December Hawes, December Castleton and a lovely pub stop near Durham

December trip to Hawes 2013

Day 1

We called at Morrison’s in Barnsley for diesel and had a quiet drive up to Hawes. The Caravan Club have changed the peg system so you have to park with your nearside back corner to the peg and on a pitch coloured white ( with awning) or blue ( without) I couldn’t remember what I’d booked but apparently it was a white peg …..what a load of rubbish…..if I didn’t like some sites so much I wouldn’t bother with the Caravan Club and the petty regulations and notices everywhere. It’s particularly noticeable when we come back from over the Channel where you don’t always need to book, you pitch pretty much where you like, leave when you want and …….pay when you leave! Anyway, the warden said when the site is not busy it doesn’t matter where you pitch (!!!) We had a walk into Hawes then settled in for a wet night.

Day 2
We woke in the night as the fridge was flashing. I put it on gas but it was flashing again in the morning- what a nuisance. We contacted Marquis and it’s another 48 hour job while they check it out. It’s not their fault- they are very good but it’s a pain to keep going back. It was also raining so it wasn’t a great start to the day. We went for a walk up to Gayle and around. Pete walked up to the Green Dragon alone but it was shut and he got wet.
 

Day 3
We left the rooflight open a little last night which seems to reduce condensation on the cab window. The freezer compartment in the fridge is working so I transferred some things from the fridge there while the rest went outside in a box.  We woke to glorious sunshine so had bacon , egg and coffee to start us off.  We went up to Hardraw and up High Abbotside in bright sunshine then walked back down to the Green Dragon where we talked to the landlord.  I made toad in the hole for tea.

Day 4

Pete went to get bread and we had a lazy morning. We went to the village and had a drink and internet catch up in the Crown.  We went back later because we’d booked a table but the wind was howling and the rain was heavy. We had a lovely meal and talked to the really nice waitress from Hungary. The wind and rain rocked the van then hailstones bounced on the roof.

Day 5
We woke to find the ground white- it was hailstones. Some sunshine came through but it didn’t last- it snowed. We had to stay in as it was really too wet to go out. Late afternoon, we walked around Gayle and had a drink in the Fountain. Packed up ready to leave tomorrow.  

December and New Year in Castleton

Day 1
We fuelled up at High Green and got to Castleton in sunshine. We had the same nonsense with coloured pegs- they told me again I’d booked a white peg pitch. We parked near Emily,  Tom and  Sophie, over from Karen and Phil and across from Katie and Stew. Me and Pete went for a walk over the fields into the back of the village then into the Castle to drop in the New Year’s Eve food order and have mulled wine. Then we went to the Nag’s Head for Belgian Blue with Phil and Karen. Ham salad for tea.

Day 2

We walked to Hope with Phil and Karen, Stew and Katie and Molly dog. We went into the Old Hall and sat by the fire. We walked back via the road and called into the site for a sandwich. Tom and Lucille had arrived and they told us about having to move their caravan because they’d put it on a blue peg pitch . They weren’t going to use an awning so surely it didn’t matter…….oh yes it did! One of the wardens is a jobsworth par excellence, walking round to make sure you are parked perfectly etc. he told a lady off for wiping her windows- it’s not allowed to ‘wash your van’ on site ! We went into the  Cheshire Cheese  where we met another couple who had a problem with the warden too.  We went into Katie’s van for Lucille’s soup and Katie’s trifle.

Day 3
Mel arrived in time for brunch. He parked to the side of the van but not the right side as the jobsworth warden came to tell him to move it to the other side of the van- where there really wasn't room to park so he got wet feet walking on the grass........what can I say? The warden then went to the van next door who was parked sensibly in the middle of the pitch but the warden said he had to move it so his back nearside was on the peg because he was too close to us- which took him really close to the van next to him on the other side...you couldn't make it up! We had a wet walk to the Nag’s Head then the Woodroffe Arms in Hope for a game of pool then across to the Old Hall for a lovely meal with everyone. After that, we called back to the Woodroffe Arms then back to the site. Mel got lost walking around in the dark on site.

Day 4

 We had a full breakfast. Some of the group went to Bamford , Mel went home and I went into Emily’s to play with Sophie.  Pete and me walked across the fields up to Speedwell cavern then across the fields into the back lanes of Castleton but it was very muddy and slippery. I walked through nettles on the edge of fields risking stings rather than slip down. We called at the George where some of the group were already, but it was noisy and busy so I didn’t stay. We went to Katie and Stew’s for a drink before we went to the Castle for our New Year's Eve meal. We were joined by Emma and Donna and were shown through to the back where we were in a lovely  beamed room. We had really good food  ( good value too) and a big laugh. Everyone was very happy with the food and at midnight, we had sparklers and champagne outside. Peveril castle was lit up by a single beam and it cast a shadow on the cloud behind making a really amazing sight. 

Day 5

Pete lost his voice and it was raining heavily. Karen made banoffee pie and Katie went round our vans sharing it. Lucille was feeling ill  and I got a cough. We stayed in and watched football…and still it rained. 

Day 6
Woken up at 2am by the fridge bleeping. The display showed ‘hel’   Both of us have now got a cough. We walked to the Old Hall via a track up behind the campsite going uphill then down into Hope along the Edale road. Tom and Lucille went home- they were both feeling poorly. We walked back along the main road but didn’t get wet.

Day 7. Packed up and went home

 January 2014 Three Horseshoes, Leamside, Durham

We left home in sunshine and got to Leamside just as it was getting dark. I’d rang the pub earlier and asked if we could park overnight and have a meal. They were very nice but when we got there, as it was a Sunday, the pub was busy and the car park full. We parked in a layby near to the pub then moved into the car park later. We had a really lovely meal. It’s a microbrewery so Pete was very happy with the beer. We went into the bar after we’d eaten and were made very welcome. We took part in a pub quiz and they came round with free snacks too. It's a good place to stop , not far off the A1 north of Durham. http://www.threehorseshoesleamside.co.uk/