Tag: Travel

Enjoy the Beautiful Scenery on a Trip to Skipton

Posted on by Travelling Wilbys
Skipton Canals
Skipton Canal

Skipton is only a hop, Skip, and a jump away from Leeds via the Northern Rail line. It takes approximately 42 minutes to travel the distance between the two. Making it the perfect, scenic destination for a day trip.

Leeds train station can be busy. A little chaotic with people rushing about to find their platform. Give yourself enough time, and it’s no problem. That’s my anxiety speaking. Check your platform departure number on arrival and hop on board for a day of adventure. An excellent outing and chance to explore somewhere new.

We love train travel in England. An easy way to get from place to place. A novelty we do not have at home. Perfect for exploring and adventuring. I think if we had this at home, you might never see me. You would find me riding the rails in search of new places, and new adventures.

Skipton Train Station

That being said, there has been an ongoing issue with rail strikes. Two years in and they do not seem to be going away. This requires a little more planning and flexibility on your part. Two weeks notice is required in advance of strike action. Our best advice, keep an eye on the strike dates and plan around them where possible.

A BritRail pass is the best bet for international travellers. They must be purchased from your home country. Simply buy the pass online, load it onto your phone, and off you go. Paper tickets are available. These require a little more time to arrive.

Enough said, time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the amazing scenery. No need to rush. North Yorkshire does not disappoint!

Rolling green hills, quaint villages, lovely little train stations, and historic sites pass by your window. With each new station, you are given a peek at other places you may wish to explore. There is no shortage. I think our list of things to do gets longer every time.

We were there in May, and it was lambing season. It is hard not to smile at their cuteness as they play happily in the field. That is, until the big, scary train comes. Then it is off to mom they run. Now PLEASE do not tell me where most of them are destined to end up. I prefer to live in denial and picture them living out their lives in those beautiful green fields, providing the odd woolen sweater.

The train trip from Leeds gives you splendid views of the Leeds to Liverpool Canal with its many canal boats. The towpath running alongside the canal provides for great walking and biking trails. You can walk the entire towpath from Leeds to Liverpool in about two weeks. There is a lot of history to the canals. A post for another time. I could see us doing a trip via a canal boat or a walking holiday.

A market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, Skipton is known as the Southern Gateway to the Yorkshire Dales. Its proximity to the Yorkshire Dales National Park makes it a great starting or stopping point for exploration of the Dales. It began life when the owners of Skipton Castle acquired a market charter in 1204. It then thrived as a trading centre for sheep and wool. Today, there is a population of approximately 15,000 people. It has been listed as one of the best and happiest places to live in the UK. I believe I could be quite happy living here.

Rich in history and outstanding natural beauty, it is hard to resist this market town. The 900-year-old Skipton Castle stands high and proud as its centrepiece, and the historic cobbled High Street makes for perfect browsing of its shops, bakeries, and eating establishments. With the husband in tow, there is always a pub high on the list of things to do. Of which, there are many.

Skipton Castle high above Castle Woods

Suggestions for the Perfect Day in Skipton:

  • Skipton Castle – one of the most complete and best-preserved medieval castles in England. At over 900 years of age, it is well worth a visit rain or shine. Enjoy a walk through the castle and its grounds. Below it, you can see the beautiful walking path for Skipton Castle Woods.
  • Woodland Trust’s Skipton Castle Woods – we discovered this beautiful walk on our most recent visit. It is hard to believe you can escape from the business of High Street to the tranquility of this rare ancient woodland within seconds. Perfect for those who want to unwind in the peace and tranquility of nature. It has a fascinating history dating back a thousand years.
  • Peruse the shops and eateries on High Street. I love quaint little gift shops and exploring little alleyways to see what I can find. Skipton Market operates Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday throughout the year. Always worth checking out, never know what you might find.
  • Enjoy a pint at one of the many pubs. One of our faves is the Castle Inn. A traditional pub with great cask ales, and an excellent food selection. Seating can be found inside or outside. This is by no means the only pub, there are many lovely ones to choose from. We just need to try a few more of them. If you are in Skipton on a Sunday, do not forget to book in somewhere for a traditional Sunday Roast. A Sunday must for us.
  • Walk the canals around the city. Stop at one of the little pubs on the canal and do some people watching. We checked out the Boathouse Bar which was a great little spot for watching the canal boats. They were coming and going right in front of the bar. There is seating inside and outside. It was kind of nice to sit outside on a sunny day.
  • Take a canal boat tour. They range from 30 minutes to two hours. Depending on how much time you have, you should be able to find one to fit your schedule. It is a wonderful way to explore the area from the water.

