North Yorkshire

Just back from a few days in North Yorkshire, staying in a Forest Holidays cabin on the edge of the moors National Park. We were very lucky with the weather, only one real day of solid and unrelenting rain but given that West Yorkshire only a few miles away was affected by serious floods, we can't complain. Our cabin was basic but comfortable and very private, the only visitors a vast range of woodland birds and a very friendly squirrel.

Home for the past week

We spent the first day driving some very treacherous, zig zagging single track roads across the moors to Robin Hood's Bay, a collection of tiny complicated houses spilling down the steep cliffs to the sea. The village is famous as an old smugglers haunt and legend has it that it was possible to pass a bale of silk from the shore right up to the top of the village without ever seeing daylight. Looking at the houses you could see why, there must be a labyrinth of secret passages linking them all. It was very atmospheric in the rain, with damp slippery cobblestones heading towards the sea. At high tide, the sea comes all the way up the causeway into the street.

Robin Hood's Bay

The bay itself is famous for fossils and jet. We took refuge in a cafe for coffee before driving back over the moors via an old Roman road (following satnav!).

A very bleak day on the North Yorkshire Moors

The beauty of staying in the forest meant that we were able to set off from our cabin on our bikes and cycle off-road up to the highest point for some spectacular views of the moors. This worked up a healthy appetite for a trip to Pickering, the nearest town, for a sandwich at the White Swan, serving meat from the Ginger Pig's home farm just down the road. If you are ever in Pickering, this place is strongly recommended, lovely service and fantastic food at very reasonable prices.

Hot roast pork and apple sauce sandwich, at the White Swan

The best weather was on Thursday so we took the bikes to Dalby Forest for some mountain biking. M is much fitter than me and took the tricky 'red' route but I still ended up doing a combination of road, green, blue and red routes despite thinking I might take it a little easy!

Dalby, on a 'retro' bike!

The forest is amazingly beautiful and there are some great views plus it was so nice to be out and feel the sun on my face after the appalling weather we have had this year. All in all it was a great few days and a reminder of how beautiful England is, just need some more sunny weather!