The GPS Blog
Three Cliffs Bay
17 Sep 2016
The last of the beaches on Scooby's "Tour Of Britain's Best Beaches". After 1650 miles and 16 days and ten beaches, our final beach was was at Three Cliffs Bay on the Gower. Not quite all to ourselves and there were several thousand people doing a 14 mile walk for Macmillan Nursing.
Rhossilli and Llangennith beach
16 Sep 2016
In a holiday of stunning beaches, this was probably the best. Or was that Llanddwyn Bay? I don't know but this was a sure fire entry into Scooby's all time top five set of beaches. Or probably even higher.
Kennexstone Camping
15 Sep 2016
Down from Anglesey to the Gower Peninsula in south Wales. Kennexstone Camping was a lovely spot on the south west side of the Gower. The camp site and the Gower were so nice we slowed down a bit a stayed for three days,
Llanddwyn Bay and Island
14 Sep 2016
The stunning Lllanddwyn Bay on Anglesey at low tide. . A heatwave hit (for one day) and we went along Lllanddwyn Bay with the mountains on Snowdonia in the misty background. On this day, with the heatwave, it was as good as any beach either Liz or I had wandered along anywhere in the world. And it was on Anglesey! Skipping on past most of Ynys LLanddwyn island (dog ban until end of September) we wandered on a little to the next huge bay. Wow!
Lligwy beach and Moelfre
13 Sep 2016
On to an Anglesey and the rather excellent Lligwy Beach. Scooby happy that the "beach quotient" picking up again. Then along the cliff top to the pub in Moelfre and back again. The campsite we were staying at was good with a gate right on to the beach. However, the rules and regulations were a little OTT Actually, we'd recommend the place but they do themselves no favours with their rules and regs so we went on looking for the more liberal parts of Anglesey (well - one can live in hope).
Conniston, Wray and Windemere
12 Sep 2016
Via Kirkstone Pass and Connistone Water and then on to Windemere. An NT campsite on the shores on Lake Windemere. A lovely campsite and a walk along Windemere and back past Wray Castle
Skyside Campsite
11 Sep 2016
No doggie walk here but an absolutely stunning setting for our anniversary dinner outside a pub in the Lake District. I thought the Lake District was about, er, lakes. This campsite was surrounded by crags and pikes and, let's be honest, mountains. A stunning setting. Now known as Skyfall to Lizzie and Aidan (rather than the slightly more prosaic Skyside).
Kielder Observatory
11 Sep 2016
Into Kielder Forest and up from Kielder village to Kielder Observatory. Stunning view - but not of the observatory which unsurprisingly looked at little like a wooden box from the outside during the day time,
Demense Farm In Bellingham
10 Sep 2016
Heading west, we were back just below Hardrians Wall at Demense Farm campsite in Bellingham. A campsite on another working farm, Lizzie may object to me mentioning that she complained about the cow mooing overnight.
Alnwick
10 Sep 2016
A short walk around Alnwick, Again, we were too tight to pay the entrance fee for the castle. Mainly we wanted to see "Barter Books" - the second hand book shop in the old train station. An excellent, excellent shop. Long may they flourish after Starbucks, Next and all the others have fallen out of fashion and had a quick bankcruptcy. One can but hope - I could have spent hours in the place!
Walkworth to Amble
10 Sep 2016
As Scooby had seen the signs to the beach when we were in Walkworth the previous day, we had to come back to try the beach out. Unfortunately, as we were heading on later in the day, it meant that we had to be on the beach before low tide. To be fair, Scooby didn't complain too much but the "tennis ball bounciness" was below par compared to the rest of the holiday. Walked as far as Amble looking for a breakfast egg & chips but reluctant to swim across the harbour just for a second breakfast.
Warkworth
09 Sep 2016
Stayed at a lovely campsite just outside Warkworth - Walkmill Campsite - recommended. Walked into Warkworth and had a look at the outside of the castle - my do English Heritage know how to charge! Then tried a couple of the pubs in town. The GPS looks as though it went a little crazy while we were in The Sun in Walkworth - that's understandable as the decor is really something. Not sure how to describe it - maybe a mix between Camelot and your favourite local. Still - surprisingly - a big "thumbs up" from us due to its friendly staff and the (huge) size and quality of our dinner!
Cheswick Beach
09 Sep 2016
On the advice of Scott C from work, we took the back roads to find Cheswick Beach. Another top Northumbrian beach according to Scooby hound. The beach was pretty much deserted. May be that was due to the warning signs about unexploded ordnance and areas of quicksand? We took the view that that was just the locals trying to keep the grockles from their favourite beach (is grockle the correct term up north?). Anyway - we didn't explode or sink but maybe we turned round slightly earlier than we would normally have!
Dunbar and Belhaven
08 Sep 2016
Up to Scotland and to Dunbar. Found a good campsite and Belhaven Bay just to the west of Dunbar. The campsite backed on to Belhaven Bay - another excellent beach walk (not shown on the GPS track) for Scooby - his first Scottish one! Watched a group of Scots getting married on the "Bridge to Nowhere" at Belhaven Bay. Then an evening cliff top walk into Belhaven, past the harbour and then on to The Volunteer for a smoked haddock and mashed potato dinner.
Berwick On Tweed
08 Sep 2016
A quick walk round Berwick on Tweed - the last English town before heading into Scotland. Probably didn't do it justice but saw some of the town walls that Elizabeth I spent so much on!
Dunstanburgh Castle and Craster
07 Sep 2016
Another day, another Northumberland beach for Scooby. A great walk along to the evocative ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle and then the excellent beaches at Embleton Bay. Back via Craster where the famous smoked fish shop / restaurant was advertising an interesting take on Cullen Skink soup. Unfortunately, they were shut at the time...
Lindisfarne - Holy Island
06 Sep 2016
A walk around the island of Lindisfarne. The journey there was as expected with the road being a causeway accessible at low tide. Once there though, any thoughts of peaceful contemplation etc were blown away by the huge crowds. Skipping swiftly on past the priory and the castle (not least because we'd forgotten our NT cards), we yomped on to the north of the island which was much more pleasing. Scooby's second Northumberland beach well up to scratch apparently.
Seahouses to Bamburgh
05 Sep 2016
First walk along the Northumbrian coast. From just north of Seahouses along to just south of Bamburgh. The Northumberland beaches are just as stunning as expected. Scooby very impressed if this was to be the quality of the beaches for the next two weeks.
Aidan's fall on Hadrian's Wall
04 Sep 2016
A march along some of the best bits of Hadrians Wall. Sheltered behind the wall from a sudden rain/hail shower and felt very "Roman Centurion" like. Didn't feel quite so Centurion like when I slipped coming down one steep part of the wall and bounced badly on my side buggering up my back for much of the holiday! Stunning walk though. Then on to Vindolanda.
North Lees Campsite
03 Sep 2016
An over night stop in the peak district - near Kinder Scout - on the way up north. First injury to my back falling over pushing a stalled motor home out of a rut.