A Splendid Jaunt

Just back from a few days in the beautiful surroundings of Pickering, North Yorkshire, where we stayed in a delightful cottage conveniently positioned mid-way between a trout lake and a railway station - the very 'gate of heaven'!


Whatever Kirstie and Phil might bang on about, this establishment didn't just rest on its location laurels - it was beautifully presented as well. In addition to the little two-bedded cottage in which we stayed,"The Limes", the good folks at High Mill also have a larger property for rent, which sleeps up to 12.
The view from my armchair was fantastic - here's 7F 0-8-0 heavy duty freight locomotive 49395 working a passenger service tender-first back to Grosmont...

We took the same trip ourselves a few days later, travelling back from Grosmont in fine style in the first class observation saloon at the end of a nice rake of wooden LNER coaches (you can see the new Barbour Beaufort I got from the Orvis store on Pickering's Market Place hanging over the back of my armchair)...

The staff at the Orvis store deserve special mention as they honoured the "£20 off" voucher that came with our railway ticket, even though I'd purchased the coat two days before!

Things took a turn for the better when some thoughtful chap came and offered us drinks - here's my "Gin and Tender"...

(the tender being that of the 9F engine 92214 "Cock O' The North", which strained and sighed on the other side of the glass whilst pulling us back to Pickering).

Here's the observation saloon from the outside on reaching the shelter of Pickering Station's new roof...

Aside from many other notable delights (Gannets at Bempton, the Castle atop the hill behind High Mill and a sublime piece of rib-eye steak at The White Swan), the trout lake served up its usual entertainment...

I think it is actually bigger than the one caught in April - certainly your humble servant looks pretty pleased with himself...

If you want a break in a great location, give High Mill a try - seen here photographed from the observation saloon...

I certainly will be going back.

The only fly in the soup was the trouble I had getting any signal out (2W on 40m CW from the FT817 and Whip). Still, the Mill is on a road called the "Undercliffe" - the clue's in the name!

...-.- de m0xpd