring the Old

    October 3 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    The weather has turned chilly, and a bit rainy, and very windy. We only have a couple of days in Rotterdam so we got warmer clothes from the bottom of our suitcases and spent the day exploring.

    Our hotel is just off Nieuwe Binnenweg, a 2km stretch of road connecting the city to the historic district of Delfshaven. We started at the city end in and casually strolled the full length, stopping for great coffee on the way.

    Delfshaven escaped WWII bombing relatively unscathed and is known for it's 17th century architecture and canals.    Read more

  • SQUIRREL TALESOut Of MothballsTraveler
    Our cabin is a little sparse but adequate for snoozingLeaving HullDinner, wine, dessert, a quick look at the entertainment in the Show Bar, and then to bedGood morning Europoort, one of the world's busiest ports

    Lemm-xit from the UK

    October 2 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    It's time to pack the hiking boots in the suitcase and kick off our next adventure.

    But first:
    A train from Filey to Hull
    A bus to the Hull P&O terminal
    An overnight ferry to Europoort, Netherlands
    A bus from Europoort to Rotterdam    Read more

  • SQUIRREL TALESOut Of MothballsTraveler
    The Crescent, built in the mid 1800s during Filey's short-lived prosperity as a spa-town
    Beach huts, or chalets, reminiscent of the golden age of coastal holidays17th century fisherman's cottages, the oldest building in townRecycling at it's best ... formerly a rail bridge in Ripon, re-purposed as a foot bridge in FileyAt Martin's Ravine (access to the beach)Can't have a day at the seaside without having a fish dinner

    Filey

    October 1 in England ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    Perfect timing for finishing our walk ... yesterday was gorgeous weather, today was cold and windy and wet. From tshirts yesterday to beanies and gloves today.

    Filey is described as a 'charming seaside town', located on 7 miles of beach. It isn't far from Scarborough but doesn't have the crowds or excessive tourism.

    Originally a fishing village, it grew to be a fashionable resort in the Victorian era when 'sea bathing' was the latest thing.

    It's easy to imagine holiday-makers enjoying beach and sea activities but, today, no one was in the water and only a handful of dog-walkers braved the wind on the beach.

    After battling the wind to walk out to the headland to officially finish our long distance hike, we explored Filey and hit the highlights on the tourist map. Given the weather, we ducked into the charming pubs to warm up (with a pint) and we couldn't leave the seaside without having a traditional fish dinner.

    Mushy peas were optional, we opted out.    Read more

  • SQUIRREL TALESOut Of MothballsTraveler
    Leaving Ganton, with a quick peek at the 14th century spire of the local church as we left
    Following the acorn symbol (national trail) across the fieldsStopping to consume our last packed lunchA future mighty oak treeOur accommodationCelebratory beers 🏆Today's routeThe finish line (still in the same place one day later)The end of the trail (one day later) with Filey in the background

    Yorkshire Wolds - Day 6

    September 30 in England ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Ganton to Filey
    19.3 km (but we cheated a little)

    Another day of sunshine and light winds for our final stint on the trail.

    We got a bit of everything on this leg. Farms, villages, meadows, woods, dales, valleys, and a variety of walking surfaces. It was lovely to see glimpses of the coast, especially knowing that it was the finish line.

    Today was our shortest distance but confess that we cheated. We had to walk 1.5 km past our accommodation to get to the finish point on the headland, and then back again. When we got to the outskirts of Filey, we unanimously decided to go straight to a hot shower and a celebratory beer.

    We'll put on fresh bandaids and shuffle out to the finish line tomorrow .    Read more

  • SQUIRREL TALESOut Of MothballsTraveler
    A lovely morning for a walk
    Short detour off the trail to visit St Peters church, WintringhamSurprise ... toilet facilities for desperate walkers 😀The angle of the sign was good indication of the steepness of the trailQuite a few wildflower meadows on today's routeTonight's accommodationA nice touch ... unsightly and inaccessible flat roof dressed up to improve the viewToday's route

    Yorkshire Wolds - Day 5

    September 29 in England ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    North Grimston to Ganton
    24.8 km

    A local taxi picked us up from Scagglethorpe and deposited us back on the trail at North Grimston. After a bit of rain yesterday, today was bright and shiny ... a great day for a walk.

    Today's route was totally rural. Up hill, down dale and through woodlands, with a couple of steep-ish climbs and descents. Clear views for miles.

    The guide book recommended a short detour into the village of Wintringham to visit the church, describing it as "rather big for a small village". We took the detour and explored a very nice ancient church but we were pleasantly surprised to also find a vending machine providing hot drinks, a range of chocolate bars with payment via an 'honesty box', and a self-composting toilet for walkers.

    Today marked the end of our south-north walking. The rest of the walk is all west-east, towards the coast and the North Sea.

    Lots of hard surfaces today ... farm tracks, country lanes, and well trodden paths. It was tough on our feet. Between us, we have four feet; three of them have blisters, and one of them is quite swollen after going down a rabbit hole.