These are just a few ideas for a day out in Skipton and by no means a full list. A list of some of our personal favourites. There is much more to explore depending on your wants. We left wishing we were spending a couple of nights there. This would have allowed us more time to fully enjoy all that Skipton has to offer.

Day trips are a great way to get away from it all. The perfect opportunity to explore somewhere new. We quite often find it nice to find a central location, base ourselves there, and do day trips. While it may seem the time passes all too quickly, you can always come back. You’ve had a taste of what it has to offer. I know we would be very happy to return to Skipton!

  • Skipton Canal
  • Skipton Canal
  • Skipton Canal
  • Ice Cream boat on the Canal
  • Skipton Castle Woods
  • Old Waterwheel
  • Skipton Walk
  • Skipton Castle from the Woods
  • Skipton Castle
  • Skipton Castle
  • Looking out from Skipton Castle
  • Thumbs up for local pub meal
  • Skipton Train Station

Lighthouses of British Columbia: Shining their Way through the Darkness

Posted on by Travelling Wilbys
Lighthouses of British Columbia, Amphitrite Point, Ucluelet
Ucluelet Lighthouse Loop, part of the Wild Pacific Trail, Amphitrite Point, Vancouver Island, British Columbia

I love lighthouses. No matter where I am in the world, they appeal to my sense of adventure. Beckoning to be explored. Stories to be told. They give off an air of mystery. I wonder what they have seen, perched high on their craggy lookouts. The lighthouses of British Columbia have provided a guiding light to many a mariner.

They make for wonderful photography subjects, no matter the weather. Sunshine or storm, giving you a different perspective each time. Intriguing to me, their history and the stories they hold within. Lighting a path through the night to keep ships away from danger. What have they seen? The perils and dangers of the sea – lives lost and lives saved. A beacon of hope and light in the darkness.

Then there are the lighthouse keepers. What must their lives have been like? A solitary, lonely life, in which they tended and cared for their lighthouse amid all weather.  Pounded by violent windstorms, lost in a sea of fog, pelted by rain, or basking in a moment of sunshine. No matter the weather, they had a job to do.

Lighthouses of British Columbia, Race Rocks, Southwest of Victoria.
Race Rocks Lighthouse, Southwest of Victoria. Eastern end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

It would take a certain type of person to want to do this job. Strong minded and able to deal with the loneliness and isolation. Happy with their own company and able to withstand the storm. Yet, there is still a part of me that thinks what an awesome job this would be. The beauty of these remote places. Strength of the ocean in its full glory. I would watch all day in awe.

The appeal of being away from the chaos and noise of city living would be a definite bonus. No traffic or crowds of people, just the beauty of your surrounds. Perhaps, just wishful thinking. Reality being, an extremely hard life and not for everyone. Forget about friends stopping in for a quick chat or drink. No grocery stores in sight. Supplies flown in for remote locations. I think we are all struggling enough with the isolation of Covid restrictions. This would be a whole other level.

There are stories of historical lighthouse keepers, being driven to madness or suicide from the isolation. They suffered from mercury and lead poisoning, fires in the lighthouses, the perils of rescues on their own, lack of sleep, and the wild weather. Thankfully, present-day keepers have a little more help. Automation has brought about changes.

British Columbia has a group of 54 lighthouse keepers working across 27 manned lighthouses. Keepers work in pairs to cover an entire day. There are approximately 40 surviving lighthouses along the coastline of British Columbia, stretching from the southern tip of Vancouver Island up to near the Alaska border. I admire the men and women that do this job. Do they love their job, is it what they always dreamed of doing? Only they can tell.

Lighthouses of British Columbia, Cape Mudge, Quadra Island
Cape Mudge Lighthouse, Quadra Island

It is on my bucket list to stay in a lighthouse. There are many places around the world where you can do this. I have seen listings for the East Coast of Canada, United States, and the United Kingdom. The UK has a network of them overseen by the National Trust. I want to stay in a lighthouse in England or Ireland. Enjoy the amazing views, wake up to the sound of the waves, and take photos to my hearts content. An ocean lover and photographer’s dream.

I won’t forget about the Coast of British Columbia. There are many lighthouses to explore. I have only seen a small fraction of the 40. Not all are accessible. There is no shortage of adventure to be had on Vancouver Island!

