North Yorkshire Coast sortie

Half term day out with brother back in my old stamping ground - North Yorkshire - a fairly wet miserable February day we decided to make use of the good bus network across the North York’s Moors and sample a few fine ales and visit three of the north coasts fleshpots. An early start catching the 9:15 Coastliner from Malton to Whitby, impressed with these new double deckers - free Wi-fi and at seat charging we bagged a table with both three pin and usb charging - bus fairly quiet - mainly Flamingoland staff and a few walkers Having done a bit of research we decided to alight at Ruswarp - unfortunately too early for the Bridge Inn - we wanted to walk the river path to Whitby before the forecast rain arrived. We had been tipped off by Bruce that Jacksons Butchers produced some might pork pies - we planned to give them a taste test against a Bothams later. The Butchers was doing a roaring trade for 10:30 on a Tuesday morning - and they are indeed purveyors of fine if small pork pies.

The walk down the Esk following the railway line is a fine walk - a little clarty in places - quite a few families also had had same idea - so there were a few people jams on what is a narrow path in places - fantastic railway arches that carried the old Whitby to Scarborough line not sure you can still walk over this now (Yes you can it carries the Cinder Track all the way to Scarborough) - as we got to the boat yard - stopped to watch a few red shanks feeding at the low water mark.

The forecast rain did arrive just as we arrived at the big harour car park - as it was still a little early for opened get time decided to hike up to Old town and pick up some kippers at Fortunes (for me) and a visit to the sweet shop for brother and a 1/4 of Army & Navy Mix - just as it started to pelt down - the Duke of York wasjust opening, so in for first pint of day and a dry out. Ossett Yorkshire Blond on good form and spent a pleasant half an hour looking over the harbour.

Moved in what was now a fairly hefty downpour to the Black Horse - perfrect timing as they were just opening the front door - front snug soon filled up with visitors and resident Tex - Wainwright Golden beer one of three ales on this morning. Walked back across the bridge and down the main shopping street - picked up some cheap (£1) but very firm pork scratchings from Landers Butchers - we then moved back to the Bus station to sort out the ride onto Robin Hood's Bay - bit of time to spare so popped in the Sation Hotel - not been in here before - a good range of beers on and a very welcome open fire - quick pint then jumped on the bus to the Bay - weather had well and truley set in now so it was a bit of a damp waddle down the cobbled main street to the Bay hotel - which was very busy and steamy - managed to get a seat and a very odrinary pint of Wainwright

Back up the Hill and again a few minutes to kill before our next bus so into the very spacious Victoria Hotel bar and had a rather good pint of TT Landlord.

Then back on the Bus for the final swoop down into Scarborough

Weather not much better in Scarbrough so hot footed it up, to what was a new venue for us, the Stumble Inn - a small micro bar in a former solicitors with a very ornate verhanda on the left - this is a very small bar but we managed to get a table and had a couple of good beers and spend time ticking of beers via the beer mats all over the walls and ceilings.

Nick having a power nap! We then headed down to Spoons for a final beer of the day before getting picked up and poured into the car to head home back to Norton - An enjoyable if wet day along the North Yorks Coast