Discovering Britain

by WebmasterDiscovering BritainPosted on Comments are Disabled

Whitby made for an enjoyable and varied day trip, combining history, coastal scenery and a lively harbour atmosphere. Arriving in the morning, we began with a stroll along the bustling waterfront, watching fishing boats and pleasure craft come and go while enjoying the fresh sea air. The narrow streets of the old town were full of independent shops, cafés and traditional fish and chip restaurants, giving the town plenty of character.

A climb up the famous 199 Steps rewarded us with magnificent views across the harbour and coastline. At the top, we visited the impressive ruins of Whitby Abbey, whose dramatic setting has inspired visitors for centuries and is closely linked with Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The nearby Church of St Mary added to the sense of history and offered further panoramic views.

After lunch, we walked along the West Cliff, passing colourful beach huts and enjoying the wide sandy beach below. The weather remained pleasant, making it ideal for relaxing and taking photographs before returning to the harbour for an ice cream and a final look around.

Overall, Whitby proved to be an excellent destination for a day out, offering a delightful mixture of history, spectacular scenery, seaside charm and friendly hospitality. It is a place well worth visiting again in the future.

Long Walks

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On 7th July, we enjoyed a delightful circular walk starting and finishing in the attractive Peak District village of Monyash. Leaving the village, we followed the Limestone Way towards Cales Farm, taking in the rolling limestone countryside and the wide-ranging views.

From Cales Farm we continued to Gib Hill and the impressive Arbor Low Henge, one of Britain’s finest prehistoric stone circles. The peaceful setting and ancient atmosphere made this a memorable point of the walk. After exploring the site, we retraced our steps to Cales Farm before heading through Caldale and on to Oneash Grange Farm.

Rejoining the Limestone Way, we descended into the beautiful Lathkill Dale, where the clear river, limestone cliffs and abundant wildflowers created a picturesque landscape. The dale offered a pleasant contrast to the open upland scenery experienced earlier in the day.

Leaving Lathkill Dale, we climbed steadily through Shaw Dale before returning to Monyash, completing an enjoyable and varied circular route. The walk combined fascinating prehistoric history, attractive farmland, peaceful dales and excellent scenery throughout. It was a rewarding day in the Peak District, with well-defined paths, good weather and plenty of opportunities to appreciate both the natural beauty and rich heritage of the area. 

Taking the plunge: My first U3a Festival Experience

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I first heard about the U3a Festival when reading through the magazine ‘U3a Matters’ and I was intrigued.  When I decided to book a place at the U3a Festival at York University, I must admit that I had a few reservations.  My biggest concern was that I would be going on my own.  Would everyone else already know each other?  Would I spend three and a half days feeling out of place?

As it turned out, I couldn’t have been more wrong. From the moment I arrived, I discovered that many other people were in exactly the same position.  The atmosphere was welcoming, friendly and relaxed, and it didn’t take long before conversations started and new acquaintances were made.  In fact, I was rarely on my own for very long. 

What impressed me most was the sheer variety of activities on offer. With around 50 classes, workshops and events taking place each day, there was something to suit every interest from painting to bowls.  The evenings were just as enjoyable.   I attended the Open Mic session where I was entertained by poets, singers and guitar players.  I also took part in a nostalgic rendition of Juke Box Jury.  Armed with our “hit” and “miss” cards, we listened to a selection of music from the 1970s, voting on each song as we went along.  Four jury panellists also gave their opinions, which led to plenty of laughter, lively discussion and many happy memories.  

The highlight of the festival, however, was undoubtedly meeting Johnny Ball.  He gave an engaging and entertaining talk about his life and career, sharing how his interests in mathematics, science and comedy developed over the years. His enthusiasm and energy were infectious, and his talk was without question, the highlight of my visit.

Looking back, I am so pleased that I decided to take the plunge and attend. The U3a Festival offered not only an impressive programme of activities, but also the opportunity to meet interesting and welcoming people from all over the country.

The festival will be held again in two years’ time, and if anyone is hesitating because they would be attending alone, my advice is simple: don’t let that put you off.  Go along, embrace the experience, and you may well find yourself wondering why you ever had any doubts in the first place.

Sue Vaughan

Membership Secretary

Medium Walks

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On Monday 20th July, we completed a delightful 6.79-mile circular walk starting from the Foremark Reservoir Visitors Car Park. The route began by crossing open fields towards the attractive village of Milton, passing through the peaceful surroundings of Lamont Wood. The woodland provided welcome shade before we emerged once more into open countryside, enjoying wide-ranging views across the Derbyshire landscape.



From Milton we continued over fields towards Spurs Bottom, and then headed in the direction of the woods at Repton Shrubs. The scenery became increasingly varied as we entered the fascinating habitat of Hartshorn Bog, where there would have been a mixture of woodland and marshland, but for the dry weather, creating a tranquil atmosphere. Soon afterwards we reached Carver Rocks, an impressive sandstone outcrop that made an ideal place to pause and appreciate the natural surroundings.

The final section followed the shoreline of Foremark Reservoir, with attractive views across the water and opportunities to watch wildlife along the way. We then entered the woodland for the return journey, where the well-shaded paths provided a pleasant finish to the walk before arriving back at the National Trust Visitors Car Park. It was an enjoyable and varied route, combining woodland, open countryside, interesting geological features, and beautiful reservoir scenery.