Motorhomes cruise through these valleys, and we’ve got quite a few of them that are ‘native’ to these parts as well. Indeed, I’ve just been kitting Harry Hymer out in preparation for our little jaunt to the seaside in early…
Category: Tourism
Sorting out the tools . . . a mini-break in the offing?
It’s even worse than one might suppose: not only do we need a set of tools for fixing things around the house, but we also need another similar set for fixing things on the road in the ancient motorhome! Yesterday…
Deneholme Wood and/or Allen Banks and Staward Gorge
To get to woodland now in Allendale, the easiest and best thing to do is to traipse cheerfully down the birch tree colonnade in the Recreation Ground to the new entrance to Deneholme Wood. Enjoy the wooded view before navigating…
Surprising Allenheads
Actually, on my reconnoitre around Allenheads yesterday, to prepare for today’s diary entry (recall that we’re featuring free things to do for the family, on successive Saturdays, having already diarised The River Path, Allendale Smelt Mill, and The Chimneys), I…
Getting ready for holidays
I don’t think we’re alone in spending a significant amount of time both thinking about, and then getting ready for a holiday. There’s always so much to do to prepare! But we’re starting a bit early this year, because we’re…
The Walk to the Chimneys
Images of the Allendale Chimneys and flue courses courtesy of Doc Phil Brown’s amazing collection, in particular his depiction of a walk around Allendale. Today’s entry is the third in our Saturday series of free things to do with the…
Allen Mill — a walk’s half-way point maybe?
The big reveal, facilitated by the North Pennines AONB in the Allen Valleys Landscape Partnership, funded by the Heritage Lottery (2013-2018), opened up the remains of the old smelt mill so that the place became re-imbued with a kind of…
The new season of Baynes Tours . . .
For well over a decade now, building on the excellent reputation that Fergus Sandison established in a carefully honed niche within Baynes Travel for friendliness, cheerfulness, and a frisson of adventure in every offering, the Baynes Tours, this year concentrating…
Isaac Holden, a very odd and wonderful person
Isaac Holden is probably older than the ‘guysers’ and the bonfire on New Year’s Eve in Allendale’s Market Square, though he must have seen them during his last decade, but he’s maybe not quite as famous as Allendale’s Tar Bar’l…
Allenheads Inn . . .
We’ve seen a few landlords come and go at the Allenheads Inn, over the years. Since the bus service was curtailed several years ago now, we don’t ourselves get up there any longer, but some regulars are still very faithful,…