Day Out in Settle and Austwick

It being the school holidays, and Garry & Rachel being in Dubai, we have the grandchildren for  a few days, then they visit their other grandparents for the remainder of the week.

Yesteday they were taken to the Jorvik Viking Centre.

Today it was the trip up to Settle and a visit to the Naked Man Cafe, where both Mollie and Tom enjoyed a "Full Monty"

Above is a photo of Tom before he devoured his Gingerbread Man!

 Here is Mollie about to attack her "Meringue" before attacking her "Full Monty"

 We came across this replica "State Coach" outside a shop called "The House That Jack Built" 

WE then moved on to Austwick, and the lane which Mollie and Tom call "The Rabbit Walk." There was plenty of evidence that Spring had Sprung. These Bluebells were in full bloom.

There were lots of sheep and lambs in the surrounding fields, and this cheeky little fellow was using his mother as a prop to get a better look a me taking his photograph!

A little further up the lane we came across this amazing fungus, which was growing from the base of a tree root.

This is the lower end of the lane.

There was plenty of blossom out on the trees too!

After walking up the lane we stopped for a delicious meal at the Gamecock.

We then took a walk down to the little stream which flows under the old clapper bridge (which is called Flascoe Bridge.) It took Ruby about 2 seconds to decide that the water looked very inviting, and she was soon retrieving a large stick which Tom was throwing into the stream for her. It was actually deep enough for her to swim in.

This is Tom about to launch himself on to the swing,

and here is Mollie having a swing.

Having jumped in and swum about in the stream lots of times, Ruby decided that it would be nice to have a rest on the bank and dry out in the sun. Here she is having a gnaw at her stick.



Tom found this ladybird, which finished up on Dot's arm!

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!