Bolton Abbey

 As Dame Shirley had to go in for her annual check up to Peter Roberts caravans in Holmfirth, we decided another weekend away was in order. This one to the Caravan and Motorhome club site at Bolton Abbey. Due to heavy rainfall forecast we made a last-minute decision to leave misty at home with Chris. Arriving at Peter Roberts caravans around 10am we got the bus into Holmfirth and had a very damp look around and shop. Around 1pm we adjourned to a local pub for lunch and dragged it out until it was time to get the bus back. 

Moroccan Beef

A Fish and Chip Sandwich!!

Dame Shirley was just ready as we arrived so we set off in the rain for Bolton Abbey. Sir Georgie Kelly guided us, not without some difficulty due to Friday evening traffic, to the entrance road leading to the Bolton Abbey campsite. He did mention a narrow road ahead, but what he did not mention was a very low narrow Archway over the road which had Ian worried. However he negotiated it manfully and we were soon pulling into the site. Here’s another Motorhome pulling through that I stole off the internet.

I must say we’ve had warmer welcomes at caravan sites. The Bolton Abbey site has a lot of rules. A lot of rules! We pulled into our alloted pitch making sure to park at the correct angle and distance from the markers, set everything up, and retired inside to escape the rain. It was at this point that we discovered the Wi-Fi is very poor and I could not write my blog! This blog comes to you almost a week later just to make sure there are no holes in Dame Shirley Bassey’s story.

A perfectly parked Dame Shirl

Cheese and biscuits for tea

The Wi-Fi blackout also meant that we could not watch  TV, so we entertained ourselves by playing a quiz game which ended in a very tight victory for Ian. We then retired to bed to read our books. 

It seemed to rain all night and most of the morning, giving us the time to enjoy a leisurely bacon and eggs. We then kitted ourselves out in wet weather gear and set off to walk to Bolton Abbey Priory. The campsite is right by the strid. This is where the river wharfe goes through a very narrow gap that appears to be jumpable. However, as the sign says, ‘lives have been lost!’ I remember coming here age 10 with the Craggs school, and all the boys insisting they could jump it while the teacher sat talking and smoking. Happy days! The rain had stopped and the day turned sunny as we walked through Strid Wood. We also sell loads of wildlife including a toad, a beautiful Kingfisher, and a herd of Goosander.

 

The fearsome Strid

A toad

Strid wood

Eventually we came to the lovely Cavendish pavilion, which is now a café by the river. We amused ourselves by sitting in giant deckchairs before heading across for a coffee. We decided to sit outside but Ian chose a table under the overhang just in case it rained. It rained. Heavily. We sat smugly drinking coffee. 

Giant coronation deckchairs

Dry under the Eaves

It brightened up after our coffee so we happily set off again. Then the rain set off again and we were soaked. By the time we arrived at the priory the sun was shining again and we were dry. 

Wet

The priory in the rain

The priory in the sun

The stepping stones

Ice creams

The bridge

We set off along the opposite branch of the river and had a lovely walk through rain and sun.

A love seat

A Ford

We walked back through Strid wood on the opposite side and were treated with views from higher up. We came across a little shelter where we sat for our trail mix and were joined by an odd trio. A mum and autistic son who had moved from London to give Seb (the son) a better life. Plus another guy who we couldn’t quite read. Seb took a shining to me and wanted to take me for a drive in his favourite car (he showed me a photo). Just me and him. After the rain stopped we left pretty sharpish and continued on to Barden bridge, where we crossed over for the final stretch. It was here where the rain really started. What had come before was a mere shower. By the time we got back to the site we were more than drenched. We had had a wonderful walk though.

The Strid from above

View from Sebs shed

Barden Bridge

Here comes the rain

We both dried off and after a coffee headed for a shower (not push button thankfully). They were very clean due to the shower block being closed from 10.30 to 12. Then I rustled up a chicken dish for tea, and we read until bedtime.

It rained a lot in the night but we were up nice and early for the 11am departure time. We hadn’t  erected the awning so we’re away pretty smartish. Unexpectedly, Sir Georgie Kelly directed us right out of the gate and not left as we were expecting. Well he knows best we thought. But it seems he didn’t in this case. He was showing a small question mark icon that we hadn’t  seen before. On investigation this icon meant that he didn’t have a clue if the road was suitable for motorhomes or not. I feel it was not! He took us over a really narrow bridge and up a lane about three foot wide. Even Ian was panicking a bit. Eventually to our relief we emerged onto a B Road. Sir Georgie had let us down badly. 

Despite the rain we had had a lovely weekend and a lovely walk

Due to the lack of Wi-Fi there is no OS watch. But we clocked the walk at 7 1/2 miles.

Neighbour watch

The guy in the motorhome across was interesting in that he did everything in his dressing gown. Going to the toilet block, going to the shop, sitting outside and reading.