The Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland

It was mega-exciting to visit what is probably the most famous landmark of this area of Northern Ireland. We set off late morning and spent the rest of the day at this one – The Giant’s Causeway.

We decided to cycle the couple of miles there from site, along a pathway that runs beside the Giant’s Causeway & Bushmills Railway line. Many people park at the station in Bushmills and either ride the train or walk the path to the causeway. It’s a pleasant, flat route until reaching the causeway where we then locked our bikes up beside the Causeway Hotel.

Using our National Trust membership we gained free access to the causeway through the visitor centre experience. Alternatively, it is free to visit the causeway through the tunnel from the car park. It’s a beautifully scenic walk down, but there’s also a shuttle bus that regularly runs up and down for anyone unable to take the walk – I think it’s about £1 or so but free to national trust members.

As expected, the geological marvel of the giant’s causeway is a big draw for hordes of tourists. Last year there were apparently over 1 million visitors to these volcanic basalt columns … and it felt like that number were there on the day we went! We’d definitely recommend a very early morning visit if you want a little more space and peace to enjoy and consider the science and mythology of this amazing site. We found a quiet spot to sit and enjoy it, drink our flask of coffee, and take photos for a while before walking back up to the top. There are different trails and routes you can take to reach the causeway, taking in the sights of the amphitheatre, giant’s pipe organ and the shepherd’s steps.

By the time we left, it was quietening down considerably as most of the coach loads of tourists had left, and so we decided to have our evening meal at The Nook pub which is on the corner opposite the visitor centre. It’s a very welcoming listed building built in the 1850s and originally used a school house. It was spotless and the food was excellent so thankfully our experience didn’t reflect some of the less favourable reviews we’d read before visiting.

After our meal we headed back to site along the same route we’d taken in. By this time the cycle track was all but empty and the sun was beginning to set which created a tranquil end to our day. Once we’d returned to Jolly we relaxed for the rest of the evening, and planned our further adventures.

We took so many photos and a couple of short vids, so we’ve compiled this video which hopefully captures the day …

ONWARD!>>>>

Suzie & Bri

Kendal was calling! 🚐

Posted by jollymajestic1

We’ve just spent a lovely weekend at Kendal Caravan & Motorhome Club site on a long overdue Jolly jaunt.

It isn’t actually in Kendal, it’s approx. 4.5 miles outside the town in a blissfully beautiful location beside the River Kent, set on the site of the 19th century Sedgwick Gunpowder Mill and it’s a wildlife heaven. The spacious pitches lie within separate wooded areas which gives a very peaceful sense of privacy, and a fabulous dawn chorus.

Bridge over the river
River Kent
Lane out of site
Cycle way 🚲

The site was fully booked up and we happily pitched up on number 77 where we could enjoy some afternoon sunshine before heading out on our first evening for a meal at The Strickland Arms, just 0.7 miles from the site which serves very good pub grub. We had pre-booked our table due to its popularity as the nearest pub/eatery to the site. We left with full and happy tummies!

Oh and we only found out later from a nice couple on the pitch beside us that you can get 10% off meals at The Strickland as C&MC members but they don’t promote it so you have to say, so take your membership card! You’re welcome 😉.

🍻
Proper hearty pub grub!

The next day we headed out on our bikes, firstly up to Low Sizergh Barn, a working farm, farm trail, cafe, and farm shop (online shop too), and raw milk station.

Low Sizergh Barn
Self-serve raw milk station
🐮
Outside seating area
Coffees/cakes/ice-cream
Well-stocked farm shop
Farm shop
Always time for a coffee
Upstairs cafe

We had a coffee outside there before heading on up to Sizergh Castle (next door to the Strickland Arms) where we used our National Trust membership to gain free entry to the gardens. We thought we’d leave the house tour for another time when the weather might not be so great, as we preferred to spend some leisurely time meandering through the stunning gardens in the sunshine.

