Dalby and Pickering, the World Mountain Bike Cross Country Championship 2011.

It was a dramatic contrast to return from a few days walking in peaceful countryside in Arkengarthdale and then be amongst the Mountain Bike race round Pickering and next day in Dalby. My camera certainly enjoyed the outing. Dalby Forest host the event that was voted the most popular by the riders last year, for the course and the venue. In Pickering residents line the streets to watch the best riders in the world hurl themselves down the Church steps, slither off on new laid tarmac or just stretch their muscles in preparation for the next days racing. It was a good opportunity to collect money for the local mountain bike facility

in Pickering we are trying to build.
Saturday was exciting when I could get away from my role in anti-doping control. I will not elaborate....The juniors and under 23's raced in dry conditions. Sunday will be damp and so perhaps more dramatic.
If you are looking for the best mountain biking with perhaps the longest trails then come to Dalby and ride the world cup route.
More photos appear on Noelle's Cottages Flickr.

Easter at Noelle's Cottages

Wonderful warm sunny days and a paddock full of daffodils in full bloom helps dispel thoughts of the long winter. It was magical to return to the garden bursting into its spring enthusiasm, tulips chasing the daffodils up and no end of birds intent on recovering the winter losses by pairing and breeding.
Noelle and Tim had an exciting adventure in Namibia, first looking into health care delivery, malnutrition and simple educational interventions but then with our 'rest and relaxation'. We took a well experienced guide/driver into incredibly wild areas where we would not see a single person for 48 hours or more. We camped in the wilderness and thoroughly enjoyed the landscape and the hope of spotting game and later seeing the local people. Unfortunately our guide took us into a river without assessing the depth and speed of the water and we became a boat briefly, then rolled slowly, until the obvious way out was through the passenger window. A short swim took us to safety and we then spent a couple of hours recovering soggy kit. A kind African walked with us to the nearest town - six and a half hours walk away trying not to think about lions, hyemas, leopard and elephant. We were unharmed but sadly all my photo kit, laptop and hard drives went so the photo memories will be very limited. Not to worry - a good excuse to go back!
Meanwhile the cottages are going well and the summer looks almost fully booked. I am hoping my bike park in Pickering will be ready for the world cup mountain bike championships in May. The Pickering Town Map that I helped to produce has been set up in the car parks in town and has attracted good comments.
When I retired from my practice in Pickering the staff gave me a wildlife watching hut - a box on legs really - so I hope to finalise design and get it built in time for the late summer evenings. All are welcome to check out our black and white friends.

Spring is in the air

After a long and silent winter slumber, our garden in Middleton definitely thinks spring is here. There are birds and flowers appearing in numbers and the days seem longer and brighter with a little warmth to the sun. The ground is littered with snowdrops and aconites, making a colourful carpet just a short stroll from the cottage doors. Watch robins, tits and goldfinches hopping from tree to tree looking for the emerging worms and grubs.

If you want to venture out to explore spring in the local area, the normally sleepy Farndale comes alive to welcome the wild daffodils in March/April. They are well worth a look and there is a short walk that runs alongside the River Dove to the 'Daffy Cafe'. If you prefer a cityscape, York also has a good display of daffodils along the banks below the city walls and around Cliffords Tower.

We still have plenty of firewood left over from the winter, so curl up in the evening in front of the fire to relax. So if you are looking for a peaceful break this spring, we still have some availability.

Vikings and Valentines

We have just come across the Jorvik Viking Festival which is held every year in York. It looks a fantastic event and runs from 19th - 27th February. Not only can you see grown men trying to whop each other's heads off but you can learn Viking skills - whopping for beginners, carrying young ladies off, archaeology, more whopping or storytelling and crafts. There are a range of visits and activities ending with the boat burning ceremony on the evening of Saturday 26th. You can buy any number of swords, shields and no doubt bandages at the event. The world expert on the archaeology of poo, Dr Andrew (Bone) Jones will amaze and amuse his audience with tales from the toilets of old. If you like the idea and fancy coming to Yorkshire for the event we would love to hear from you.

