Another bright morning - weather has been much better than expected this week. On the road by 7AM and following a quick visit to the monolith at Rudston (last seen by me in 1973) I found my way to the RSPB reserve at Bempton - just to the north of Flamborough Head. The reserve consists of cliff-top walks extending about a mile north and south of the centre which has the usual facilities. There are no hides at Bempton but viewing platforms on the cliff-top from where you have a good view of colonies of gannets, fulmars, kittiwakes, razorbills, guillemots and [View Full Entry]

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I guess we must start with the weather again …… Awoke a tad late - 625AM …tut .. tut…. Rushed around getting ready for the road and - yes …. you are right the rain set in. Really heavy so effectively gave up on the day. However just before 9 it suddenly stopped so jumped in the car and set off - and that was the last seen of the wet stuff. Pleasant sunny if somewhat chilly day. Wandered across the little known but very pretty Howardian Hills and arrived at Kirkham Priory. Like all such thanks to Henry VIII it [View Full Entry]

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As I compose this the rain is once again beating down on the tent and the cruel wind lowers temps to something that must be sub-arctic. Scott had it easy !!!!! Stumbled out of tent just before 6AM to find the promised blue sky so hurried around and was on the road shortly after 7AM aiming for Spurn Point (pause here - the rain is so deafening that I cannot here myself think). Anyway, I digress. Sp Pt is of course well known to all geog students - or perhaps not that well known judging by some of the exam papers [View Full Entry]

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….. and so it proved. Chilly night under clear skies. Cloud built up while breakfasting and by 7AM the rain had set in. Proper rain ‘like wot we used to ‘ave’. Cold, wet and windy. Abandoned plans and stayed intent writing up my landscape notes from Lincolnshire - a sensible use of time. Late morning short drive in torrential rain to shopping centre on edge of York. Rain so heavy to see where going. Roads flooded in parts. Hasty retreat to campsite beginning to look like a lake. Reminded me of that storm in Milan in 1970 when I woke to [View Full Entry]

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Clear blue sky at 530AM. Showered / breakfasted and packed up tent by 715AM - by which time the sky had clouded over. Set off towards north east Lincs - found some interesting landscapes to photo also found Thornton Abbey - little remains other than the magnificent thirteenth century gatehouse. Returned across the county to study the northern part of the Vale of Lincoln. Unfortunately by midday the showers had merged into continuous rain creating a depressing scene. Took some photos of the Trent that marks the boundary with Notts and then headed north into Yorkshire (northern England ??) an [View Full Entry]

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Woken by heavy rain but my breakfast (6am) the sky had cleared. Set off towards Skegness with various landscape shots on the way. Saw some deer which I captured on camera and yet another barn owl which unfortunately was a little too far away. Visited the ruins of the once powerful Bolingbroke Castle - where I also found a brightly coloured snail that I have yet to identify. Drove along a minor road which was underwater - testament to the amount of rain in recent days. Found the nature reserve at Gibraltar Point to the south of Skegness and then made [View Full Entry]

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Most of the day spent in Boston. Started off soon after 7am and drove slowly across the fen landscape to Boston. For a country that is in the middle of a drought there are certainly some massive field drains - more like rivers than artificial channels. Park in Boston, found the TIC and purchased a town trail guide fore 40p and set off. First stop was the church of St Botolph which is famous for its tower known as ‘the stump’. Exceptionally beautiful church with much of interest. Dug deep and paid the £2.50 to go up the tower. Some 259 [View Full Entry]

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A relatively relaxing day - and only one shower until the evening. Drove west towards Sleaford (small market tow) taking photos of the landscape. Very agricultural … little of real interest although not unattractive. First place of interest was Cogglesford Watermill on the outskirts of Seaford. Convenient and free car park adjacent to the mill allowed a short walk in both directions alongside the small stream. Continued on my way until I found Belton House dating from the late seventeenth century and considered to be one of the finest Restoration estates in the country. £8 entry to [View Full Entry]

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Retreated to the car - drove through the Wolds … really attractive rolling landscape. Weather was patchy …… mix of cloud and sun - by the end of the day it was raining properly ! Took many landscape photographs. Highlights of the day were probably the National Nature Reserve at Saltingfleet - really attractive coastal area with clearly laid out trails and abundant info boards. Also Willoughby church which was which has connections with the Pocahontas story (our USA readers should know all about that !). The church was the baptism place of the man (yes - I have forgott [View Full Entry]

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Well, that was a different sort of day. Planned a cycling trip around the Vale of Lincoln - mostly to the south and the west of the city. Weather generally fine with prolonged sunny intervals. Guessed the distance before setting out - would have been better to measure accurately. Ten hours on the road and some 85 miles later I arrived back at the camp site - a little fatigued. Mostly enjoyable with some attractive landscapes. Limit 50 miles next time, please. [View Full Entry]

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