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Pennine Boat Trips of Skipton

Friday, October 21st, 2011 by chrisjones
Dalesman - one of Pennine Boat Trips' narrowboats

Dalesman - one of Pennine Boat Trips' narrowboats

At 127 miles, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal is Britain’s longest, and it passes and through some of the UK’s most beautiful countryside. The canal connects two of the North’s most vibrant cities. Leeds is inland and the canal provided an important link with the west coast seaport of Liverpool. Around 200 years ago, when the canal was newly built, Leeds and the surrounding West Riding towns were the mainstays of Britain’s manufacturing industry. Liverpool was the gateway to the rest of the world, and huge cargo ships sailed from its extensive dockland to every part of the globe exporting the products of Yorkshire’s and Lancashire’s mills and factories.

As a result the Leeds and Liverpool canal was for a while one of Britain’s most important waterways – a very busy working canal with barges and narrowboats plying their trade in both directions – bringing coal and raw materials to feed the clattering mills and thundering factories and providing the first link in the chain to distribute their products to the wider world.

As other forms of transport took over the role of providing transport for bulk goods, the canal’s focus switched to leisure and it’s now a prime tourism resource, ideal for that memorable day out on holiday or for a special occasion.

One of the best ways of enjoying the delights of the canal is to hire a narrowboat for a cruise – the waterside setting really can’t be bettered for getting to know England’s natural landscape. And many would say that the best place to start such a trip is in the market town of Skipton in North Yorkshire. Skipton is known as the Gateway to the Dales, and from there the Leeds and Liverpool Canal passes through some of the country’s lushest and most stunning scenery.

The Cobbydale

The Cobbydale

As you ride aboard a narrowboat, travelling at a gentle pace, you have time to see enjoy the scenery, listen to the birds and animals that have their homes near the water. You might see waterfowl, fish and small mammals – or, if you are fortunate, the bright blue flash that is often the only glimpse you get of a kingfisher darting in the water in search of its next meal.

One of the companies which provides narrowboats for hire is Pennine Boat Trips based in Skipton. You can give your holiday something extra special by joining one of their hour-long public canal trips – with the boat’s skipper providing a commentary and letting passengers know a little of the history of the canal and what to look out for. Or you can hire a boat privately for the day (9.30 am – 4.00 pm): the Airedale is a luxury dayboat that can accommodate up to 10 people, and has lots of onboard facilities (galley, loos, stereo, heater, etc – you can even arrange for a hamper or a picnic to be prepared for you in advance). Prices start from just £100 and include car-parking, life jackets, and full instruction (30 minutes).

The Dalesman

The Dalesman

Pennine Boat Trips also provides a larger boat – the Dalesman, which can accommodate up to 50 people – for private charter which is ideal for birthday parties, hen nights, wedding receptions, anniversaries and corporate use. If you want your business to create waves then what better place for a product launch or to float a new company?

The Dalesman can seat 50 people at tables, and is equipped with a sound system and PA, and has a well-stocked bar. Pennine Boat Trips can provide a full catering service with a range of options from a light lunch to cream teas to a full “Captain’s Buffet” or Sunday roast dinner.

Pennine Boat Trips do a number of topical trips, including Christmas Dinner on the Dalesman – a three-hour cruise with a three-course Christmas meal for £27.50  per person. It’s for groups only and is a great way to get right into the festive spirit.

They also run Santa Trips for kids – an onboard pirate magician entertains children and their accompanying adult with tricks. On this 75-minute trip, Santa clambers on board along the way, and hands out a bag of presents to each child. The price is £12 per person and includes coffee and mince pies for adults and a children’s Monster Juice for each kid. Great fun for everyone and a very memorable way for children to meet up with Father Christmas.

You can find out more about holidays in Skipton and Yorkshire Dales accommodation here and visit Pennine Boat Trips’ website here.

 

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Bradford – University of Bradford and Bradford College

Friday, April 15th, 2011 by chrisjones
Ilkley Moor, a short distance from Bradford Summer fishing at Bolton Abbey - photograph courtesy of Chris Jones

Ilkley Moor, a short distance from Bradford Summer fishing at Bolton Abbey - photograph courtesy of Chris Jones

Bradford has a fine University, and is also home to Bradford College and an Askham Bryan centre.

