GETAWAY
MOORS, DALES AND GLORIOUS WALKS
Beautiful landscapes and historic houses are the backdrop to a leisurely summer break in Yorkshire for Nigel Hutson’s family
Views from Sutton Bank are spectacular
Nigel Hutson is a lifelong caravanner who toured as a child before buying his first caravan at the age of 22. He also served in the police for 30 years
NONE OF US will forget 2020 in a hurry. Like many others, we had planned a series of caravan trips throughout the year.
Indeed, a couple of weeks before the first UK lockdown was announced, I was due to join Bailey’s Sahara Adventure expedition, but received a phone call saying the event was cancelled because Morocco was closing its border with Spain. Little did we know what was to follow.
When it was mooted that we might be able to use the caravan from July onwards, I contacted the owner of a favourite CL of ours, near the North Yorkshire village of Kirkby Malzeard, a few miles from Ripon, in the hope that we would be able to have a break there.
Fortunately, they were taking provisional bookings and they had space. Our original intention was to book for a week, but we thought, “What the heck, let’s go for two!”
On the road again
So in mid-July, we duly arrived at West Leas Farm CL. We’d promised to take my parents for a meal at a lovely pub/restaurant in High Grantley, so until they joined us, we busied ourselves putting up the awning – for the first time on our current caravan!
All the hard work had been done by the time they arrived in their aging Auto-Sleeper Symbol, affectionately called ‘Pod’. For the rest of the day, we could simply relax and enjoy the views towards the Yorkshire Dales, from the comfort of the awning.
The following day, my parents decided to visit the Royal Horticultural Society’s gardens at Harlow Carr, near Harrogate, just a few miles away. They love gardening (something that has passed me by).
Kay and I decided to put on our walking boots and explore the immediate area on foot. The village of Kirkby Malzeard, which is about a mile or so away, can be seen from the CL, and there’s a pleasant walk across the fields there. Be mindful, though, that the route is across fields and stiles, and in parts quite steep, so unsuitable for the less able.