PICK & MIXХ

Philip Renfrey revels in an eclectic collection of Goths, Roman artefacts, sea glass – and a Puffing Billy!

We had begun by talking about making a brief Yorkshire tour to celebrate a relative's 65th birthday, but it rapidly morphed into a longer trip to the North-East.

We set off on the Saturday, in what turned out to be a mini-heatwave, making full use of the air conditioning. Our first stop was a lovely little CAMC CL at the Blacksmiths Arms, near Huddersfield, with beautiful views over the moors. We enjoyed an excellent Sunday lunch with family in the pub, which gave us plenty of time to catch up on the news.

Shibden Hall

We departed for Whitby the following day, but decided to make a short detour to visit Shibden Hall, just outside Halifax.

Despite being born in Halifax, we hadn't actually heard of Shibden Hall until we watched the Gentleman Jack TV series. Although our visit was as a result of Anne Lister's story, we realised there was a great deal more to the Hall. The tour guide covers the history of the house and the surrounding parkland from the 15th century to the present day.

In 1923, the estate was bought by politician and family friend Arthur McCrea, enabling the Listers to live there until John Lister's death in 1933. McCrea later gave the grounds to the people of East Halifax' as a public park.

Back on the road, we headed to Whitby and our next stop, Sandfield House Farm Holiday Park. This well-maintained site is just a short walk away from the town.

Tuesday's walk along the seafront was bracing, but we enjoyed it as did our dog. The next day, we walked into Whitby along the coastal path. Whitby is a charming, picturesque seaside town, with cobbled streets, traditional fishermen's cottages and a bustling little harbour.

It has a vibrant and lively atmosphere, and is famous for its associations with the explorer Captain Cook, Dracula and jet jewellery.

Climbing to the abbey ruins