Nice places to stop off at.....

[mickthemaverick]

Would you believe our local cafe in Borehamwood?

Own work

[NewcastleFalcon]

Hartside Top June 2021

I will find it interesting to watch The Hairy Bikers tonight at 8.00 BBC2 out of curiosity, and I don't mind them and enjoy their visits to different places around the country.

"So, over a bacon butty and cup of tea at one of their favourite haunts, the Hartside Cafe in Cumbria, they hatch a plan."

It was revealed back in October that the purchaser of the site at the top of Hartside Pass, on the A696 between Penrith and Alston following the fire which destroyed the buildings, had pulled out of ambitious redevelopment plans. Penrith-based property developer Dawn Dixon bought the site and she had big plans for the future.

In October 2021 she was planning to sell the site to two loyal customers. She has been operating a catering trailer at the site, which was there last time we visited. Very blowy as ever at the top which was whipping up the loose surface of the parking area like a sandstorm!

https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/1961 ... de-closes/

She said: “It has been a really difficult decision, I’m emotionally attached to the place. I have had so many potential buyers but I couldn’t let it just go to anyone...I’m in talks with two customers at the moment and it is not something I have decided to do easily. This place is unique. You come round the corner and you’re wowed by the views every time."

and back to our Hairy friends on the motorbikes, I wonder if they have a bit crack with Dawn, and what stage the development was at the time of filming.

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

This was Dawn's original vision for the cafe.

Proposals for the New Hartside Cafe

https://www.in-cumbria.com/news/1785735 ... ise-ashes/

REgards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

It was sunnier in June!

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

The geograph inspired go somewhere that you should have been before but never have

The River Derwent at Shotley Grove/Bridgehill Consett. Nice walks along the riverbank turn left over the Bridge for the Weir and fish ladder.

The NF version of the Geograph image

The old FCF favourite "The Moon Under Water"

The fish Pass round the weir fashioned from boulders

Regards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

Going through some of my old pictures I came across this lovely view from the terrace of The Fish and Eels in Hoddesdon:

Own work

[myglaren]

Can't see any fish, or eels. You've been scammed.
Ask for your money back.

[mickthemaverick]

Can't see any fish, or eels. You've been scammed.
Ask for your money back.

They were all on the menu Steve!

[myglaren]

Missing from the water though - or possibly hiding if they were to be served up hot with chips.

[NewcastleFalcon]

This is a place we did stop off at, and it has a bit of interest, free rapid charging point at the recycling centre with a Chargepoint Scotland card for one, nice marketplace and park, and its single "garden centre" is run by the famous Pearsons of Duns coal merchant, not obviously signed down a side road and round the back. It combines a builders merchant, one of those if you ask have you got this they usually say yes! It did have a very good little cafe/restaurant and today in January, very much sitoutsidable at, at the tables and benches made out of pallets.

and its famous link to the Bear saved and adopted by Polish Soldiers Wojtek. So a few pics, and we enjoyed our little stop off although I wouldn't describe it as a tourist magnet or universally attractive. It does have the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum which will draw in many visitors.

Duns Scottish Borders

nice pallet benches and tables

DPBC at the Park

Wojtek

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Wylam

Been mentioned on here a few times, and have been there many times, but today took the back lane to Prudhoe and discovered this new view of the River Tyne Railway Crossing to the former North Wylam Station and beyond to Newburn Scotswood and Newcastle.

It was opened in 1876. The wrought iron bridge has an 80 yard arch from which the deck is suspended from vertical ties. It is believed to be the first of its kind in the world, and claimed inspiration for Australia's Sydney Harbour Bridge.

I am very familiar with this bridge over the Tyne. Its now part of a nice walking route which takes you down past George Stephenson's birthplace at Wylam Northumberland on the old railway line. What a joy it was to discover amongst the old 1960's transport cine films which Alan Snowdon has put together on his youtube channel, a footplate journey on the Tyne Valley Line via North Wylam, with the bridge being used as it was intended.

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Causey Arch

Nice walk through the gorge up to the arch and back alongside the Tanfield Railway to the Carpark with the Causey House Tea Room adjacent, but only open at the weekends in Feb.

A little flavour for a virtual walk

REgards Neil

[myglaren]

I really must make the effort to visit Causey Arch. Interesting back story to it that I only recently learned.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Kelso has a shop which sells stovies which I have never arrived at in time to get any other reply than "none left".

Broke my duck, got to Kelso before the stovies sold out today...perfect addition to the in-car picnic at the charging point . Lovely display of colourful crocus on the roadside grass as you come into the town.

Regards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

This is another FCF spooky!! I wasn't sure about the origins of stovies so I typed it into DDG and this is the page that came up:

Screenshot

Note the second entry within minutes of Steve's post on the subject on the TIT thread:
viewtopic.php?p=711444#p711444