Travel Diary 1978 - Part 7 - East Coast England

On The Road Again

Queen Charlotte's Cottage 18th-century cottage within grounds of Kew Gardens

Let us continue, after late nights good company of friends, seeing live bands, enjoying pubs and parks we hit the road again. Late start after hectic night previously quite understandable!

Pubs really are part of life in Britain!

Old Bull and Bush - Hampstead Heath - North West London

Going from one to the next, not a bad idea when out with friends....

Jack Straw's Castle - Hampstead - North West London

8th October 1978

Managed to leave London around midday and travel up to Cambridge, university town since 1209 wishing to see this well known city, architecture and the river where rivalry rowing race happens each year between Cambridge and Oxford, just to see what a university city looked like, curiosity!

Cambridge

University Gardens and Buildings - Cambridge

River Cam - Cambridge

After sight seeing walking the walk of Cambridge, traveled North of the City for the night. From my notes a town called Straton which now I am not able to find on a map, anyone from the region can let me know, possibly not much of interest since no further notes.

9th October, 1978

Using the A14 drove outskirt of Newmarket to Bury St Edmunds, turned into A134 down to Colchester, reputed to be the oldest towns in Britain (will check)! Nope Stonehenge is older, so locals were telling long stories...

Colchester

Had tea in Colchester, photo taken outside Tudor building in main road with Kombi Camper, admiring the area by foot for a short while before turning onto A12 to Ipswich, onto Norwich where we enjoyed and afternoon beer at "The Fox".

Travel by road afforded time for short stop overs, moving onto next destination enjoying scenery, real Sunday driving for the sake of getting there, headed round via Boston to Skegness for a night stop.

Going up through Lincolnshire region we noticed our first English Windmills, one was actually up for sale leaving us ponder life in a windmill, that could be great fun! Rolling hills dotted with windmills that were used for flour milling, we did not see any open to visit.

With sites available one had to ask, many being permanent 'parked' caravan sites, request if one night berths are available to park over. Static homes situated on permanent stands, not all offer camping or Kombi camper overnighters. Locals advised the pier had been washed away in January of that year, with not much "going on" we did not go down to the town.

10th October, 1978

Tea in Lincoln, followed by a walk around the town to sightsee "The Black House' Black Wood against white limestone wash buildings, Tudor must be old. "The Hole in the Wall" Stonebow Gateway north side built in 16th century Tudor Gothic in photograph, well those were the descriptions I had given in my diary.

Stonebow Gateway north side built in 16th century Tudor Gothic - Lincoln

On the road to York stopped off at White Swan Inn (sorry published in earlier post now edited), enjoyed a great pub grub in another quaint establishment about 5 miles south of York. Town possibly Deighton, matters not stopping in local gives a good taste of life in the region, meeting local folks and chatting over a beer enjoying a pub grub, always good!

White Swan Inn - York

York an intriguing city, Cliffords Tower a must visit... (I am now thoroughly enjoying going through the map, photographs and diary reliving all these memories, catching up on some history at the same time.)

This impressive 13th-c stone keep, built by Henry III, stands on a mound that originally housed a wooden fortress built by William the Conqueror, to help subdue the Northern tribes. A climb to the top affords impressive views over city. The current tower commemorates Roger de Clifford who was hanged in 1322 after his capture at the Battle of Boroughbridge. Source

Walked some of the city walls, excellent value paid entry to York Castle Museum

Here we purchased post cards for memories, therefore link attached to give an excellent overall insight into the history of the museum and pieces found in historical periods on display.

After some walking then driving around the city walls and wonderful experience we departed.

Everything appeared cute, quaint or picturesque, perhaps not even that old, photo below was seen on the road outside Pickering, stopped for a walk, then down to night over at Snainton, close to Scarborough.

My Dream Home!

11th October, 1978

Traveled through Scarborough onto North York Moors to Whitby an old whaling town, each town holds history, there is absolutely no where one travels you do not learn more.

Whitby Whale Bone Arch on West Cliff, first photo with statue of Captain Cook being the town his apprenticeship was served in learning to sail.

