Thurstonland

After some glitches with the GPS which sent us to the wrong village, we found the Rose and Crown pub in the little village of Thurstonland. Our room in an old stone building was quite OK and the breakfast that came with it was the typical full English - with the addition of large pieces of Black Pudding on the plate - normal for this part of the country!

The village was picturesque, sitting on the top of a hill with stunning views of the countryside all around. Apparently two weeks ago everyone was basking in warm sunshine in T-shirts and shorts but last week the snow returned. No snow this week for us but a biting cold wind and temps in single figures dissuaded us from walking too far along some of the walking paths across the hills.

We drove over to Leeds to see Scot in the new Vantage factory and check up on the van which was having a full habitation service. Scot and Jane had used the van for a trip over Christmas and so had unpacked all our gear. Not a bad thing actually as we will re-pack the van ourselves and re-organise as we go. Hopefully then things will be in better places than they were before.

So with the van not ready for another day, we asked about staying another night at the Rose and Crown - but no luck, it was booked out. However we were sent to a B and B where they had a vacancy in the same village. Ackroyd House was stunning. An enormous room with superb appointments and a view over the valley was not too difficult to take. And we could order the full English breakfast without Black Pudding…