A visit to Whitby in North Yorkshire

This week I took a long-desired trip to Whitby.  Whitby has the ruins of the historic Whitby Abbey where the Synod of Whitby was held in 664.  The train journey was quite long but worth it.  My accommodation was a wonderful B & B called Broomfield House.  Although my room and bathroom were small, it was clean and comfortable with nice touches.  The location was very convenient as well.  Breakfasts were wonderful as were the host and hostess.  As I left for an early train on my last day a packed breakfast was prepared for me.  The amount of food and drink was impressive - it lasted the entire days journey home! 
Broomfield House

Whitby is a popular destination and I happened to choose my visit during the England school holidays.  In spite of the town being jam-packed with tourists, many with kids, it was still enjoyable.  Photo ops were non-stop! 

Whitby Tourism

5 miles south of Whitby is a lovely and charming village on the sea - Robin Hood's Bay (so named as it was a smugglers bay).  The streets in Robin Hood's Bay are very steep and cobbled. 

Robin Hood's Bay
Enjoy England site on Robin Hood's Bay

Had fantastic haddock, chips and the best mushy peas here:
Magpie Cafe


 Pics:  Whitby Abbey, Whitby Harbor, Whitby Harbor, Robin Hood's Bay, Robin Hood's Bay
More pics here:
Whitby & Robin Hood's Bay pics

Local trips

Danny, Doreen and I have taken a few local trips.  Last week we went to Ayrshire to visit Culzean Castle which sits near a cliff overlooking the sea. While in the area we also visited Alloway which is where Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, was born. 
Culzean Castle
Burns Heritage Park

Yesterday my newest granddaughter, Allyson was born.  Baby and mother doing very well.  Allyson is, of course, adorable!

Today we took a long bike ride around the Tighnabruaich-Kames-Kilbride Bay area. 

Monday I'm taking a 4 day trip on my own to North Yorkshire to the popular seaside and historic town of Whitby.  I hope to get many photos but the forecast has changed to rain. 

Pics:  Kilbride Bay, Roberts Burns birthplace, Culzean Castle, Kyles of Bute

London!

The 'gang' spent 4 nights and 5 days in London.  Doreen was very excited to be there.  Our hotel was in Bayswater - a convenient location to buses and tube. 

Visited:

• The Science Museum and included an Imax movie on deep sea
• The Natural History Museum
• The V & A (Victoria & Albert) - a favourite of mine
• Westminster Abbey
• HMS Belfast
• The National Gallery
• Southbank Centre Beethoven concert (9th symphony)
• Walks along the Thames to see Tower Bridge, street entertainers, London Eye (but no trip), Buckingham Palace, St James's Park
• A visit to Danny's former school and a party for an old friend and colleague who is retiring.  So good to see everybody! 

More pics here:
London pics

Doreen's visit - continued.

Doreen spent a week on the Isle of Iona with the Iona Community.  The group had 30+ participants, many were American.  She had a lovely time and enjoyed meeting everyone.  Included in the week was lots of hiking, a boat trip to Staffa, a Ceilidh, church services, singing and Doreen sang for the group which they enjoyed. 

We've done shopping trips to Glasgow for new clothes and museums.  Danny has been teaching her to ride a bike and she's done well although it still makes her nervous when cars approach down the road.  We plan to borrow a bike so the 3 of us can do a day trip on my favourite bike ride - Tighnabruaich - Kilbride Bay where we can stop and lunch on the beach. 

Yesterday we took the train to Edinburgh and unfortunately only had time for the castle and a walk down the Royal Mile.  We plan to return again to see the museums. 

Next week we return to the Isle of Seil for another trip on Seafari, but this time it will be a wild trip into the whirlpool. 

Video - Whirlpool

Then we'll do a quick flight to London for 4 nights.  The trip includes a visit to Danny's former school in Enfield to visit colleagues and friends.  The deputy head is retiring and he worked with Danny for many years.  Trips to museums and historic sites are planned. 

