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York, Lakes District in early May good choice? Or Elsewhere?

York, Lakes District in early May good choice? Or Elsewhere?

Old Mar 9th, 2014, 11:16 PM
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Hi Aussie

I spent a few weeks oop that way about 10 years ago. The lakes are lovely, as are many of the little coastal towns. You may have trouble understanding the dialect, it's allegedly English, but not as we know it. We were there in May, and I found it freezing, so be prepared with a warm jacket.

Another Aussie
Caroline

PS - if you catch up with Bikerscott and Jamikins, could you buy them a beer from me too ? They have provided hours of entertainment to me, and I promise I'll pay you back!
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Old Mar 10th, 2014, 12:11 AM
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Good news about Keswick. The town will be VERY busy but you can escape to the hills for walks. Booths supermarket in town has an excellent deli counter and is very good for stocking up on picnic food if you fancy going out walking.
Don't miss Castlerigg Stone Circle just outside the town.
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/...-stone-circle/
You ask about suggestions of where to stay in the Dales. They cover a pretty large area and there are literally hundreds of places! There are the most bustling, touristy towns like Hawes, Askrigg and Grassington. Or there are quiet places where you wouldn't know it was a Bank Holiday. I live in the quiet area - here are some local (to me) places to investigate.
1) Black Swan, Fearby - beautiful village in Lower Wensleydale, not for anyone who wants the bright lights.
http://www.blackswan-masham.co.uk/accommodation.html
2) Masham, lovely little market place Two famous breweries you can tour. Very good restaurant in town (Vennells). Again in Wensleydale. This B&B has a good local reputation.
http://www.millgate-masham.co.uk/
3) Blue Lion, East Witton
http://www.thebluelion.co.uk/
4) Wensleydale Heifer, West Witton
Never stayed here but this is one of our favourite restaurants, and it does have rooms. Again a lovely village location surrounded by beautiful countryside.
http://www.wensleydaleheifer.co.uk/
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Old Mar 10th, 2014, 01:49 AM
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Hi aussie, from one to another. If you want to read my trip report from that neck of the woods you can find it by clicking my user name. We also stayed in Keswick, loved it. And Morgana is a wealth of information and a very generous conbributor, helped me immensely.

I will be looking forward to your TR.
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Old Mar 10th, 2014, 02:25 AM
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Sartoric, so glad you have enjoyed our posts and Bikerscott will happily drink another pint in your honour . Bottoms up!
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Old Mar 10th, 2014, 02:29 AM
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Hello to fellow Aussies Sartoric and Maudie thanks for your encouragement. Maudie I will catch up on your trip report. Now that we have sorted the Bank holiday dillema, I can focus on the other trip pieces. I love the planning and reading.

Morgana, thank you for your suggestions, we don't want the bright lights we love the countryside and cute little towns and enjoy lots of walking. Your lovely village suggestions are just what I am looking for. The links are great and they certainly are lovely places to stay, I will get to work doing some contacting and researching.

So very exciting, and any more suggestions are most welcome.
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Old Mar 10th, 2014, 06:59 AM
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One warning about the Dales - I was there in Mid May 2 years ago (not on a Bank holiday - just a regular weekend) and the roads were absolutely overrun w/ bikers.

from my trip report:

First off I head out to Ribblehead to see the viaduct. This was a difficult drive -- really beautiful but hard since there were (no exaggeration) hundreds and hundreds of motorcycles. Not just on the narrow B6255, but everywhere I went all day --motorcycles in 1's, 2's, groups of 15. I've never seen anything like it except here in Calif. when they are holding bike races at Infineon Raceway and every motorcycle in 10 counties converges on the place. Where do all these people come from??!

and

From Hawes -more bloody motorcycle - on to Bolton Castle.I figured I'd get off the main road (A684--I think) to avoid the crowds. So I take a unclassified rd - narrow and even MORE bikes Where do all these people come from??!

and

It was mid-afternoon and I decided to head down to Jervaulx Abbey which is absolutely beautiful. (MORE motorcycles!) . . .

and

When I get back to the B&B, new guests had checked in - w/ 3 motorcycles! We were chatting in the lounge and I was asking why I'd seen soooooo many all day/everywhere. Tony explained there was no 'event' or rally - it was just a nice weekend and the Dales are a major biker destination. That is why they came out on Sunday evening - to miss the big crowds on the weekend . . .
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Old Mar 10th, 2014, 07:35 AM
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Was there some sort of motorcycle event or rally going on??? Sounds unusual!!!
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Old Mar 10th, 2014, 07:37 AM
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Ok just googled it - there is a rally 2-4 May in east Yorkshire called Into the Valley...maybe that was it?
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Old Mar 10th, 2014, 07:58 AM
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Never seen anything remotely like Janis describes either! That's certainly not in any way 'normal'.
It's all pedal cyclists right now, doing some of the Tour de France route..................
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Old Mar 10th, 2014, 09:06 AM
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No - it was actually towards the end of May (the bank holiday was shifted due to the Jubilee so it was just a two day weekend). Was not any sort of rally or event. And it wasn't in just one area - it was almost everywhere I went throughout the Dales. There were groups of 20-30+ and single riders and everything in between.

At various sites I spoke to a few of them (other than the couple staying in my B&B) and each said it was a typical weekend - that bikers came from all over 'oop north' to ride in the Dales on nice weekends. Don't know if you remember that weekend - but t was a real heat wave.
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Old Mar 10th, 2014, 10:54 AM
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Often see lots of bikers on weekends around the Dales and the North Yorks Moors. Not the numbers JanisJ witnessed, but they can frighten the bejezus out of you when they zoom past.

The police run safety campaigns because of the numbers killed each year.

www.northyorkshire.police.uk/12761
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Old Mar 10th, 2014, 11:44 AM
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Yet another Aussie chiming in.
We had a wonderful trip in the area a few months ago, we stayed at the hazelwood B&B in York ...terrific.
Don't miss Fountains Abbey or anything else Morgana recommends.

Our TR......
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-much-more.cfm
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Old Mar 10th, 2014, 12:37 PM
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ttt
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Old Mar 10th, 2014, 03:03 PM
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We also stayed at the Hazelwood B&B in York a couple of years ago and agree it's terrific. There's so much to do in and around York. You will love the area.
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Old Mar 10th, 2014, 04:41 PM
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When we traveled in the Dales, we stayed at Millgate House in Richmond. Richmond is a really pretty and pleasant little town, with a castle. And Millgate House is one of the nicest B&Bs we've stayed in, with a beautiful garden. Try for room #1. We had a memorable meal at the Frenchgate.
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Old Mar 11th, 2014, 03:04 AM
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Well I certainly hope we do not meet too many motor cyclists on small winding roads or push bike cyclists they scared me so much on the winding and hilly roads of Italy and France. I feared for their lives.

Aussiedreamer, I loved your photos of the Yorkshire Dales and the Fountains Abbey is definitely on the list. Thank you (and Trotters) for the recommendation of Hazelwood B&B it looks lovely.

Mimar, Millgate House certainly does sound exceptional and thanks for the restaurant recommendation. I am getting very excited about Yorkshire Dales and visiting York. So much to see and do.

I am really loving all the great suggestions.
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Old May 21st, 2014, 07:08 PM
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Hi Aussie_10. I've been looking for you! You helped me with my great itinerary for Switzerland and Germany. I have a few specific questions about your trip there. I was wondering if you have time to help me. Coincidentally we took a trip to England including York last year. We are on the same wave length. I have a credit in the Lake District for lodging if you'd like it, I'd be glad to give it to you! Do u know the rules about emailing each other directly? Or does anyone else? Let's connect!
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