Whitby and Broadings Farm September 2022

We decided, as we had our first year under our belt, to explore places that we had for a long time wished to travel to, and the first on the list was Whitby.

I managed to book a pitch at Broadings Farm Campsite just outside Whitby

https://www.broadingsfarm.co.uk for a few days in September, after the schools had started a new term. We were expecting a quiet site because of this, but it appeared that all our fellow campers, of our age, had the same idea. We met a good number of similarly retired travellers, who were enjoying a late break with their dogs, hoping to avoid the children.

We arrived late afternoon, and had enough time to connect up to the facilities, and tune in the TV, before we set off to the Stables Bar https://tinyurl.com/3mcrew5y for our pre-booked meal. I had envisaged, when booking the site that it was located on the outskirts of Whitby, and that a footpath from the site to the pub would be available. It turned out that the site was just outside of the town, and on the busy main road with only a grass strip to walk on.

Our plans to use the Park and Ride facility next to the Stables, to access the town, were scuppered once we realised how dangerous the walk there was.

Our meal in the Stables Bar was good and Finn got spoilt  rotten by the staff. As this was the first night of our break, and there was a new series of one of our favourite series playing that evening, we decided to take an early night and brave the walk back to the site. We arrived back at the motorhome unscathed, and settled down to drink the wine rations that we had brought with us. With that, day one came to a close with the rain beating down on the motorhome roof.

Day two broke with an unsettled day, and following breakfast it was decided, as our plans to use the Park and Ride had changed, that we would book a taxi to deliver us to the Abbey Wharf, https://abbeywharfwhitby.co.uk for our lunch booking. The taxi took us directly to the door, but in order to give Finn the chance to do his business we walked around the old town for a short while before entering the restaurant.

It appeared that day that we were the only customers who had booked ahead to reserve a table, as we were shown to a table on the upper floor, exclusively for pre bookings. We were the only ones on that floor, and sat at our table overlooking the lower floor with the rain beating down on the glass panes above. The heavens opened and the rain began running off the roof like a waterfall. The inclement weather resulted in a rise in the number of customers, with many sodden diners rushing in for a late lunch.

Once we had eaten a good meal of scampi and salt and pepper chicken strips we again took to the streets. First stop was a ‘jet’ shop to pick up a necklace for Sue. The weather had improved and we took the opportunity to explore the interesting shops in the old town.

We then crossed the swing bridge to the Fish Quay and walked along the Northern side of the harbour until we reached the path/steps that would take us up to Captain Cook's Monument and the whale bone arch. The road along which cars can drive up to this point is, curiously, called the Khyber Pass. We also walked along the First Nab to look at the water crashing against the cliffs below. Sue took every opportunity to take photographs on her phone.

This we did until a further rain storm forced us to take cover in the Black Horse, https://www.the-black-horse.com back in the old town, where we enjoyed a drink and picked up a home-made pork pie for a later snack. Here we met a couple who had pitched their motorhome at the  Whitby Holiday Park on the cliffs, near to the Abbey. They had left their exhausted dog in their motorhome whilst they had a quick drink and an Italian meal. We got into a conversation with them regarding whether or not to wave to other motorhomers on the road. This was an issue they found very comical.

From the pub we walked through the cobbled streets until we reached the road from where we could take a taxi back to the motorhome for a snack tea and an early night. In the taxi on the way back Sue informed me that my sister had messaged that the Queen had died. We quickly put on the TV when we got back to verify this news. The news was sad as her death meant the end of an era.

Friday dawned, yet another rainy day, but by the time we had sorted ourselves out and had breakfasted, things had dried up. Again we took a taxi into town, and after being dropped off we made our way to the Quirky Pub https://tinyurl.com/2p9bvkr8 for a quick drink to start the day. From there, taking the advice of the landlady we set off on a mission to find a shop selling belts. I’m happy to report that I couldn’t find a suitable belt for my petite waist, with all those available being too big!

