North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Thursday we took a trip down nostalgia lane – er, railway.  We boarded the North Yorkshire Moors Railway at Whitby and rode to Pickering and back (more or less) with stops and walking breaks in between. The steam locomotive reminded me of a dragon: smoke came seeping from its mouth and its belly rumbled. There … Read more

Robin’s Hood Bay Walk

On Wednesday we followed in the footsteps of Lucy and Mina (and a whole lot of other people) along the coast path from Whitby to a former smuggling port called Robin’s Hood Bay. Across the terrace, down the 69 steps + 14 degree inclined path, through  the harbor and up the 199 stairs on t’other … Read more

Whitby

On Tuesday we doddered around Whitby with the pensioners. (I remember the days when we used to stand out as young fry when traveling Britain in September- now we fit right in.). After sorting out options for our Saturday multi-leg train journey north (two legs being caught up in an “industrial action” aka “strike”) and … Read more

York to Whitby

Monday was our last morning in York. We started the day with a bit of Edwardian elegance: breakfast at Betty’s Cafe.  Started in 1919, Betty’s interior is meant to evoke sailing (first class) on the Queen Mary.  Third class sailing would have been a somewhat different experience, methinks.  Then we wandered through the Shambles. One … Read more

Castle Howard

Sunday was blustery with sunny patches.  We took the train from York to Malton, then taxied to Castle Howard. (Our original plan – the 181 bus direct from York to the estate – went bust when we realized the bus didn’t run on Sundays.) Seat of the Dukes of Norfolk, this is a grand house … Read more