Best wishes for 2011

PS For those of a more gentle disposition we have put a special package together for Valentine's Day weekend - the days around 11 - 15th Feb - with bubbly, a substantial collection of handmade chocolates and as ever - a cosy log fire.

IT Gremlins

Noelle and Tim would like to apologise if your emails have not been answered promptly and if access to the website has been patchy. We hope the server issues have now been addressed and that you will be able to use the website satisfactorily and exchange emails again.

Happy New Year

Noelle and Tim wish you a very Happy New Year. The Festive Season has been notable for the persisting snow and ice. We are nearly reaching the 6th week of snow in Ryedale which has largely melted now but remains behind walls and persists as lumps of ice where cars and walking has compressed it down. We escaped with few freeze ups and burst pipes and have been grateful to our attentive and exhausted plumber, Nigel, who has helped in crisis or two. Thanks also to our guests for their understanding and for one particular Applestore visitor who was able to sort the frozen outflow of the condensing boiler. It felt like a team effort. Minus 5 degrees on a frosty morning felt like a mild start after the preceding days down to -15C. It's amazing how quickly we adjust our values.
The best advantage of the snow and ice was the opportunity to stoke up the woodburners and make a cosy atmosphere amongst the Christmas decorations and the tree. Noelle enjoys preparing the trees in the cottages as well as the inside and outside trees at the Hall. Mulled wine is a treat we like to share with our guests and our family look forward to her stollen and other Dutch influenced baking.
Bird feeding became an important part of the day with sacks of grain used to help a wide variety of birds to survive the harsh conditions. Even warmed water froze briskly so became a regular daily task. As the thaw starts it's good to see large numbers of survivors feeding noisily.
We have had some wonderful walks with our American in-laws. One snowy late afternoon was marked by a lovely sunset which reflected off the beck flowing out of Keld Head. The pair of swans gliding past made it perhaps the best photograph I have missed this year! I should carry a small camera at all times but the gloom and freezing conditions persuaded me that any success was unlikely. A large swarm of us walked around the hunting bridges in Newtondale where snow on the trees proved irresistible to the children. All ended up soaked! we also enjoyed the walk straight up the hill from Noelle's Cottages into the silence and stillness of the countryside. Distant sledgers added a dot of colour and excited laughter. We struck off across a field but soon lost the footpath and filled out boots with snow. Great to find our way back and then see Middleton in the distance with the sun setting and the promise of lighting the tree and sitting in front of the log fire.
Midnight Mass in the pretty ancient church in Sinnington was a lovely introduction to Christmas day.
We are now enjoying the Holy Nights with a little entertaining, relaxation and holiday reading which will energise us for the year to come. We have no major building plans for the year other than a green roofed log store and perhaps a little maintenance on the garden walls. My retirement present from the surgery was a badger watching hide which has yet to be conceptualised. It will have photographic possibilities designed in though.
We are looking forward to welcoming our guests in 2011 and wish you all a very happy, healthy and rewarding New Year.
Noelle and Tim

Christmas Greeetings

Greetings from a very beautiful, white and Festive North Yorkshire. We have remained excited and enthusiastic about our snow cover and the lovely sights around the cottages. Bird feeding is a daily event and we have been putting warm water out for birds quick enough to take a drink before it freezes. We have managed to get some snowy pictures which we have put onto our Flickr site, where you can see our black Lab Millie enjoying the snow.

We have been across to New York State for Noelle’s sister’s wedding and then had a lovely time with Eddie, our second son, walking an Inca route before arriving in the jungle in Peru. Our children are scattered around but most will gather for Christmas, log fires and country walks. Eddie will be herding cattle in Patagonia and will be much missed.

We continue to enjoy our cottage visitors and have been delighted to find the new bathroom in Applestore has been much appreciated. We had a photoshoot in the Barn which you can see on our tweaked website - www.noellescottages.co.uk

Wishing you a very happy time at Christmas.

