Fun with the Mollie, Tom & Ruby at Austwick

It’s a rest from the visit to The Northumberland Coastal Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty today, because we visited Austwick with Mollie and Tom, our grandchildren. We usually stop in Settle for refreshments on the way there, and call at a cafe called the Naked Man, which causes much amusement.

Mollie selecting her food in the "Naked Man"

Then we made our way up to Austwick which is fondly remembered by my wife as the place of her birth and early childhood. We went for a short walk up the side of the local pub, The Gamecock, which serves excellent and very tasty home cooked meals. The landlord is a Frenchman, but has certainly got the hang of cooking local Yorkshire food!

Action Shot of Mollie

Returning from the walk to "The Gamecock" for lunch

The Gamecock Austwick

Then it was a short walk to Flascoe Bridge, an old clapper bridge over a small stream. On the walk there we came across lots of wild flowers.

Usually when we arrive here it is deserted, and we have the stream and bridge to ourselves, but today, being a lovely sunny day, and it being the school holidays, we met two local families who had been busy damming the stream up so it was deep enough for their two dogs and ours and their children and our grandchildren to paddle/swim in.

Tom in action - dam building

Tom & Mollie with Rolly

Mollie checking the dam

Rolly & Ruby

There is also a rope swing fastened to a tree which overhangs the stream and both Mollie and Tom had a swing on it. At one point Mollie managed to slip into the water, which was quite deep, and her wellies filled up. She soon emptied them.

Mollie in action

Tom in action

Mollie on Flascoe Bridge

A little water pixie called Tom under Flascoe Bridge

This is how you empty a wellie full of water!

After a short walk back to the car, we returned to Austwick village for ice creams, and went for a short walk down an area called "The Pant"

On our return home, we dropped Tom off at their allotments, and Mollie presented us with a home grown cucumber!