We also took the opportunity to catch up on some other shopping, some cosmetics for Sue and some hooks for wet coats in the motorhome. We managed to complete these tasks in time, before our pre-booked meal at the Star Inn The Harbour. This was to prove to be our best meal, and I was not tardy at posting my 'excellent' review on Tripadvisor upon our return. The food was the best we were to taste on the break and the staff were both professional and attentive. We will eat there again on our next visit to Whitby. ( Since writing this I have become aware of the Star Inn The Harbour permanently closing following a fire at it's sister restaurant at Harome). Following our meal we waited outside for a taxi, which took longer than usual as Whitby was filling up for the weekend.

Back at the site we found that we had many new neighbours as the site had filled up with 'week-enders'.

As we awoke on Saturday morning the weather was dry, and after sorting ourselves out we booked a taxi to take us to Hadleys (reputedly the best fish and chip restaurant in Whitby) http://www.hadleysfishandchips.co.uk. After waiting in the queue outside we were eventually shown to our table and enjoyed our meal. It was not that special to deserve the hype that the restaurant enjoys. I must add, however, that we both felt very full after our lunch and decided to take a last walk through the old town to help our digestion. We walked the length of Church Street and Henrietta Street to the Smokehouse, and then we took a detour along Tate Hill Pier to watch the dramatic surf as the waves crashed against the harbour wall.

We had to cut our views of the seas short as the rain came on, and we took respite in the Board Inn https://www.boardinnwhitby.co.uk, along with a good number of other rain soaked visitors. Here we met a couple of football supporters who had travelled from Warrington to watch a football match with Whitby, which unfortunately had been cancelled due to the Queen's death.

Once the rain had ceased the sun came out, and it's heat caused the damp ground to steam. We left the pub and made our way back down Church Street to find two seats  by a table outside of the The Blitz bar and tapas restaurant https://www.theblitzwhitby.co.uk. The sun shone down and we decided that this would be an ideal place to sit a while and 'people watch'. There was a constant stream of visitors making their way, up and down the steps to the Abbey. There was a good variety of people, with some excessively tall people and even one man in plus fours. All the time Finn, sat under our table, was attracting a lot of interest from other dogs and dog owners. I have to add that throughout this trip we had been showcasing Finn's ability to offer a 'high five' for a biscuit, and he was proving very popular. The downside of this was that he suffered from a stomach upset from biscuits he was not used to, which resulted in a midnight panic for a bowel movement.

Whilst sitting outside the Blitz bar Sue took the opportunity to test their cocktails, whilst I enjoyed the cider on this last day of our holiday. I was going to pay for this luxury later.

Once the sun had descended behind the buildings opposite the Blitz the temperature fell and we decided to call it a day, and made our way to the station in the hope of picking up a taxi there.

On the way I stopped at the Co-op to pick up a microwave meal.

Even though I had taken advantage of the facilities upon leaving the Blitz my bladder was still having difficulty coping with the amount of fluid imbibed and a toilet break was becoming essential! When we arrived at the station there were no taxis available so I rang our usual provider, and whilst waiting for the taxi to arrive I took the advantage of the facilities in the station bar, without which I would have experienced an embarrassing moment.

For the use of their facilities the bar staff insisted that I buy a drink (counterproductive!), and I enjoyed the ambience of the bar whilst Sue waited outside for the taxi. When I realised that I was enjoying the ambience too much I took my leave and found Sue and the taxi driver waiting by the car for my arrival. There were many people around, it being a weekend, and our taxi was being looked at with envy so we took a quick exit and set off back to the site and settled down.

I have since sought medical advice and found out that I have an enlarged prostate, which explains my  waterworks emergency.

The next morning was our last and we rose to complete our final routines before leaving the site.  I would highly recommend Whitby and will be going again, but next time will try to get a site nearer to the town. For the first trip of our second year it was a great success. All through our time in Whitby the weather was very unsettled but we made the best of it by ensuring that we were in, either, a restaurant or a pub during the heaviest downpours.