Beyond Pat's Kitchen: Yorkshire Staycation Day 2 - Weaverthorpe and Bempton Cliffs

View from our table at Lookout at the Pier

We got up early enough eat at Lookout at the Pier in Scarborough. I had read about it and it sounded fab….and it was! I didn’t remember saying that it was upstairs, but that was great since both sides overlook either the marina on one side or Scarborough beach on the other. The other bonus was, there were only local people eating there! Locals eating is always a good sign of a great restaurant! Alan got the Breakfast on the Pier, which looked just like a "Full English". This is the description on thier menu: 2 bacon, 2 sausage, 1 egg, 1 hash brown, beans, fried mushrooms, tomatoes, toast and butter.

The Breakfast on the Pier

Smashed avocado!

I got smashed avocado and poached egg, which was incredible. The server even suggested a sausage for Skye and it was served in a lovely dog dish!

When we left Scarborough, we headed for Bempton Cliffs, an RSPB site south of Scarborough. We have been there many times, I have even been there with my Dad in the mid 90s! It is always lovely to see the gannets and puffins, but this year we had a different goal….to see Albert Ross! Who is he? In another life, he is the Albatross that pitches up at Bempton Cliffs for a few weeks. He has done this for at least 3 years. Considering he is meant to live in Antarctica, Albert is a bit off course and a fantastic sight to behold. Sometimes people have had to wait 7 hours to catch a glimpse of him…..I was there only about 15 minutes and we spotted him in the distance.

Albert Ross

He is noticeably larger than any other bird nearby. We walked along a path we had never known existed, typically we take a left at the cliffs, but the RSPB volunteers told us to go right. Great advice. Without that, we would never have seen him. Skye was bored and hungry and it was raining so I was unable to stay any longer and went back. Alan stayed 2 1/2 hours after I left. He did manage to get a few photos, but not of the quality he was looking for. This one is taken from a phone message he sent me, just to give an idea of what a Albatross looks like. Keep in mind his wingspan is almost 8 feet!

Getting closer to the lookout point

One thing that tickled me, but maybe that is not the correct term since Scotland still encourages Social Distancing and England no longer does. But the crowded viewpoints where people were waiting for the albatross made me think twice about getting too close....

The sign still encourages Social Distancing!

Walking a stubborn Boxer. At least one of us is smiling.

It did take me a whole hour to walk back with Skye because I was trying to implement various learning techniques from puppy class. It was truly not a fun walk back. (However, we returned the next day, did the same walk and Skye was much better so the patience and repetitiveness paid off!)

When we got back to the visitor centre, we stopped at the gift and coffee shop and sat outside. I got a latte and Skye got the last puppy ice cream they had. It was a well earned rest. Then to the car where Skye slept and I read my book for another hour until Alan reappeared. He did have photos of the Albatross! But he missed the close ups by giving up a bit too soon. He said if only he had waited 15 minutes at the spot he was in, instead of changing at that specific time. This is the risk all photographers take. We got sandwiches from the RSPB coffee shop, ate lunch in the car and headed on to our next destination: Weaverthorpe - choses for no reason at all except the proximity of Bempton Cliffs.

The Blue Bell Inn

This appears to be a darling little village with 2 big farms set right in the middle of it! So I cannot figure out the history of why this village exists. In looking up information on it, all it says is "The manor of Weaverthorpe goes back before the Norman Conquest and it was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was held by Archbishop Thomas II of York." But it is peaceful and the Blue Bell Inn is fabulous, steeped in history, or at least well done to feel historical. There really is not much in Weaverthorpe, even when I googled it all I got was interesting info on the St Andrew's Church.

Gorgeous interior

A very fancy dining room!

Before checking in, we walked up to St Andew’s Church, you cannot miss it! But it is closed and feels very neglected there. The doors are barred by a huge piece of wood and also a combination slip bolt lock! The graveside was so interesting but the grass was higher than many of the gravestones. I thought of my genealogist cousin and nephew and wondered how many family members would crawl through this sort of undergrowth looking for other family members.

Skye was fascinated by the local sheep and they seemed equally fascinated with her!

Could they be my new friends?

We then checked into our room - darling if on the small side! Booked dinner for 6:15 and the 3 of us promptly fell asleep!

Dinner was terrific for all, Alan got Tikka Masala and I got Cod Gougons. I had Broccoli and Stilton soup for a starter and they gave Alan a “Demi” so he could eat along and I would not have to eat my starter on my own. Such a thoughtful thing to do.

I also tried York Gin, I always try to order a local gin and this wa the closest I could find. It was nice.

After a walk around the village for Skye, we retired to our room, made coffee and enjoyed the Yorkshire Gingerbread I bought at Betty’s. It was nice, very similar to the gingerbread we get at Grasmere in the Lake District.

A long, productive and lovely day in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Here are a few photos I love and that did not fit anywhere!