Slingsby and Castle Howard

I headed for the CCC Slingsby site, not very far away. On the way I drove through the Castle Howard estate, and turned in to the Yorkshire Arboretum. It has a red squirrel enclosure, but sadly they were all tucked up in their dreys. 

I went on the organised tour which added some history about the project, and pointed out some of the trees you would otherwise overlook. Then explored the rest of the site, which is very pretty.

Then it was back to the visitor centre for a lovely lunch with peacocks.

The weather turned the next day, and the PLAN was to take £2 busses around to Malton and Pickering, but the first bus didn't show up and so the whole plan fell through. THANK YOU Arriva. I had a quick look round the village, but didn't fancy one of the many walks because it was raining and cold. So I spend the whole day in the van :-(

Melrose at last

Three nights in the Borders, and the van actually got me there this time. Travelled via Carter Bar, and stopped for a sarnie at the top, very windy!

The Melrose Gibson Park site is right in the town, so plenty of bus options. Also a Co-op at the entrance - just to remind me of work! 

First trip was to Galashiels about 20 mins away, to see the Great Tapestry of Scotland. It was huge! and fascinating. There are 160 panels stitched by women (and 1 man) across Scotland, tracing the history from Vikings to the resumption of the Scottish parliament.  Like the Bayeaux, it is embroidery not tapestry, very fine work indeed.

                            

Galashiels is an old textile town based on the Gala river, and is quite run down to be frank, but interesting none the less. Part of the river runs through under the main square.

The Gala museum was closed until April, so I bussed back and tried to visit Melrose Abbey and various museums - also closed. Home just before the rain hammered down.

The next day I headed off to Jedburgh, whose abbey WAS open. Considering it was a Saturday, everywhere was so quiet. Then off to a house where Mary Queen of Scots stayed, a lovely old building.

Nice coffee and bun in the Abbey View cafe, then back home to the van.

After a cold night, snow was forecast and so I gave Abbotsford (Sir Walter Scott's house) and Trontium (Newstead Roman fort) a miss and headed home - there's always another time. There was snow cover on the Cheviots but the roads were clear and quiet thankfully.

I Don't Believe It!

I was all booked in at Melrose, for a short break in the Scottish Borders. As I drove the van through the compound gates at the farm, the van broke down! A gearbox connector snapped, and the gearstick was like a broken limb.

This van has spent more time in garages than on campsites. Grrrrrr.....

Thankfully I hadn't made it on the the road, and Oliver came out to shove me backwards in to the compound. The garage next door picked it up on Monday to fix it.

So going nowhere cost me £45 in site fees and another repair bill.