Vancouver Island

Below is a map of the Lighthouses of British Columbia. You can click on the lighthouse symbols for more information on each. This map was compiled by Lighthouse Friends, and they have wonderful lighthouse information on their site.

British Columbia Lighthouses

Travel Gives Us Memories to Last a Lifetime

Posted on by Travelling Wilbys

Travel is a passion, a desire like no other. A never-ending yearning to see more of the world around us. It allows us to learn and grow and become more sensitive to what lies outside our own little world. Eyes wide open to new places, people, and cultures; we would not have otherwise experienced.

It becomes an addiction of sorts, constantly seeking out the next adventure. Once bitten by the travel bug, it is impossible to resist its urge. An escape from reality, an opportunity to leave behind the pressures of everyday life. Perhaps, at times, but it is so much more than that! It is an avenue of self discovery, an opportunity to open your eyes to the world around you, and a chance to re-create, or find yourself in a new place. New adventures, new people, new experiences.

“We Travel Not to Escape Life but for Life Not to Escape Us” – Anonymous

Not so much an escape from reality but a wake-up call, realization that we have so much to be thankful and happy for. And yet why aren’t we always satisfied with that? Some of the happiest people I have met are those living in other countries. When judged by our standards, they appear to have less, but do they really? Is it fair to place our standard of living on them and our continual want for more?  As long as they are able to provide the basic necessities for their family, they seem to be happy. Their life is more about family, celebration, love, and laughter. Watching them interact, it’s impossible to miss the smiles and wonder whether we are really living our best life.

Travel has given me so much and memories to last a lifetime. Things to remember when life gets you down. It has given me what I like to call “bucket moments”. Different from a bucket list item, in that it is a once in a lifetime experience that can’t be repeated no matter how hard you try. It is not scheduled or planned, it just happens within your travels or perhaps while you are on your bucket list vacation. A moment you look back on and think “was that real”.  A whole feeling or emotion in itself and re-creating it in another time or place just wouldn’t be the same. An experience within your vacation that has a whole different feel, something you will always remember.

Bucket moments are very personal, a surreal feeling. Travel has given me many, so I started writing them down in a journal. Recording those special moments within a trip that bring that special feeling. Moments I can look back on. Not that each trip and adventure isn’t worth remembering but sometimes individual moments stand out more. They give the trip an extra special feel. Below are just a couple of mine.

Quite a few years back, I was travelling in Australia and decided on a whim to get my scuba diving license. Since childhood I’d always been fascinated by everything to do with the ocean and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. On successful completion of the course, was a 3-day catamaran diving tour on the Great Barrier Reef. The first night out it was quite rough, the waves were rolling, along with a few stomachs. No one could sleep so a group of us climbed up to the open top deck which was the helicopter pad. We sat down on the deck in the complete dark, with the waves crashing below us, and the starlit sky above us. The stars alone were mesmerizing but then one of the guys took out his guitar and started playing and singing the song, “American Pie”. We all joined in, singing our hearts out, without a care in the world and just being in the moment. It wasn’t the song that made the experience but the whole surreal feeling of everything around me. Hearing the song now though will bring me back to it. Nothing was planned or booked ahead, it just happened. A moment within my travels that I will always remember.

Another such “bucket moment” was on a trip to Huatulco, Mexico. A small group of us decided to hire a local boat to take us on a daytrip of sightseeing around the bays. It was the perfect weather and seas to be soaking up the sun and beautiful scenery. We were all excited to spend the day out on the boat, celebrating a birthday, and hoping to see some sea life. As we know though, there are no guarantees as to when or even if they will show up. We spent the day exploring the bays, found our sea turtles to our great excitement, but there were no dolphins to be seen anywhere.

It had been an amazing day, so we hid our slight disappointment and started to head in. The dolphins would have to wait for another time. Suddenly we hear, “dolphins ahead”, and we find ourselves in the midst of a pod of 250 plus dolphins.  It was pure joy. Dolphins as far as the eye could see. Leaping and surfing alongside and under the boat. Moving through the water like silver bullets at amazing speed. Their grace and beauty holding us in this pure awe-inspiring moment. It was purely majestical. Their spiritual energy surrounded us, a “bucket moment” like no other.

COVID-19 has changed things. Travel has been brought to a halt. The ability to just get up and go, a thing of the past. Change is difficult but it has made me realize how lucky I have been. I have my “bucket moments” and memories that will carry me through until it is safe to travel again.

