Goathland & The North Yorkshire Moors

The North Yorkshire Moors offer spectacular views and walks around the village of Goathland.

As you can see the weather was beautiful and myself and Lenny walked around for hours just taking it all in.

Our B&B was called "Rose Cottage".Run by Emma and Jaz,they are open all year round and allow dogs.When having your own beautifully cooked breakfast,they even cook a sausage for your dog which is a lovely touch - anyone going there once will want to go back again - I know I do.

Whitby

Whitby is a fishing town on the coast.It is the first base of Captain James Cook.

It is overlooked by the Abbey ruins.You can walk up to the Abbey from the town which gives you some spectacular views.

As you can see,myself and Lenny also took a boat trip around the harbour.It was slightly choppy but great fun.

Ashfordly Station / Hogsmeade

The Train Station at Goathland also doubles up as Asfordly Station from "Heartbeat" and also "Hogsmeade" Station from the "Harry Potter" films.

It is part of the North Yorkshire Moors railway system where you can travel on traditional old steam engines.

Goathland / Aidensfield

On June 17th and 18th,I went to Goathland on the North Yorkshire Moors.

This is the village where the TV series "Heartbeat" was filmed.

It is a lovely,quiet place where the sheep roam freely around the village.As you can see from the view from my B&B window,Lenny took a great interest in these strange creatures.

The pub featured in "Heartbeat" - The Aidensfield Arms - is actually the Goathland Hotel.You are free to take your dogs in all three of the Bars in the village which was great.

After all the tourists go home the evenings are serenely quiet,and you are free to walk around in peace and enjoy the beautiful countryside surrounding you.

Glasgow

A brief couple of days in Glasgow featured a trip to Celtic Park and a walk up and down the River Clyde.

Glasgow is home to Celtic Football Club.I attended a match in memorial of Tommy Burns a former player and manager of the club.
Even though it was only a friendly game,nearly 40,000 people turned up.

The walk up and down the River Clyde was very different to how it would have been during the Clyde ship building era.

Nowadays it is has been regenerated and is home to expensive apartments,entertainment and the "Armadillo" - otherwise known as the SECC.

As you can see it was a beautiful day for a walk.

Croke Park

Croke Park is the home of the GAA. Gaelic games such as Hurling and Gaelic Football have been played here for many years.

It has undergone a huge renovation project over the years which makes it one of the most modern satdiums in Europe and the fourth largest.

One area of the ground is smaller than the rest.It is called Hill 16 which was originally made from some of the damaged rubble of O'Connell Street after the uprising of 1916.

In the GAA Musuem you can see the story of the Irish uprising and how the playing of Gaelic games developed.

In recent years,Football and Rugby have been played here during the renovation of the Landsdowne Road Stadium.

As you can see in the pictures,the pitch is covered up following the recent Republic of Ireland v Bulgaria game - it hadn't been snowing!

Walking Around Dublin 2nd April

Dublin is a beautiful city.As well as the fascinating history to look at,the old buildings and the open spaces are great to walk around.

The Brazen Head pub is reputedly the oldest pub in Dublin and Inchicore is where the famous Paul McGrath of Aston Villa,Manchester United and Republic of Ireland fame lived.

Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzie fame was also a Dublin Man and is revered countrywide.

St.Stephens Green is a lovely open space in the City and you wouldn't know that there is a busy noisy city outside it.