Bradford is a fine old city, with a rich industrial heritage, and a vibrant multicultural community – read more about the city on Hello Yorkshire’s Bradford tourist information page.

There are some lovely places to stay in and around Bradford – check them out here: Bradford accommodation

The following attractions are in or near Bradford:

Bolling Hall

Bracken Hall Countryside Centre, Shipley Glen

Bradford Markets

Bradford 1 Gallery

Bradford Industrial Museum

Brontë Parsonage Museum, Haworth

Brontë Waterfall

Brontë Weaving Shed, Haworth

Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Bradford

Cliffe Castle Museum

East Riddlesden Hall, Keighley

Fun Planet, Crosshills, near Keighley

Ilkley Moor

Ingrow Loco Museum, Keighley

Ingrow Museum of Rail Travel, Keighley

Keighley & Worth Valley Railway

Keighley Bus Museum

Manor House Museum, Ilkley

Napoleons Casino

National Media Museum, Bradford

Ponden Hall

Saltaire Model Village

Salts Mill Galleries, Saltaire

Go here for more Universities and HE Colleges in Yorkshire.

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Beverley – Bishop Burton College and East Riding College

Thursday, April 14th, 2011 by chrisjones

Beverley is home to Bishop Burton College and one of the campuses of East Riding College (the others are in Bridlington and Hull).

Beverley is a historic market town in East Yorkshire with an unspoilt market square and a wealth of historic buildings and fine architecture, ancient and modern – read more about the town on Hello Yorkshire’s Beverley tourist information page.

For some ideas of where to stay in Beverley, check out Beverley bed and breakfast accommodation on Hello Yorkshire.

Beverley Minster

Beverley Racecourse

St Mary’s Church

Beverley Market (Saturdays)

Beverley Art Gallery

Beverley Treasure House

Beverley Guildhall & Community Museum

Skidby Mill (Yorkshire’s only working windmill)

Go here for more Universities and HE Colleges in Yorkshire.

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Bedale – Askham Bryan College

Thursday, April 14th, 2011 by chrisjones
Bedale in the Yorkshire Dales

Bedale in the Yorkshire Dales

Bedale is home to one of Askham Bryan College‘s centres (the others are in Askham Bryan (near York), Thirsk, Harrogate, Guisborough, Bradford, Wakefield and Scarborough).

Bedale is a market town nestling in beautiful countryside at the edge of the Yorkshire Dales – read more about the town on Hello Yorkshire’s Bedale tourist information page.

There are some lovely guest houses in and around Bedale – check them out here: Bedale bed and breakfast

The following attractions are in or near Bedale:

Bedale Hall

Bedale Museum

Bedale Golf Club

Falconry UK

Jervaulx Abbey

Thorp Perrow Arboretum, Bird of Prey and Mammal Centre

Big Sheep & Little Cow (farm attraction)

Thornborough Henges (Neolithic site)

Kiplin Hall

Black Sheep Brewery, Masham

Theakston Brewery, Masham

Brymor Ice Cream

Wensleydale Railway

Aerial Extreme (adventure ropes course)

St Gregory’s Church (mentioned in the Domesday Book)

Snape Castle Chapel

Go here for more Universities and HE Colleges in Yorkshire.

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Yorkshire Universities and Higher Education Colleges

Thursday, April 14th, 2011 by chrisjones
Central Hall at the University of York (photo: Matt Grum)

Central Hall at the University of York (photo: Matt Grum)

There are lots of good reasons for coming to one of Yorkshire’s many universities and higher education colleges to study – the range of courses, the quality of the institutions, the surroundings (both the marvellous nightlife and culture that many of our towns and cities offer, and also the stunning countryside often just a short drive away), and the friendliness of the Yorkshire people.

Some of our higher education establishments have been around for many years, others are fairly new, and still others have evolved from more modest beginnings to full university status. But all have a commitment to excellence and to the highest levels of pastoral care of their students.

And if you have a son or daughter who is in higher education in Yorkshire you may wish to visit them and stay in one of the superb accommodation establishments in the region. We’ve got excellent B&Bs, hotels and guest houses in all the towns and cities in Yorkshire for an overnight or weekend visit, but the danger is that you’ll like it so much that you want to come back for a holiday – perhaps in one of our marvellous self-catering holiday homes.