Memories for a lifetime. Adventures to make me smile. Photos to look back on. Stories to tell.

Market Fun and Goats on the Roof in Coombs

Posted on by Travelling Wilbys

If there are Goats on the Roof, you must be in Coombs!

Goats on the Roof – Old Country Market is a childhood favorite. A trip up island was never complete without a stop in this wonderful little place in hopes of seeing the goats. A childhood delight that was sure to bring a smile to my face.  I couldn’t wait to spot the first goat on the roof, and heaven forbid if there were none in sight.

Maybe, it’s my Norwegian heritage calling to me, I can at least wonder, but still to this day, I love this place.  The novelty of seeing goats where you don’t expect them, is always quite fun. I’ve never been to Norway but it’s on top of my bucket list, and for now I will imagine that everyone has at least one goat on their roof. Yes, I know times have changed but a girl can still dream.

The original Coombs Old Country Market was created by Kristian Graaten.  Kristian and his wife, along with their children, emigrated from Norway to Vancouver Island in the 1950’s. The inspiration for the Old Country Market came from his homeland and the small community of Lillehammer where he grew up. Many Norwegian homes and farm structures were built directly into the hillside with the sod roof becoming an extension of the hillside.  This was his inspiration to include a sod roof in his plans for the market.

What started out as a farm stand beside the highway in 1973, grew to include selling hamburgers to travelers en route to the West Coast the next year, then two years after that, the market was built. When the grass grew too tall on the roof, it was jokingly mentioned that goats would be the answer for that, along with a few belly laughs about what those driving by would think. The joke soon became a reality though and “Goats on the Roof” was born and has been thriving ever since.

The goats now appear back on the roof every spring, after a winter vacation spent searching for greener pastures. While the green roof is environmentally friendly (insulation and evaporation), it also provides the perfect habitat for the goats, and with the goats come the visitors. Islanders, day trippers, and travellers from all over the world flock to see them. The little fruit stand beside the highway, has turned into one of the top tourist destinations, and no one can resist the urge to see the goats on the roof. It’s always fun to see who will be the first to spot one.

Goats on the Roof is a wonderful little market, and a delight at any age.  Looking for a picnic for your trek up or down island? They have the most amazing market bakery, deli and produce store, where you will find all kinds of tasty treats to take with you. Don’t just grab and go though, unless you’re in a hurry, be sure to check out all that the market has to offer. From the market under the grass roof, to the produce centre, garden centre, restaurants or little boutique shops, there is something for everyone. Have children with you, they have the simplest little children’s toys which still delight me to this day. The adults in the group may enjoy browsing for unique little decor ideas for the home. You never know what you will find.

Hot day and needing to cool off, then ice cream is surely in order. Check out the Billy Gruff Creamery, with over 60 flavours, I think you will find at least one to your licking. If donuts are more your thing, try Billy G’s Donut Shop, located in the A-frame next to the main market.  Be tempted by names such as Billy Gruff Bombers, Gimme S’More, Nanaimo Bar, or an old-time favourite Honey Glazed.

Coombs makes a wonderful family trip, couple’s trip, or perhaps a side trip on a girls’ getaway weekend. There are so many spots on the Island for a weekend away with the besties; and a stop in Coombs will have you laughing, smiling, and reliving old times. So many ideas for a fun weekend away but that is a whole exciting topic on its own. Coombs isn’t just Goats on the Roof, there is more to see and do in this little place, and the surrounding area. It is an eclectic collection of quirky little shops, studios, hobby farms, Butterfly World, and so much more. A fun place for the whole family to explore.

Goats on the Roof – Old Country Market still ranks high on my list of fun things to do on the island.  I loved it as a child, and I still love it as an adult. It’s a fun place to visit, and sometimes with all that life has to throw at us, we just need to let our inner child out. Time to laugh until we cry, smile until our face hurts, and give in to delicious temptations for just one day.

Location

Ask any Islander, where is the place with the goats on the roof, and they will know where you are talking about. Looking for more specific directions:

Goats on the Roof Old Country Market
2326 Alberni Highway, Coombs (Vancouver Island), BC Canada

Coombs is located on Highway 4A (Alberni Highway), approximately 9 km west of Parksville. Highway 4A is the main highway across the Island that connects the east and west coast. A popular stop on the long drive to Tofino and Ucluelet.