Great Western Christmas Envoy November 26 2022

The opportunity to travel all the way from Coventry to Bristol behind a steam train could not be missed. so the tickets for four of us were booked. There was a slight panic when ASLEF announced they were going on strike that day, but Saphos, the tour operator said they had their own drivers and would not be affected

We arrived at Coventry station at 0800, to find the passage from the street carpark locked and a sign saying the station was closed. We wandered around to the main entrance, where mentioning the keyword "charter" got us to Platform 4, we were the only train of the day! The train, hauled by "Britannia" number 7000 arrived on time.

After picking up passengers at Leamington we continued South, pausing near Oxford station while the engine got more water from a water tanker parked over the fence (the train started in Crewe).We then made a stop in Swindon station having convinced Network Rail that noone else would need a platform.

After dropping off some passengers at Bath, the train continued to Bristol Temple meads, arriving on time. We walked into town and visited the Cathedral and had coffee at the docks

Bristol Cathedral

Not much was happening at Bristol Temple Meads

About to depart from Bristol Temple Meads

A stop was made at the deserted Oxford Station platform while the engine got more water from a water tanker parked over the fence and we stretched our legs

The train arrived on time at Coventry station at 2005. The staff were pleased by our arrival as they could then close the station!

Birmingham to Worcester canal Part 2 13 Nov 2022

The only section of the Birmingham canal walk to be completed was Alvechurch to Droitwich We decided to do it from the North end, so we went to catch a train from Canley to Droitwich. When we got to the station the train was so full due to an event at the NEC that we couldnt get on and had to take the next one. This was also crowded/delayed and got to New St too late to get the connection to Droitwich. The the next one being in 105 minutes due to cancellations. However there was a train to Alvechurch so we decided to do the route as Alvechurch to Droitwich

We left Alvechurch at 1250. It was sunny all the way. The only incident was a preening swan blocking the path!

Swan blocking Towpath

Tardebigge Locks

We got to Hanbury Wharf as the light was failing but managed to get to the Centre of Droitwich through the gloom at 1730. We did 11.5 miles.

We failed to find somewhere to eat in Droitwich, and unwilling to wait for the next New Street Train in an hour we caught the snow hill train and ate at Pizza hut in the Bull ring. The centre was very crowded due to the Birmingham German Christmas market being in operation

Alvechurch to Droitwich

A weekend in a cottage near Welshpool

We decided we needed a weekend away in Wales. We found a cottage for 4 nights on airbnb, but subsequently found it for £80 cheaper on welshholidaycottages.co.uk so we booked it there

Outbound route. 65 miles

We couldnt get acess until 1600 so we took a drive into Welshpool and explored the town centre and had a late lunch. The road to the cottage was very narrow with few passing places but fortunately we didnt meet any traffic The host met us at the property at 1610 and left us to it. 

The view to the East

The cottage. We had the small annexe on the right

Saturday I went a walk to the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway

Extremely muddy at the start of the walk but lots of game birds disturbed!

Luckily I had timed my arrival for the appearance of a train:-

I decided to avoid an encounter with the mud again so went back a different route. It would have been shorter but two of the footpaths shown on the OS map did not exist (common I have found in Wales!) Time spent in the hot tub was a good cure for the walking!

Monday we returned home via a different more scenic route

The scenic return journey 98 miles

Return to the Worcestershire way part 2 on 15 October 2022

Stayed at Talbot Inn in Knightwick overnight. Wonderful breakfast during which it rained heavily for the only time seriously during the day. Set out at 1000 Arrived at the Malvern Post office at 1700, delay mainly due to an unplanned 1.5 mile around Upper Tundridge farm area. Wet and windy in final part on the Malverns. Went out to celebrate the 23.5 miles on the Worcestershire way with dinner at the newly opened Gurkha Restaurant in Malvern, which was very good.

12.5 miles(excluding deviation) Knightwick to Malvern

Return to Worcestershire way part 1 on14 October 2022

 

11 miles Abberley to Knightwick

Train from Malvern to Worcester Foregate St. Took 0900 Yarronton 758 Bus from Worcester Crowngate Bus station to Abberley Stores (£4.50 single cash only) arriving 0928. Lunch by the Teme river at Kingswood. Arrived at Knightwick at 1500 in brilliant sunshine. Stayed the night at the Talbot Inn Nice dinner. Interesting slopes on bedroom floor!

