Seascapes and Sandscapes

On a recent visit to Burton Constable Hall, we enjoyed an exhibition of photographs by Steve Morantz, who is part of East Riding Artists.  The exhibition is called At the Edge and we particularly enjoyed the atmospheric works which depict seascapes, sandscapes and scenes of Hornsea, where Steve lives, and the wider East Yorkshire Coast. What’s more, we could name every location!

The exhibition runs until 8^th December 2024

Burton Constable Hall

 The Orangerie

 We have visited the house many times which has some fascinating artefacts

Easter break

It wasn’t to be.

To get away from the crowds on Easter Sunday, we embarked on the Hutton circular walk which I found on the Facebook page Summat to do. https://www.facebook.com/summattodo

Sadly, the heavy rain of the previous night had turned some of the route into a quagmire making it impossible to continue after the first gate. Did I mention we had our little dog Freddie with us, who doesn’t like his paws cleaned at the best of times.

Freddie

We had our coffee break on the huge village green at Hutton Cranwsick

The walk will have to wait until the ground has hardened up a bit.

After lunch, we set out to Danes Dyke Danes Dyke (visiteastyorkshire.co.uk) and made our way through the woodlands to the beach. The sea was coming in so we couldn’t stay there long.

Next stop Flamborough South Landing.  We have often taken the grandchildren along the Sculpture Trail there which has fallen into disrepair. We made for our favourite bench which gives a spectacular view of the area. A landslip meant that the usual route was blocked off, but we managed to find a diversion to reach the spot.

The land slip

On Monday, some family joined us for lunch and we visited Hornsea

Tuesday turned out to be the very best of the weather. Warm and sunny, we walked along the Bridlington promenade from North Beach to the Spa and returned via Bridlington’s working harbour. Here we met a man preparing and selling jet which he had found along the coast. The untreated stones looked like lumps of coal.

Although we spend many hours in this area, we always find new things to see and visit.

Yorkshire in April

 No wonder it's known as God's own County!

Just wanted to share a few locations worth a visit if ever you're in the neighbourhood.

Hornsea

 Valley Gardens, Harrogate

 Garden of Serenity, Harrogate

Golden Acre Park, Leeds

 

Burnsall, Yorkshire Dales

 

Parcevall Hall, Skyreholme, Yorkshire Dales

 

Parcevall Hall is the retreat house of the Anglican Diocese of Leeds.

 

And we’re back …. at the coast

After managing a week at the start of the season, lockdown happened but now we’re back.

It’s surprisingly quiet here; just how we like it.  After tarting up the veranda and  sorting out the gas and wifi supply, it’s as if we’ve never been aware.  Actually, I think we appreciate it more than ever.  I was going to say if only we still had that beautiful Spring weather but that sounds ungrateful considering the current situation.

 A visit to Hornsea

 By the Floral Hall

Hornsea beach

and to one of my favourite gardens:  Burton Agnes

No artist in residence this year

The maze

 The walled garden here is divided into  garden rooms, by colour or species or edibles and mostly well labelled.

I do like to be beside the seaside.  Do you?

Wassand Hall Bird Hide

We had an amazing afternoon at Wassand Hall at Hornsea, courtesy of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.  We made our way through the charming walled garden to the conservatory where we met the owners of the historic Hall and had refreshments.

 

A 20 - 30 minute country walk through woodland, which was formerly under water before Hornsea Mere receded, brought us to the newly built, spacious bird hide.  We experienced a rich variety of wildlife on our way to the hide, which is situated on a tranquil part of the largest freshwater lake in Yorkshire inaccessible by boat.   

We were lucky enough to spot such birdlife as scaups, goldeneyes, buzzards, marsh harriers transferring food from male to female on the wing and we heard woodpeckers and blackcaps.  Not being a serious twitcher, I would not have known about these birds had it not been for the experts we had with us.

 

 

Then, back to the conservatory for afternoon tea.  Brilliant!  Definitely one for the memory bank.