    Only one day to go !!!!    Read more

  • SQUIRREL TALESOut Of MothballsTraveler

    Scagglethorpe

    September 28 in England ⋅ 🌙 11 °C

    A quaint name for a quaint village of Roman and Viking origin.

    Today was a lazy day for our weary feet. A sleep-in, a leisurely breakfast, and then a slow wander around the village filled in the morning timeslot. The afternoon timeslot was just as relaxing, and included basking in the sun with a couple of pints. Seemed to be a Sunday afternoon thing for the locals (and their dogs) as well.

    So many dogs 😆    Read more

  • SQUIRREL TALESOut Of MothballsTraveler
    Mr Fit-Body, ready to go
    Things that make you go "hmmm" ... a swirling land sculpture titled 'Time and Flow'Ruins of Wharram PercyMs Office-Body & Yeris, exploring the Wolds by local busYum ... clotted creamMalton market placeTonight's accommodationToday's route (for one)

    Yorkshire Wolds - Day 4

    September 27 in England ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Huggate to North Grimston [Scagglethorpe}
    26 km

    A day of two adventures.

    Mr Fit-Body set off early for the long hike through the Wolds to North Grimston. Highlights for his day included an unusual land sculpture, the ruins of a deserted village (courtesy of that pesky Black Plague and changing agricultural methods), more dry valleys, and rolling hills.

    The pub at North Grimston is now permanently closed so our accommodation is at Scagglethorpe. The planned itinerary included a taxi from North Grimston.

    Ms Office-Body decided she didn't care for a long hike and opted to hop from village to village by local bus. Highlights for her day included a leisurely drive through the rolling hills, a great view of York from the upper level of a double-deck bus, a cream tea in a quaint coffee shop in Malton, and no sore feet.

    Rendesvous point: The Ham and Cheese Inn, Scagglethorpe    Read more

  • SQUIRREL TALESOut Of MothballsTraveler
    Londesborough Estate, not quite as grand as it used to be
    A stint on a road. You'll have to trust us that the towers of York Minster are visible from here.Guessing this farmer got tired of people wandering into the farm buildingsARGH !!!!!!A farmhouse with a viewThe red arrow points to the remains of a Roman roadWalking out of another deep 'dry valley'Threatened with rain but it didn't happenTonight's accommodationToday's route

    Yorkshire Wolds - Day 3

    September 26 in England ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Market Weighton to Huggate
    23.8 km

    Today, we walked past some lumps and bumps in the ground which were the grassed-over foundations of a deserted medieval village.

    Our guide book went into some detail about the village but we can't honestly say that our day was better for the knowing 😆

    Not long after leaving Market Weighton, we entered the gates of Londesborough Park. The Park is all that remains of a once great estate which included an Elizabethan manor house, owned by a series of high-faluting members of the English peerage. Kings of England attended shooting parties here (now demolished). The trail took us through what used to be carefully landscaped grounds and the village of Londesborough, which was owned by the estate.

    Midway through the estate, our peace and quiet was shattered by the sound of many voices ... children's voices ... lots of children's voices !!! Within minutes, we found ourselves in the middle of an annual fund-raising event where local school kids are sponsored to complete a long hike.
    Today !!
    On the same trail as us !!!
    Hundreds of kids !!!!
    Argh !!!!

    Fortunately for our ear drums, the kids veered right when we went left and we were able to get ahead of them before the 2 parts of the trail came back together. We did meet other school groups a little later on the trail but we just stood aside and let everyone pass before getting back to our quiet solitary walk.

    Our finishing point today is Huggate, the highest village in the Wolds.    Read more

  • SQUIRREL TALESOut Of MothballsTraveler
    Market Weighton, 1908
    Market Weighton, this weekEntry foyer of the [former] Devonshire Arms coaching innThe duck pond was formerly used to reset metal 'tyres' by soaking wagon and cart wheels in the water

    Market Weighton

    September 25 in England ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Market Weighton was once a very busy place. Located on trade routes halfway between York and Hull, it grew over the centuries until five main roads and four railway lines converged here. Roads are now diverted, railways are dismantled, and station buildings have been demolished. It's much less busy these days, and is a lovely place for a day out of the boots.

    Our accommodation is a former coaching inn, built by the 5th Duke of Devonshire (of Chatsworth House fame) in the 1780s. There are traces of its former glory in all areas of the building. A local chap told us that Winston Churchill spent time here on his honeymoon. It's unlikely Winston and Clementine had the same room as us, on the top floor at the back of the building.