All of the towns and cities have excellent restaurants, cafés and pubs. Yorkshire’s pubs are in a class of their own – many are traditional pubs that serve hand-pulled real ale, quite possibly brewed in Yorkshire at one of our superb privately-owned breweries.

Click on the town or city below to read more including information about the Universities and HE Colleges based there, plus some attractions nearby:

Bedale

Beverley

Bradford

Dewsbury

Doncaster

Halifax

Harrogate

Huddersfield

Hull

Leeds

Rotherham

Scarborough

Selby

Sheffield

Skipton

Thirsk

Wakefield

Wath upon Dearne

York

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North Yorkshire Classic Car Hire

Thursday, April 7th, 2011 by RichFox
North Yorkshire's roads are perfect for an open-top classic sports car - photograph courtesy of Richard Fox

North Yorkshire's roads are perfect for an open-top classic sports car - photograph courtesy of Richard Fox

Yorkshire is famed for its beautiful countryside, and what better way to get out and about than in a classic sports car.

We hired a bright red MGB Roadster recently and had a fabulous day bombing along the open roads and exploring North Yorkshire – up into the North York Moors National Park, through Helmsley and Pickering, up to Sutton Bank for amazing views across the Vale of York and Herriot Country – roof down, wind in our hair, an exhilarating rush in a beautiful old classic.

North Yorkshire Classic Car Hire's sports cars - photograph courtesy of Richard Fox

North Yorkshire Classic Car Hire's sports cars - photograph courtesy of Richard Fox

North Yorkshire Classic Car Hire is a relatively new business hiring out a number of classic sports cars including the MGB Roadster, a delightful Triumph Spitfire and a bright yellow Lotus Elan.

North Yorkshire is “home to some of the most beautiful drives in England” and the guys at North Yorkshire Classic Car Hire will advise you on some spectacular routes, and even book accommodation for you if you wish. A day or weekend out in one of these cars could be the perfect gift for a special birthday or anniversary, or just a weekend away from it all taking in the magnificent North Yorkshire scenery in an open-top classic sports car.

Parked up besides Rievaulx Abbey - photograph courtesy of Richard Fox

Parked up besides Rievaulx Abbey - photograph courtesy of Richard Fox

And if you’re looking for holiday accommodation in Yorkshire during your break, don’t forget to check out some cottages in the North York Moors or York hotels on Hello Yorkshire.

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Robin Hood’s Bay

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011 by chrisjones
Robin Hoods Bay

Robin Hoods Bay

Robin Hood’s Bay is a picturesque little seaside resort five miles south of Whitby on the way to Scarborough. You could easily miss it, but it’s well worth visiting – and staying for a holiday. Once home to smugglers (it’s rumoured that there’s a warren of tunnels under the village, leading out to coastal caves where goods were once landed to avoid customs duties).

It’s not clear how Robin Hood’s Bay got its name, as it’s not certain that the famous outlaw ever visited the village. But there are old legends and a ballad which recount how Robin helped rescue the possessions of Yorkshire fishermen from French pirates. But whether it’s true or not, it certainly makes for a good story. Although it’s a village, it’s known locally as Bay Town, and it’s a friendly and welcoming place, with several pubs and restaurants, cafés and lots of places to stay including hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfast, self-catering, and several camping and caravan sites.

The houses in Robin Hood’s Bay climb up a steep hill and visitors are advised to park at the top and walk down on foot through the narrow cobbled lanes (although it’s permissible to bring a car down to load and unload luggage).

The resort itself is quite delightful – with miles of sandy beaches, extending north and south beneath steep cliffs. There’s a local museum so visitors can discover the history of this fishing village, and learn not just about the smuggling, but also about some of the daring sea rescues that have taken place here, including the rescue of the crew of a ship called “Visitor” on a cold winter’s day in January 1881. The beaches are famous for the many fossils that are found there. If you go out fossil hunting make sure that you watch the tides though as it’s easy to get cut off beneath the cliffs.

Just a mile inland to the west, there’s the North York Moors, some of the wildest and most beautiful countryside in Yorkshire.  And Robin Hood’s Bay is just off the Cleveland Way – part of the Coast to Coast route for walkers.

