Long Weekend in York

The view from our lodge

So, what do we do when Tom is away for 3 nights.  Well, no point being at home, it will be too quiet so we got ourselves a little log cabin set by a pond in the outskirts of York for a more reasonable price than any Air bnb or hotel we could find.

After 'sort of' saying goodbye to Tom we headed over and got there in really good time.  In fact somehow we managed to miss all the traffic, not bad for a bank holiday Friday night.

We checked in to a little semi detached lodge with one bedroom and a lounge / kitchen.  Not luxurious but very adequate and with a lovely outlook over the pond / lake.  Just round the corner is a huge Tesco so we headed over and collected some drinks and breakfasts and then got ourselves settled in knowing we could sleep in as long as we wished and could drink and make noise without getting told off!  We drank lots and almost forgot we had a boy!!!!!

Ice cream boat

Saturday we kept ourselves busy exploring York.  We did some shopping, Matt got himself a jacket he didn't know he wanted and I spent my White Stuff vouchers on a dress and a top.  It all seemed too easy.  We then went for a wonder in the Shambles and looked around York Minster.  We didn't go in as it was £16 to enter which was more than we wanted to pay - I never 'get' churches.

We did some more wandering around and then found ourselves at a Japanese restaurant for lunch - we both had a bento: veggie tempura for me and ebi katsu for Matt - very lovely it was too.  We then went for a walk along the Ouse.  The sun was out by then, glorious blue sky and hot.  It turned out to be a lovely walk, made better by the fact we came across a ice-cream boat on the river selling Yorvale ice-cream.  We couldn't say no, so Matt had lemon curd ice-cream which was wonderful and I had rhubarb ice-cream which was good but not as good as the lemon curd.  We then continued along our walk, a whole fleet of pleasure boats came past us, with lots of loud music, and people in fancy dress - it was an organised regatta and made our walk more interesting.  The best one was Thunderbirds, where all the people were dressed up and they had fake smoke etc.  

Scarborough harbour

On our return back into the city we decided to go for a walk on the walls (York is very like Chester - with walls, racecourse and wealth!). We were just getting thirsty when I spotted a Brew Dog pub below.  Matt's face lite up and we headed in.  Seemed to stop for a pint (all research of course) before heading back up the walls and to the Rail Station where we got a bus back to our lodge.

We spent the afternoon at the lodge, very pleasant it was too, enjoying the sunshine and doing, well nothing really.  It is very rare that happens for us and it was very enjoyable.  

A bracing dip in the North Sea

We tidied ourselves up and went out again.  First stop was the York Tap a bar in the Rail Station with lots of craft beer for a a couple of drinks and then we went for a walk in to the City Centre to find somewhere for dinner.  We ended up in a Turkish place, Kapadokya, which was brilliant.  I had a starter of yoghurt dip with bread and would have quite happily just eaten a vat of that with unlimited bread - it was ultra delicious.  Matt had calamari which just dissolved in your mouth - also ultra delicious.  After gorging ourselves with starters, we then had a huge lamb stew (me) and mixed grill (Matt) for mains, I couldn't finish mine, but we did manage to finish a rather lovely bottle of Turkish red wine.  WE then had to wait an hour for the next bus home, so went back to the York Tap for another couple of drinks.  A very boozy but lovely day out in the sun.

Sunday we headed to Scarborough for the day.  I have been before but it was a long time ago (29 years I think) and to be honest only had very very scarce memories of the place.  Anyway after not the easiest of journeys there (for a number of boring reasons) we arrived to deep blue sky and sunshine.  We walked along the main street down to the seaside.  First stop was the Life Boat cafe for lunch.  We had already decided on fish and chips, it has to be fish and chips when you are at the seaside!  I had cod, Matt had scampi - which is just about fish and chips isn't it.  We then went for a walk along the prom.  It was heaving, but even so, it was pleasant.  I hadn't realised how nice the place is.  The buildings are nice to look at, the situation of the town in the bay with a castle overlooking it is very handsome.  Overall we had a very enjoyable day.  We lost £1 each on the 2p machines very very quickly, went for a walk along the prom, saw and smelt the fish (it is still a working port) watched the pleasure boats (including a proper pirate boat) go in and out, walked along the jetty, then up to the castle (English Heritage wanted £8 for each of us to visit so we didn't!) and then along to The Grand Hotel, up the cliff on the funicular railway, along a rather lovely Victorian bridge and down to The Spa where we had ice-creams (banana split ice cream for me which was very lovely) before walking along the prom back towards the town.

Scarborough Castle

The tide was in, so much so that most of the southern beach completely disappeared.  The town beach was, as a result, very very crowded as there was only a narrow strip of beach available.  I had to dip my toes - well you have to when you are at the seaside don't you?!  I walked down to the sea and let it ripple over my feet - wowsers, it wasn't cold, it was numbingly freezing, how anyone could be in it was beyond me.  I am more than happy to be called a Southern softie if it means I don't have to swim in it!  Just as well I didn't jump in, think I would have had a heart attack!!!!!

We browsed a couple of tacky shops (always fun) before heading back up the hill to the train station.  We had a much better trip home.  

Anyway, it was a good day, would love to come back with Tom for a fun day on the beach.  We believe there is a little train to ride and a water park to explore as well.