Yorkshire - Northumberland - Scotland

Time is certainly flying by and we still have so much to fit in before returning. Mind you from what I hear about the weather over there I think we may want to stay a little longer. Anyhow John's foot is on the improve although I still get "lets sit down for a minute" and "hold on not so fast" typical male I've tried sympathy but find that a bit difficult... :)

Our next day in Malton we went to Howards Castle which is really a huge manor house. The gardens were fantastic - not that John saw them he rested on the lawn while I checked out the rose garden, fountain and lake section, wooded area and the huge lawns. The house was also interesting and the same family have owned it and passed down generation after generation for 300 years still living in one of the wings today. After that we decided to take it easy on the beach so headed to Filey and Scarborough seaside resort villages. Both extremely busy places and difficult to get car parks but finally managed - meant more walking though!!

On leaving Malton for Whitby we took the long way round across the Yorkshire moors covered with bracken and heather just coming into flower - really different landscape to other areas. We also called in to Goathland which is the village used in the Heartbeat series on TV and checked out the main points of interest from the show - Steam Railway station and Scripps Garage etc. On arrival to Whitby we checked into our B&B then headed off to Robin Hood Bay where you park the car in the new section and walk down a 25 degree gradient to the old village - problem is you also have to walk back up, I should be extremely fit at the end of this holiday but will need to rest up a lot.

We had fish & chips at Whitby (Mister Chips which won best UK f&c for 2005/6) couldn't find the one that Wendy & Jenny had recommended but the place was packed, people everywhere. Went to Whitby Abbey - chose the easy route by car instead of the 199 steps from Whitby bay, thought I had better let John have a bit of a break.

Yesterday drove across Yorkeshire moors into County Durham and across to Northumberland where there are loads of sites for Roman Forts and Hadrians wall - strange John's foot seemed to repair itself immediatly we needed to walk to where the wall was - but we rambled about in 32-34 degree heat over the ruins and I suggested that there are only so many stones we can look at! Mind you the countryside is great and we found a B&B at a place called Haltwhistle which was on the top of a hill overlooking the village.

Today we have taken a drive to Edinburgh - called at Gretna Green on way, and are currently wandering around the city. Not too bad, have booked in for 2 nights hear so tomorrow we will go to the Castle which is a major part of the city attractions.

Heading off now, about beer-o'clock I think, in fact running late for that at the moment.