Cliffhangers

Between Bridlington and Filey on the Yorkshire coast lies Bempton Cliffs, a RSPB sanctuary.  We decided to take a two hour drive to pay it a visit and view the spectacular coastline for ourselves. Even though it was July we were prepared for windy weather but as it turned out the sun was shining and the expected cool breeze was none existent.

The RSPB have done an excellent job in preserving the clifftops and the cliffs themselves,  A warden informed us that there were still some puffins nesting on the cliffs but unfortunately we did not get to see any, despite a man trying to impress his friend that a flock of puffins were bobbing around on the sea (not unless they had grown pointed beaks, changed colour and size!)  There are several viewing platforms and you can hire binoculars from the visitor centre to watch the action.

The sheer number of birds was a surprise, mostly Kittiwakes and Guillemots but  there were still Gannet chicks huddled on precarious ledges awaiting the return of a parent where one miss-step would result in almost certain death.

Be warned, when you have that many birds gathered together, you can smell them before you see them!

Kittiwakes high above the North Sea

A Gannet chick about to be fed by it's parent.

Hard Times

I'd never heard of Hardwick Hall before until a friend mentioned it to us.  It's located not far from the M1 in Derbyshire and is stewarded by the National Trust.  After a scenic drive up to the hall itself the hall and the gardens come into their own.

On the day we decided to visit, the weather was changeable to say the least.  We arrived in bright sunshine and after a cup of coffee and we started to walk up to the hall,  thunder boomed and the heavens opened.  I regretted leaving my jacket at home.

The hall dates back to the 1500s when it was built by Bess of Hardwick, a Lady in Waiting to Elizabeth I and a powerful woman in her own right.  As much as I would have enjoyed taking pictures of the impressive interior the delicate nature of some of the exhibits and the diffuse lighting keep the interior in a protective gloom.  The history of Arabella, Bess's granddaughter is told throughout the hall and illustrates the dangers of being of a royal lineage. Hardwick ended up being her prison rather than a palace.

The original hall was left fall into disrepair once the new hall was constructed.

 The walled gardens are maintained beautifully by a dedicated staff and volunteers.

 The grounds below where designed mimic a wine glass and during the war Hardwick Hall was also acted as an airfield for fighter planes.

Rock of Ages

  

For years, driving around the surrounding area we've seen signs pointing the way to Creswell Crags and haven't given it a second thought.  Last month, we eventually got round to checking it out.

Creswell Crags is a limestone gorge riddled with caves formed during the last ice age.  There have been a number of animal bones and other archaeological objects  found on the site over the years and you can arrange a guided tour of the caves (we didn't realise that you had to book for this).  Helpful signs inform you of where such creatures as hyena bones were found.  The thought of them roaming across Nottinghamshire does seem hard to imagine.

The visitor centre is an impressive structure with cafe, conference and exhibition spaces. It sits nicely in the landscape and with the silvering wood exterior designed to soften its impact.

The Visitor Centre

The gorge itself, on a warm Sunday afternoon was beautiful and surprisingly free of visitors.

 The paths are accessible for wheel chairs and not to demanding.  The crags are a haven for bird life.  When we visited, jackdaws that where nesting in holes in one of the limestone rockface where fighting with each other for possession.

Double Vision

A short bonus post this week.  On the first day of July we were hit throughout the day by  heavy rain showers.  I just happened to be getting a beer from the fridge when I looked out of the window and spotted a double rainbow to the east.  The outer rainbow is actually a fainter reflection of the brighter rainbow which is why the colours are inverted.

Meanwhile, over towards the west an impressive cloudscape.