Places to stay

Farsyde Farm Cottages – 6 amazing self-catering places to stay overlooking Robin Hood’s Bay, including a grade 2 listed farmhouse built in 1670 (sleeps 7/8), a 4* cottage with a private swimming pool (sleeps 4), and four 3* cottages (sleep 2-5)

Flask Inn Holiday Park – a luxurious holiday park with ten 5* self-catering static caravans (sleep 4) in a delightful setting near Robin Hood’s Bay

Lemon Cottage – a 4* self-catering “villa style” holiday cottage (sleeps 4) between Robin Hood’s Bay and Whitby

Middlewood Farm Holiday Park – set in Robin Hood’s Bay, a 5* caravan and camping park for touring and static caravans

Northcliffe & Seaview Holiday Parks – a pair of 5* rated holiday parks at Hawkser, between Robin Hood’s Bay and Whitby for both static and touring caravans

Things to see and do:

Beach and sea activities
Church of St Stephen, Fylingdales
Cleveland Way
Fossil hunting
Farsyde Riding Centre
Robin Hood’s Bay Museum
Old Coastguard Station
Rock-pooling
Scarborough
Swell Cinema
Trailways Cycle Hire, Hawkser
The Woodcraft Workshop
Whitby

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Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011 by RichFox
Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens

Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens

As spring takes hold, thoughts turn to gardens; what to dig up, what to plant, and how to arrange it all. So a trip to the local nursery may well be in order. But not all nurseries are the same and some are worth travelling a long way to see. Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens has the endorsement of the Royal Horticultural Society that it is indeed one of those worth going the extra mile for.

It’s one of the best gardens and nurseries in North Yorkshire (and probably a lot further afield), which not only has a wide range of herbaceous plants for sale, but also has a number of different styles of gardens so that visitors can see plants in a range of settings. The flower beds are densely packed for a wealth of colour and ease of maintenance, and there’s a variety of texture and fragrance. So not only is it a pleasurable experience wandering through the gardens and enjoying their many delights, but it can also be regarded as practical help in deciding which plants go with what.

Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens is set in the grounds of a farmhouse which was built over 300 years ago, and it’s a haven of peace and tranquillity. It has a woodland walk which leads to a natural pond with reeds and lilies. If you’re lucky you may spot a dragonfly catching smaller insects or a frog hopping from lily pad to lily pad. A little further on there’s a wildflower meadow which attracts birds, butterflies, ladybirds and grasshoppers. And the circuit back to the house is completed with a walk through extensive and beautiful herbaceous borders.

The Lodge Gardens have a café which tries, as far as possible, to source local produce, so you can enjoy home-made cakes, jams, and chutneys and locally made ice creams. The café also sells greetings cards, locally-made baskets, paintings and Plant World seeds.

The Gardens have their own beehives (not open to the public), and a vegetable plot too, so there’s plenty to see and do.

And I haven’t mentioned the poultry! Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens has geese and several varieties of rare poultry – allowed to roam free, they serve the excellent purpose of devouring unwanted slugs.

The Gardens were started in 1975 when Vanessa Cook and her husband bought the farmhouse and its four acres of land. After much hard work, Vanessa opened the nursery in 1983 and it’s gone from strength to strength since then.

Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens run morning courses on a variety of subjects including: Keeping Poultry, Willow Weaving, Watercolour Painting, Patchwork, Beekeeping. But the main course topics are related to gardening and horticulture. Vanessa also personally offers guided tours around the gardens – each tour lasts around two hours. Further details (including costs) can be found here.

The Lodge Gardens have featured in many publications including:

  • The Daily Telegraph Gardeners’ Guide to Britain (by Patrick Taylor)
  • Gardeners’ Favourite Nurseries (by Leslie Geddes-Brown)
  • Gardens Illustrated 2009 (“one of the best cottage gardens”)
  • The Good Gardens Guide (edited by Peter King)

As well as:

  • The English Garden
  • The Independent (one of the top ten June gardens)
  • The Garden
  • Yorkshire Life

Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens was also included in the BBC 2 TV programme Castle in the Country.

The gardens are open this year from 2 April until 28 September (open every Wednesday & Friday and the first and third Saturday & Sunday of each month from 1pm – 5pm).

Garden Entry fee: £4.00 or 50p for children aged 5-16. The garden is free to RHS members on Wednesdays.

