Black Bull, Pickering - April 2021
We’ve just returned from Pickering, the location for the first SMOC rally for 6 months. 10 vans attended, with length of stay varying between 2 and 7 days due to other commitments. Covid Regulations did not allow a Welcome Meeting or Coffee Morning, as we could only meet outside in groups of six people, but we did manage a socially distanced Pizza Party to celebrate the birthdays of Robert and Bridget Hubbard.
The campsite is located behind the Black Bull pub which had a large marquee, with open sides, covering the Beer Garden. This allowed the pub to be Covid Compliant and to serve meals and drinks outside from Noon to 9 p.m. (by which time it was too cold to sit out)
The nearest attractions to the site (North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Flamingo Land and Eden Camp Museum) were closed due to Covid, but there was still plenty to see and do in the area. Buses from the site entrance travel to Scarborough, Whitby, Thornton le Dale and throughout the North Yorkshire Moors to places such as Goathland (Aidensfield in the Heartbeat TV series), Grosmont and Helmsley.
Our first trip out was to Thornton le Dale, a very scenic village which is the home of Matthewsons Classic Vehicle Auctions. They are the subject of a popular programme on the ‘Yesterday’ channel called Bangers and Cash. The village has lots of cafes and a large car park beside the village pond.
We left Thornton le Dale and made our way to Scarborough. The weather was hot and sunny as we strolled along the seafront past the Grand Hotel to the harbour. We returned to the car via the town centre shops (one street back from the front, up a steep hill) and managed to catch the last tram back down to the beach, avoiding a long walk down dozens of steps.
The following day we went to another popular Yorkshire resort - Whitby. This once major fishing port is now a very popular tourist town and is famous for two former residents. They are the explorer Captain James Cook and the vampire Count Dracula. The latter apparently has a grave in the cemetery of the Abbey that overlooks the town. The town sits on both sides of the mouth of the River Esk joined together by a swing bridge that opens to allow tall ship to enter the inner harbour. Narrow cobbled streets with even narrower alleyways connecting them are found in both sides of the town and are a pleasure to explore. The streets are lined with small shops of every description and quite a few Goth and Steam Punk clothes shops which are fairly unique.
Although the sun shone brightly for our visit, a bitterly cold wind was blowing off the North Sea and we needed to be well wrapped up. Having said that I still managed to get a sunburned head!
On Thursday (at 3.30p.m.) we celebrated the birthdays of both Robert and Bridget Hubbard by having a Pizza Party - along with quite a few alcoholic beverages. Heather had bought Pizzas and Garlic Bread for everyone and Heather, Bridget and Ann Halford kindly cooked them for us. We had a socially distanced get together with groups of 6 people spread over 3 pitches. Festivities went on into the evening and a good time was had by everyone.
On another day we visited Staithes, a coastal village and ex fishing port about 10 miles north of Whitby. The old stone houses cling to steep cliffs on either side of the river. Around the year 1900 the village was a major fishing centre with 80 full time fishing boats working out of it’s harbour. On our way back to camp we took the scenic route over the moors via Rosedale Abbey and went up the 1 in 3 climb known as Rosedale Chimney. This is a 1000ft hill with 1 in 3 gradients in places. The car couldn’t get out of 1st gear!
On Sunday, the final day of the rally, a group of us went to the Black Bull for an excellent lunch. The portions were so big that we struggled to eat the meal before it went cold!
In spite of Covid restrictions this was a brilliant rally in a fantastic location. It was great to be out in the van again and to meet all our friends. We can’t wait for the Cromer Rally in a few weeks time.
The campsite is located behind the Black Bull pub which had a large marquee, with open sides, covering the Beer Garden. This allowed the pub to be Covid Compliant and to serve meals and drinks outside from Noon to 9 p.m. (by which time it was too cold to sit out)
The nearest attractions to the site (North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Flamingo Land and Eden Camp Museum) were closed due to Covid, but there was still plenty to see and do in the area. Buses from the site entrance travel to Scarborough, Whitby, Thornton le Dale and throughout the North Yorkshire Moors to places such as Goathland (Aidensfield in the Heartbeat TV series), Grosmont and Helmsley.
Our first trip out was to Thornton le Dale, a very scenic village which is the home of Matthewsons Classic Vehicle Auctions. They are the subject of a popular programme on the ‘Yesterday’ channel called Bangers and Cash. The village has lots of cafes and a large car park beside the village pond.
We left Thornton le Dale and made our way to Scarborough. The weather was hot and sunny as we strolled along the seafront past the Grand Hotel to the harbour. We returned to the car via the town centre shops (one street back from the front, up a steep hill) and managed to catch the last tram back down to the beach, avoiding a long walk down dozens of steps.
The following day we went to another popular Yorkshire resort - Whitby. This once major fishing port is now a very popular tourist town and is famous for two former residents. They are the explorer Captain James Cook and the vampire Count Dracula. The latter apparently has a grave in the cemetery of the Abbey that overlooks the town. The town sits on both sides of the mouth of the River Esk joined together by a swing bridge that opens to allow tall ship to enter the inner harbour. Narrow cobbled streets with even narrower alleyways connecting them are found in both sides of the town and are a pleasure to explore. The streets are lined with small shops of every description and quite a few Goth and Steam Punk clothes shops which are fairly unique.
Although the sun shone brightly for our visit, a bitterly cold wind was blowing off the North Sea and we needed to be well wrapped up. Having said that I still managed to get a sunburned head!
On Thursday (at 3.30p.m.) we celebrated the birthdays of both Robert and Bridget Hubbard by having a Pizza Party - along with quite a few alcoholic beverages. Heather had bought Pizzas and Garlic Bread for everyone and Heather, Bridget and Ann Halford kindly cooked them for us. We had a socially distanced get together with groups of 6 people spread over 3 pitches. Festivities went on into the evening and a good time was had by everyone.
On another day we visited Staithes, a coastal village and ex fishing port about 10 miles north of Whitby. The old stone houses cling to steep cliffs on either side of the river. Around the year 1900 the village was a major fishing centre with 80 full time fishing boats working out of it’s harbour. On our way back to camp we took the scenic route over the moors via Rosedale Abbey and went up the 1 in 3 climb known as Rosedale Chimney. This is a 1000ft hill with 1 in 3 gradients in places. The car couldn’t get out of 1st gear!
On Sunday, the final day of the rally, a group of us went to the Black Bull for an excellent lunch. The portions were so big that we struggled to eat the meal before it went cold!
In spite of Covid restrictions this was a brilliant rally in a fantastic location. It was great to be out in the van again and to meet all our friends. We can’t wait for the Cromer Rally in a few weeks time.