Sizergh Castle
Bird nesting on the pond
Huge masses of tadpoles
Stunning gardens

Afterwards we cycled an undulating 4.5 miles into Kendal where we had a mosey around before fish n chips mid-afternoon and a pint at The Shakespeare pub before making our way back.

We took a steep uphill detour on the way home to drop into the The Punch Bowl at Barrows Green for a drink before returning to site. Not sure how far we cycled in and around the area throughout the day but we slept very well! 😴

Next morning we enjoyed a bit of breakfast on Jolly before packing up and heading home, all the more relaxed for our short break. We’re never happier than when out and about in our Jolls.

We highly recommend this site if you like peace and nature. It caters well for families too with a playground and riverside areas for picnics, and there are plenty of walks from the site around the area. Next time we plan to visit Levens Hall & Deer Park but there was only so much we could fit in this time.

Until next time …

ONWARD!>>>>

Suzie & Bri 🚐

The Needles Landmark & Battery, Alum Bay, Isle of Wight

Posted by jollymajestic1

We spent a day at Alum Bay. Although it’s only approx. 3 miles from the campsite we caught the bus as the roads for the route weren’t ideal for cycling. We caught the Southern Vectis No.7 Newport-Alum Bay bus from the bus stop just outside the site entrance. The name of the site bus stop is ‘Heathfield Road Top’ and the stop for the return trip is just a little further up across the road.

The Needles Attraction

Needles Breezer bus

It was a superb day out and the continuing wonderful weather we were enjoying really made it special. Our day was filled with stunning scenery, a chairlift ride down to the beach & back up, a boat ride around the Needles rocks & lighthouse, and an open top bus ride up to the Needles Old & New Batteries for what turned out to be a fascinating and informative couple of hours of military history.

Firstly though, on arrival we purchased tickets for the chairlift ride. The cost was £6 each return, but they advised us at the ticket office that it was cheaper to buy a book of tickets for £9 which would cover us both for the ride. So that’s obviously what we did.

Chair lift

Going down …

We’d previously read that the chairlift wasn’t for the faint hearted. However, never ones to let the possibility of plummeting from a great height and crashing down onto a rocky cliff face to deter us, we gave it a go.

The point where it first takes you over the cliff edge is a bit of a squeaky bum moment, but we really enjoyed it. It’s a slow and gentle ride and luckily it was a very still and clear day. The impressive views over the beach, out to sea, and of the Needles in the distance took most of our attention.

Once down at the beach we decided to take the pleasure boat ride on ‘Ramblin’Rose’ out to the Needles rocks and lighthouse to get a closer view and some photos.

http://needlespleasurecruises.co.uk/

The boat ride also provided good views of the unusual multi-coloured sand cliffs.

Multi-coloured cliffs

A variety of birds can be spotted

Coloured cliff

One of the chalk stack Needles and lighthouse

There are apparently 21 different shades of colour and, according to the Needles Landmark Attraction website, the reason for this is:-

“Approximately 70 million years ago, the sea bed rose, was eroded and then sank beneath the sea again. The new sea was shallow and it laid down a series of sands and clays. Some 10 million years later, movement in the bedrock caused these sediments to be pushed nearly vertically to form the multi-coloured cliffs that are visible today”

The sands are made of three minerals – quartz, felspar and mica, and in their pure state are white with other colours being produced through contamination by other minerals.

We brought home a memento glass jar of the sand from the gift shop like most people probably do.

After exploring the beach for a while we rode back up the cliff and hopped on the open top ‘Needles Breezer’ bus which took us up to the Old and New Needles Batteries. It was a refreshing, blustery ride up the coastal road. Alternatively, there’s a coastal footpath you can walk up. We’d love to return to this area and explore Tennyson Down which we didn’t have the time to do on this trip.