Directions: 8 miles south of York, just off the B1222, almost at the midpoint between Selby and Tadcaster. The number 42 bus (which runs between York & Selby) stops at Stillingfleet village by St Helen’s parish church, 5 minutes’ walk from the Nursery.

Check the website for further details: Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens

And if you’re looking for North Yorkshire accommodation nearby, take a look at some of the York hotels or York bed and breakfasts on Hello Yorkshire.

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On Ilkley Moor – with a hat

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 by admin
ilkley moor

Ilkley Moor on a sunny March afternoon - photograph courtesy of Chris Jones

There’s some sense behind the well-known Yorkshire song “On Ilkley Moor Baht ‘At”. It can be cold, remote and forlorn in bad weather. But, on the right day, Ilkley Moor is a marvellous place for a walk. Sunday 6 March was just such a day – cold and crisp but with blue skies and a bright sun.

We accessed the Moor from the southern edge, via an entrance by a farm just above East Morton on the Otley Road. The public footpath was clearly marked from the beginning, and was along an unmade road, designed for farm vehicles. After about a 3/5 mile, the footpath splits off to the right. There is a sign but we managed to miss it and ended up on a “private road“, though not sure if that sign has any legal significance since the passing of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Ilkley Moor - photograph courtesy of Chris Jones

Ilkley Moor - photograph courtesy of Chris Jones

We didn’t go far as we had our two-year-old grandson with us, but really enjoyed the stunning views across the moors and down the Aire Valley and across to the Worth Valley. The towns of Bingley and Keighley, and the village of Haworth were all visible, and the vista brought to mind visions of Cathy and Heathcliff, as Haworth is the location of the Brontë Parsonage where Emily Brontë and her sisters Anne and Charlotte wrote their most important works.

Red grouse on Ilkley Moor - photograph courtesy of Chris Jones

Red grouse on Ilkley Moor - photograph courtesy of Chris Jones

We also enjoyed the wildlife (including plenty of red grouse) and the chance to stretch our legs. We turned back after a mile or so and retraced our steps, enjoying the scenery from a different perspective on the way back. As we neared the end of the footpath there was a small copse of trees on the left which was a haven for chaffinches, singing away at the tops of their voices, full of the joys of spring.

We returned to the car having had a leisurely but bracing walk – and the grandson enjoyed it too.

Chris Jones

Chaffinch on Ilkley Moor - photograph courtesy of Chris Jones

Chaffinch on Ilkley Moor - photograph courtesy of Chris Jones

If you’re looking for holiday accommodation in Ilkley, check out some of the lovely properties on Hello Yorkshire.

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We can do batter than the Americans!

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011 by chrisjones
Wensleydale Heifer in the Yorkshire Dales

Wensleydale Heifer in the Yorkshire Dales

At least that’s the intention of the Wensleydale Heifer who are attempting to bring back from the Massachusetts-based Black Rose pub the world record for the Largest Fish & Chips Serving, and put the Heifer into the annals of the Guinness World Records.

The Wensleydale Heifer will be making its attempt using their traditional Black Sheep beer batter wrapped around a 40lb prime halibut fillet served with 60lbs of hand-cut chips and a huge vat of mushy peas.

The Heifer, in Leyburn in the Yorkshire Dales, is already renowned for its fabulous award-winning (mainly) fish restaurant and luxurious and welcoming accommodation but Chef David Moss is hoping to wrest the crown from our transatlantic cousins and put the Heifer on the international map: “Fish and chips is our national dish, and I thought it was high time we tried to bring the world record back from the USA to England – and, in particular, to Yorkshire”.

And it’s more than national (or county) pride that’s at stake. The Wensleydale Heifer will be selling portions of the Norwegian line-caught halibut, chips and peas to raise money for local charities – and they’re optimistic that people will be very generous.

The record has stood since March 2004 and was won with a 34lb cod fillet, and to break it is not as straightforward as it may sound. The fish has to be cooked all the way through, so high temperatures are needed, and that raises health and safety issues. The Heifer commissioned a custom-made stainless steel pan especially for the task, which will be made locally by the father of one of the hotel staff.

The attempt to break the record will take place on a Saturday in May to be confirmed – watch this space!

JULY UPDATE – EXCITING NEWS – please see an update  here: Yorkshire pub breaks largest fish & chips serving record

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