    We spent the day wandering around town, reading the many plaques describing historic events and places. There were regular references to Giant Bradley, the town's most famous resident. Born in 1787 and weighing 6.4 kg at birth, William Bradley grew to be the tallest recorded Englishman at 2.36m (7 ft 9 inches). One of 13 children, all siblings except one sister were 'of normal size'. His sister was expected to be close to his height but she passed away when she was a teenager. Giant Bradley made his living as a fairground exhibit, his fame brought him an introduction to King George IV.    Read more

  • SQUIRREL TALESOut Of MothballsTraveler
    Re-tracing our steps through South Cave to get back to the trail
    A classic Wolds 'dry valley' ... underlying chalk provides excellent drainageFarmers doing farming thingsFormer Beverley to Market Weighton railwayTonight's accommodationToday's route

    Yorkshire Wolds - Day 2

    September 24 in England ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    South Cave to Market Weighton
    21.4 km

    The guide book warned that there are no facilities for walkers on today's route. We prepared well with a huge breakfast, and set off with a packed lunch for another day on shanks pony.

    Mostly gentle terrain today which was nice for a small blister. Unfortunately the blister is in an awkward spot on the inside heel. In the battle of sock vs bandaid, the sock won and the bandaid was unstuck. A lot of tape was required to keep a new bandaid in place, it looked more like 'major injury first aid' than just a blister.

    Our ramble took us through grassy valleys, which are a feature of the Wolds, and a lot farmland with farmers doing farming things. The last part of the walk was along a disused railway line, now a green-way for cyclists. This took us to the main street of Market Weighton and, a pleasant surprise, our accommodation was only 7 steps to the left.    Read more

  • SQUIRREL TALESOut Of MothballsTraveler
    Starting point
    There will be a matching stone marker at the end of the trailCottages on the Estuary shore, built circa 1630Humber Estuary & bridgeWalking into WeltonTonight's accommodationToday's route

    Yorkshire Wolds - Day 1

    September 23 in England ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Hessle to South Cave
    21 km (by the book), but 26.25 km by the GPS

    No, we didn't get lost on our first day of hiking. It was a couple of km stroll from our accommodation to the start of the trail, and then another couple of km deviation at the end of the day. It was a long day.

    We're hiking the Yorkshire Wolds Way. 97 miles, or 127 km, from Hessle to Filey (not including the extra bits to and from accommodation). The guide book promises peaceful, rolling chalk hills and deep green valleys tucked away off the beaten track.

    The first part of today's route was along the Humber Estuary, passing under the Humber Bridge. The bridge was the world's longest single span suspension bridge for 16 years until 1998. It is now in 3rd place.
    Further along the Estuary is the site where two brothers spotted some wood sticking out of the mud and, being curious lads, dug around a bit and found the remains of Bronze Age boats.

    Turning right and leaving the Estuary behind, the trail took us to the village of Welton where the career of legendary highwayman Dick Turpin came to an end in 1739. He was arrested here, not shot dead.

    Woods, farmland, country tracks, open views ... a great start, despite the extra km (and a blister forming).    Read more

  • SQUIRREL TALESOut Of MothballsTraveler
    St Bene't church , the oldest building in CambridgeThe mathematical bridge ... originally rigid and self-supporting, now securely bolted togetherThe Eagle pub, where the guys who discovered DNA proudly announced it in 1953Kings College, from the bell tower of Great St MaryThe quiet end of town, beyond the punting

    Tourists

    September 21 in England ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    We had a lazy Sunday morning, and a leisurely breakfast whilst more energetic people in Cambridge ran around the streets in the annual Chariots of Fire charitable relay race. Most of the lycra-clad teams had dispersed by the time we hit the streets but we did spot quite a few people proudly wearing their medals.

    A relaxing day wandering around Cambridge with the words "are you punting" ringing in our ears. Punting on the River Cam provides the ultimate Cambridge tourist experience of sitting in a flat-bottomed boat, being pushed along by a Uni student with a big stick, and seeing the lawns and buildings of numerous Colleges. We didn't punt.

    Instead, we climbed the narrow winding staircase of Great St Mary's bell tower and enjoyed 360 degree views of Cambridge. Bonus for us, the bell ringers were fully employed while we were up there. Our views were accompanied by the peals of the "Cambridge Chimes" with the bell tower swaying beneath our feet.    Read more

  • SQUIRREL TALESOut Of MothballsTraveler

    Sleep !!!!

    September 20 in England ⋅ 🌧 21 °C

    We booked our first accommodation in Cambridge ... neither of us has been there for many years, and it's a nice place to battle jet-lag.

    A minor hiccup with the train service from Stansted Airport to Cambridge being out of service this weekend, but we found the bus terminal and arrived only slightly later than originally planned.

    After a loooong hot shower, we had enough energy left to wander down the road, find a pub, and settle into a cosy corner for a pint.

    Our chosen watering-hole, the Champion of the Thames, was one of the pubs on the list for the [infamous] King Street Run challenge. Initiated in the 1950's, participants in the Run were required to down 8 pints, at various locations on King St, without 'leakage' i.e. without urinating or throwing up. The penalty for 'leakage' was another pint.

    We couldn't find any reference to the penalty for falling asleep at the table, but better to be safe than sorry ... we wandered back to the comfort of our hotel and hit the pillow.    Read more

  • Trip start
    September 19, 2025
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