Second photo looking across the water to Eastern cliff with Whitby Abbey ruins, towns oldest landmark from Whale bone arch on West Cliff.

Enjoying time in the harbour watched the swing bridge allow boats to pass through on River Esk stopping cars and pedestrians from crossing.

Swing bridge allowing boats through

Hugging the coast we ventured up to Saltburn-by-the-Sea, a red bricked little sea port, arriving just in time to enjoy a beer "Black Sheep Best Bitter" outdoors on the beach front at pub called the Ship Inn.

A highlight I did miss was not being able to do the old water powered funicular that would have been a great experience, not enough time making our way through Middelburg to Thornaby where we explored their shopping centre.

Managed to phone a pen-pal I have written to since around eight years of age,(my Aunt and her Mother were friends through WW11) we still keep contact, looking for a campsite they insisted we stay the night with them.

Not having arranged anything previously we did not wish to put them out, however gracefully accepted on their insistence to stay in their beautiful new home recently built, a first new-build stay for us on our visit to Britain.

News travels fast, after chatting a short while we whisked off to Durham to her parents home, I could meet my Aunt friend in person, and what charming people they are.

After supper (10:30 pm) with parents we returned at midnight to Thornaby, a detour taken to be show us the only existing transporter bridge allowing tall ships to pass below Tees Transporter Bridge absolutely fascinating. (Never got to see funicular earlier in the day, this more than made up for it!)

12th October, 1978

Bidding our farewells (unfortunately a workweek for our friends) we headed off to Barnard Castle then onto Alston being the highest market town in Britain.

Barnard Castle - County Durham Scenery

Journeyed on to Hexam and Alnwick where we saw another castle, sadly closed so enjoyed walking around the grounds. We saw another further up at a town after Seahouses.

Alwick Castle Grounds - Northumberland (Some Harry Potter Film Scenes Done Here)

Alnwick Castle has over 950 years of history to discover, and the origins of the Castle date back to the Norman period. Since 1309, its story has been intertwined with that of the Percy family, a family with a history as illustrious as the castle’s own.

The second largest inhabited castle in the UK, Alnwick has served as a military outpost, a teaching college, a refuge for evacuees, a film set, and not least as a family home. Delve deeper into this extraordinary history and travel through the centuries of this living, evolving castle. Source

Perhaps visiting in October..., summer season is over!

Belford Castle - Northumberland

In Berwick-upon-Tweed to visit Rob's relatives for tea and a chat at the Retired Home for Catholic Priests. Tide and time this place has been changed the border town being both owned by Scotland and England.

Shortly After Berwick-upon-Tweed - Northumberland (Borders Town)

By what I understand we have now officially entered Scotland on the south-east coast.

Next stop off planned in Dunbar further up the East Coast which has been amazing so far.

Dunbar - Scotland

Dunbar turned into a night to/not to remember, no ablution facilities all locked up, even after the woman took payment for the stay, followed by having problems trying to find a funnel to put oil into the Kombi Camper at the garage, appeared they did not know what we were talking about... We'll leave that for the Friday 13th in following content!

Next our trip will take us up into Scotland, well Edinburgh I know is in Scotland...., trust I will see you there! Dunbar region was partially inhabited, lots of open space to be enjoyed, perhaps our accent was the problem, we will have to wait and see...

European Part of Tour
Travel Diary 1978 - Part 1 - Planning
Travel Diary 1978 - Part 2 - Europe
Travel Diary 1978 - Part 3 - Germany - Denmark - Sweden - Norway
Travel Diary 1978 - Part 4 - Denmark - Germany - Switzerland - Austria
Travel Diary 1978 - Part 5 - Italy - France - Britain
Britain - Kombi Camper

Photographs originally from film camera, converted in early 2000's to digital so please excuse the age, memories are wrapped up here!

Thought for Today: "“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer." - Anonymous.

We all have them hidden away somewhere, now joining in #blockchainmemoryproject host @ericvancewalton