Travelling around Argyll with Doreen

Earlier this week we travelled to several places in Argyll, the county we live in.  First destination was Kilmartin....Scotland's richest prehistoric landscape.  Prior to arriving in the village we stopped at Crinan Canal as we spotted a sailboat going through the locks.  Doreen and Danny helped open and close the locks for the sailors. 
Photos of Doreen's trip

We stopped for lunch and more photos in the tiny village of Crinan.  In Kilmartin we spent the night at a B&B, visited the museum, wandered around the megalithic sites (stone circles, burial cairns, standing stones), and took a walk to Carasserie Castle. 

On to the Isle of Seil and the village of Ellenabeich.  We took a 2 hour boat trip on Seafari which was, at times, quite thrilling.  Danny and I had taken the trip twice before and Doreen just loved it.  We are going back for another trip in July. 

After spending the night on Seil, we headed to Oban and the Calmac ferry to the Isle of Mull.  After an hours trip we took a short ferry trip to the Isle of Iona, a tiny island Danny and I have visited many times.  The weather was spectacular but on our walk to one of the beaches a heavy fog rolled in.  It was still warm so we continued to walk.  While on the island we inquired about a youth retreat for Doreen as she'd expressed an interest.  Luckily we discovered there was a retreat (all ages) beginning Saturday.  So we booked her for the week and she arrived there today.  The retreat isn't strictly religious as it will include a boat trip, hiking, nature walks, workshops, etc. 

On the drive to Oban to catch the ferry we stopped at Arduaine Garden.

Doreen in Inveraray

We spent the day in the village of Inveraray.  Lunch was at Loch Fyne Oysters and we visited the castle - home of the Duke of Argyll.  

Doreen in Scotland, aye.

Doreen is enjoying the food, the hot running water, not having to hand wash her clothes, shopping for clothes, fast internet, and being a tourist.  She does find it too cold here and wears a fleece most of the time.  Today she went to Glasgow to visit the Kelvingrove Museum and Glasgow University.  Tomorrow we are planning on visiting Inveraray Castle and possibly the old jail.  Next week we are visiting Kilmartin, Seil Island, and the Isle of Iona.  On Seil Island we will go on a boat trip to view wildlife near the Corryvreckan whirlpool. 

Doreen Photo Album

Doreen has arrived!

 Doreen flew Emirates from Entebbe to Dubai, having a 7  hour layover there.  I booked a Meet and Greet company so someone would escort her through a very large and confusing airport.  I also booked a lounge so she could rest comfortably and get all the food and drink she wanted with no charge.  She was then escorted to her departure gate in the morning.

She arrived in Glasgow on time but we became quite stressed as she didn't appear for a long time after it seemed that everyone on her flight was long gone.  Finally, the immigration office phoned me and asked for confirmation about statements she'd given him.  Fine.  She arrived soon after. 

Doreen enjoyed the food on the plane and in the Dubai lounge.  She was surprised to see sunshine when she arrived in Glasgow, but had to inform her that it's not a daily occurrance.  Our dishwasher, washer and dryer, hot water out of a tap, drinking water from the tap, and freezer were items of interest for her.  New food today:  grilled corn on the cob.  She loved it and found it very sweet.  The very large Tesco supermarket was a place of interest to her as well. 

On the ferry from near Glasgow to the town near our house:

Doreen is visiting!

The girl we help sponsor and support at university in Uganda has finally been approved for a visitor visa!  She was rejected once as the UK worries about visitors from certain countries staying illegally.  She's reapplied with help and has the visa.  Her flight is due next week.  She'll stay for 2 months and we'll travel around Scotland and the London area.  Culture shock!  Stay tuned.

At her university hostel in Kampala

just a few pics

Sunset down the loch

Crannog in Lock Eck - ancient artificial island (about 5000 years old)

Lock Eck and gorse

Rhododendrons at Benmore Botanic Gardens