The Scenic Route

 In April last year, for the girls birthdays, we had a lovely treehouse family holiday. It was so lovely that we decided to all do it again this year. All except Chris, who presumably didn’t have so much fun. This worked out well as, with only two dogs being allowed, he was on Monty, Amy, and Grandma watch.

We had chosen The North Yorkshire Moors (ish) for this year, Alex and Ian fancied running, I wanted to do some walking, and the Seaside is near. Vicky found a suitable looking home in Kirklevington, near Yarm. Not quite The Moors, but Moorish. We would travel up on the Saturday from Rotherham, while Kathy and Einar came down from Newcastle, a nice easy journey for them. 

We packed up both Ian’s and Vickys cars to the gunnels, waved goodbye to Chris, called to see grandma, then set off for The North. Vicky was feeling a little peaky so, to give her a rest, I drove her car and Alex went in with Ian. As Vicky has no satnav, we made a plan for the unlikely event that Ian sped off and lost us involving a lay-by on the A168. Round about Meadowhall Ian sped off and lost us. We merged once again in a lay-by on the A168. 

I had made a picnic and had chosen a parking called Square Corner near Osmotherly. I had also decided that I wanted to go the scenic route. Thank god for Ian forging the way as The Scenic route was all on narrow roads with barely any passing places! It was lovely though. Due to the scenic route taking four times as long, we were nowhere near Square Corner by 1.30, and all starving. Luckily, after being nearly driven off the road by a land rover, Ian and Alex spotted a large meadow by the road with a family picnicking. Great! We all pulled over and had a lovely lunch under cloudless blue skies. 

A 70’s style picnic

Blue skies

After eating we dragged Misty around the meadow before spotting a gate into a wood. Turns out the meadow is a lovely parking area, the wood is called Anyas wood, and a path leads down to a small stream. Perfect.

Anyas wood

After the picnic we carried on, past Square Corner, which was heaving, and through Osmotherly, which was even busier, and soon arrived at our home for the week, Partridge Cottage in Kirklevington. Not to be confused with Partridge House, next door, which belongs to the owners. Ian and Alex confused the two and ended up in the wrong place. The owner let us in and told us that the gates are electronic and controlled by a phone call! The only number that seems to work is mine, so I hold all the power. To work them I have to phone a number, and abracadabra, they swing open.

Partridge cottage is perfect for us. It’s a three double bedroom bungalow with mainly tile floors and a totally enclosed garden. Plus it has a hot tub. Us Walters (and co) love a hot tub. We chose our bedrooms then unpacked the cars. Soon after, Kathy, Einar and Sam arrived. There was a bit of unruliness but Misty and Sam soon settled down. 

Abracadabra Gates

Nice big kitchen

Conservatory, patio and hot tub

Once all the unpacking was done, the young ones all dashed to the hot tub, while Ian and I prepared two teas, one vegan and one meaty. The stove is so big we had half each. They went down very well. After tea we had a lovely family game of Logo before retiring. Sam was in his cage in the utility room and Misty was left in the kitchen, as no dogs are allowed in the bedrooms.

Observations

Ian dosen’t care if people are supposed to be following.

The scenic route takes a long time.

Never, ever, go to Osmotherly on a nice day in the holidays.

A hot tub is a holiday essential.

Gates controlled by phone are the future.