Warm regards,

Noelle & Tim


PS. We still have some winter breaks available and would love to welcome you to come and stay and enjoy our surroundings. You may like to consider making a Christmas present of one of our 3-4 night short breaks. Especially for Christmas we would like to offer you a 3-4 night break in January or February for £410 if you book before the 2nd January 2011 (this offer does not apply for the half term weeks commencing 12th and 19th February)

For more information on this offer please call us on 01751 472 283 or email noelle@noellescottages.co.uk

Frosty Morning

I had a wonderful frosty walk from home, to Keld Head Springs just quarter of a mile towards Pickering then followed the stream down for half a mile or so. The natural spring water is very pure and at 4'C so on a winter morning there is a haze above the stream which might add to the fantastic ice crystal frost we had today. It's a day to curl up in front of a log fire and enjoy the warmth and luxury of one of Noelle's Cottages. I have uploaded photos to www.noellescottages.co.uk and added a few here to whet your appetite. Noelle has one vacancy over the Festive Season.
Applestore has become available from 29th December for a week at £720 or for a 3 or 4 night break at £540. Enjoy the festive decorations, fabulous new bathroom with birds just outside your window. Great food in the area, wonderful walks and a chance to relax.

Back from Peru to perfect winter weather

What fabulous days we have had with blue sky, golden light and a brisk nip in the air. Great days for walking and enjoying the countryside. We trained for our recent trek in Peru by walking up and down steep slopes in the area. It has been a revelation to find how attractive the walks have been and sometimes, how exhausting we could make them. We love walking round Rosedale, especially if we can have a look in at the glass-blowing in the village - Gillies Jones - and later have tea and cake at Farmhouse Fodder at the top of the Dale. We have found steep enough challenges at Sutton Bank and the Hole of Horcum, all having great views and rewarding natural history. Despite our efforts up and down Rosedale's Chimney Bank, nothing really prepared us for trekking for day after day up and down Inca Trails until finally reaching the last stronghold of the Inca before being killed off by the Spanish. A great experience in all. Check the photo gallery for the pictures but it could be a week or two before they are ready.

You may like also to take a walk in the countryside or do your Christmas shopping in comfort from one of Noelle's Cottages. Write your Christmas cards or have a pre-Christmas get together. Scones and cream and nearer Christmas, mince pies and mulled wine and a warm welcome await your arrival to your 'home from home' experience with log fire and luxury beds and furnishings. We can point you to one of the many great food outlets and restaurants or suggest where to go for a wide variety of excellent shops.

We have some weeks and breaks left before Christmas so give Noelle a ring on 01751 472283 to talk through what you are looking for.

Barn 1st - 11th Dec for one week starting any day - £590 3-4 night break £435
Applestore 4th - 16 Dec 1 week £590, 3-4 nights £435
Coach House 6th Dec for 5 nights £490

Snow to fall in Yorkshire?

Having heard the weather forecast this week mentioning possible snow in Yorkshire. It got us thinking back to last year, recalling bountiful snow from December to March, and my the North York Moors looked a picture postcard. What a joy to behold as valleys resonated to the laughter of families, making snowmen, snowballing and tobogganing. My own family like nothing better than a snowy walk over the Moors, arriving home to homemade soup and rolls. Then with glowing smiling, faces we get cosy in front of the wood fire.

Whilst I can’t promise the weather forecasters predictions, we can provide you with a 5* luxury holiday from which to experience the beauty of the Yorkshire Moors and Coast, with its hidden valleys, winter wonderland and dramatic coastline. For those more adventurous types, you can hike along the scenic Cleveland Way, Mountain Bike in Dalby Forest, or even try Husky Trekking at Staintondale.

Each of our cottages provide ample space to enjoy a quiet read in front of the log fire, watch your favourite television programme on a flat screen, listen to your iPod or indulge in sumptuous candlelit baths.

Arrive to our warm welcome at your personally prepared holiday cottage, with the table set ready for afternoon tea so you can relax from the moment you step into your accommodation!

You’ll be so cosy and relaxed that leaving will be tricky!