View of the bay on the way to the Needles Battery

Looking back on Alum Bay

Bus stop point by the New Battery (free entry)

The Needles Battery is a National Trust attraction and we decided to become members while we were there. We had been meaning to join for a while. The membership took immediate effect so we got free entrance into the Old Battery. The New Battery is free to everyone.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/the-needles-old-battery-and-new-battery

We’ll let the photos tell the story of our visit because we saw too much to talk about and took plenty of snaps.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Half way through our wander up there, we called into the 1940s style cafe for tea and cake. It’s so authentic that we really felt like we’d been transported back in time. In fact, I can still hear Glen Miller as I type … 🎺 🎶

Gunner Ava Brew

View from cafe window

Cafe room

Cafe

Staircase up to 1940s style cafe

We poked our noses in pretty much every room, nook and cranny of the site, finishing up in the tunnel to the searchlight which has windows looking directly out at the chalk stacks that are The Needles. Not sure how long exactly we were there but the time flew by.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Here are a few more photos taken at the Old Battery throughout the afternoon:-

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Well that was quite enough excitement for one day 🙂 so we caught the No.7 back to site.

Next day we were going to the Yarmouth Harbour area as we’d only driven through it on arrival.

ONWARD!>>>>

Suzie & Bri

National Trust Membership

Posted by jollymajestic1

So, we’ve finally joined the National Trust after several years of saying we really ought to support this fabulous organisation. We’ve visited many places and have benefitted from plenty of their work over the years, especially since adventuring in Jolly. On top of that, the prospect of helping to preserve such special places for future generations makes it a no-brainer really.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/

£114 for joint membership for the year. Worth every penny.

We joined whilst on the Isle of Wight visiting The Needles Battery (blog post to follow). Membership took immediate effect so we didn’t pay admission on that day, and our membership cards arrived this morning 🙂.

A615ADBF-267E-44A6-A205-1ED5830E2E89

ONWARD!>>>>

Suzie & Bri

Ainsdale & Formby, Nr Southport, Merseyside

Posted by jollymajestic1

Ow do!

We recently visited Willowbank Touring Park in Ainsdale. It’s about 3 miles outside Southport, next door to Formby, and only about an hour further down the coast from where we live so we spent very little time on the road. It was a rainy day on our arrival but the sun soon appeared.

Southport pier in the distance

Driveway to site

Arrival at site

The pitches and facilities at Willowbank are excellent. No choosing your own pitch here though. As soon as you arrive you’re taken to a pre-allocated pitch. It’s no biggie but it’s always nicer to have the freedom to choose your own. The main road outside the site driveway can get very busy but there’s a path and cycle way running alongside for safe cycling/walking. We could hear quite a bit of traffic noise late into Friday night. This didn’t bother us though, and we found the site to be lovely and ideally situated for our stay. We would happily stay there again.

Jolly pitched up

The sun soon shone 😎

For this break we used our bikes to explore the area. The first day we cycled down to Ainsdale beach and through Ainsdale village. It was a very damp and grey day, but this made for some quite atmospheric beach photographs.

A murky day at Ainsdale beach

Ainsdale beach

Gulls at Ainsdale beach

Lots of cycling in the area

Shore Road Roundabout Sculpture

Oot n aboot on t’bikes

After a beach wander and cycle around Ainsdale (calling in at a cosy, quaint venue called The Tipple Bar), we cycled to The Sparrowhawk where we enjoyed a cracking evening meal to round off the day. It’s just half a mile from the campsite and a must for a meal if you’re in the area.

Cosy Tipple Bar

Lovely decor and ambience

It was Grand National weekend

Slurrrrp!

The Sparrowhawk, Ainsdale

The Sparrowhawk

Parked up

Next morning after a good sleep, lie-in and a bit of brekkie we headed back out on our bikes to Formby, following much of the Asparagus Cycle Trail which takes in the Formby Red Squirrel Reserve. This was our main reason for this Jolly trip so we were a bit excited!

It was our first time seeing red squirrels and we saw plenty, which it turns out was quite lucky as we’ve spoken to some people who saw none when they visited. There was quite a lot of activity when we were there and some of them came up quite close for a photograph. They’re smaller than expected in comparison to the greys, and it was a really special experience seeing them thriving in good numbers.

Here are some photos of our red squirrel experience visit and our day out n about on the bikes (so much better than me wittering on):-