The view from Walsgrove Hill towards the Abberley Clock Tower

Self guided walking holiday in Whitby

Having done a guided walking holiday based in Ravenscar with Ramblers holidays, we decided to see how we liked doing a self guided tour with their competitors HF Holidays. We booked a 4 night holiday based at Larpool House located south of Whitby

Larpool House

We started the first day with a walk in the area south of Whitby along the cliff path, using the provided route card. It rained a lot, checking out our waterproof gear, but did produce some nice rainbows

The circular morning walk

After the picnic lunch we walked along the cinder track to West Whitby and examined the beach

The cliff view in West Whitby

The afternoon walk

One of the advantages of the Larpool location is that it is only 5 minutes walk from the Larpool Aquaduct. This crosses the River, but more importantly crosses the tracks the NYMR use into Whitby. From past experience I was only expecting to see diesels but we heard steam trains so had to investigate:-

 

Day 3 we decided to try the walk along the cinder track in the opposite direction towards Hawkser. When we got there we decided to go a bit further and ended up in Robin hood bay. 

Day 3 outbound 5.5 miles

We did encounter one interesting horse crossing on the route!

We returned along the Cleveland way to Whitby, avoiding coming down the 199 steps by the Abbey but encountering some very muddy gullies

Day 3 inbound 7.5 miles

Heavy rain was predicted for the afternoon of  September 30 so we walked along the cinder track to the beach at west Whitby. The tide was out so we walked along the beach (including a paddle in the cold North Sea!) to Sandsend then back along the cliff to whitby, arriving back to Larpool just in time for the heavy rain. 

The return from Sandsend

After the rain cleared in early evening we went a walk along the cinder track and did some star gazing

Return to Ravenscar September 2022

 Before attending an unguided walking holiday in whitby on september it was decided to revisit Ravenscar for a few days .

First stop on the trip up, a break of journey, was to Flamburgh head. 

We then continued on to the Ravens Hall hotel in time for dinner. The menu offerings were still the same as in June!

Sunday we walked to Robin hoods bay along the Cleveland way cliff path. When we got there it was decided to continue further North up the coastal path then come back to Robin hood bay along the cinder track (the old whitby to Scarborough railway). When we returned at 1500 we were hungry so we had sunday roast and a glass of wine at Victoria hotel before the walk back to the hotel which was very blustery. 11.97 miles completed

The view from Sunday Lunch at the Victoria Hotel

Monday we drove to Pickering and caught the later Seaside special NYMR train to Whitby, (which arrived late) Again the Magpie cafe was visited as it did Grilled Haddock. It also did Fruit crumble and Liz had Yorkshire cake, a combination I had never previously encountered of fruitcake and wensleydale cheese!

 

The train back to Pickering also arrived late so we had to follow the GPS Navigators back street route so as not to miss our allocated spot in the hotels pool, not found on the previous visit!

Tuesday we checked out of the hotel and drove to Runswick bay for a walk along the beach. Yes they still did Orange marmalade ice cream!

Runswick bay at low tide

Before moving on to Whitby we visited Salburn for a promenade walk and a trip along the pier.

Saltburn view North

Saltburn Pier

 

Steam over Shap Summit : Cumbrian Fells Express 3 September 2022

 The day started at worcestershire parkway at 0710, the train having started at Bristol Temple Meads at 0535! We were at the back end of the train in coach A.

The Start of the day

After passenger pickups on the path North, we got to Carnforth where Tangmere was attached to the front and the diesel relegated to the back end. The journey then continued over Shap Simmit to Carlisle. 65mph was reached uphill, 84mph was achieved coming downhill, with the diesel acting as ballast.

Due to a medical emergency there was an unscheduled stop at Oxenholme for an ambulance pickup which delayed arrival in Carlisle by 30 minutes, meaning only 50 minutes in Carlisle (long enough for a trip to costa and Tesco express to restock supplies). 

Carnforth to Carlise over Shap Summit

The diesel on the back end for the return journey to Preston

 The return was along the Settle and Carlisle Line over the Ribblehead viaduct and passing over Aisgill to Preston.

The route Carlise to Preston via Settle

At Preston Tangmere and diesel were removed and a pair of class 57 put on the front (our end in coach A) for the trip back south.

The double headed diesels for the trip from Preston to Worcester

It left 20 minutes late (the diesel pair were waiting in a siding when we arrived but it took 50 minutes to get them to the platform across the busy approaches) but due to sustained 95mph (measured) running Crewe to Wolverhampton (crew change there) and Wolverhampton to Birmingham New Street, the train was only 1 minute late at Worstershire parkway

The day ended at 2205 at Worcestershire parkway

In total 467 miles by train, 176 miles steam hauled, 291 miles diesel hauled in 14.75 hours elapsed time