Click
any of the photographs to get an enlarged view.
A Holy Week Holiday
Maurice Hickman’s trip to Scarborough proved to be an unforgettable holy
week experience. It was an eclectic mixture of stunning coastal walks, wind
swept moors, smoke filled pubs with the best real ale, and services to
celebrate Easter.
Click
any of the photographs to get an enlarged view.
As you can see the hostel is in an idyllic location on the bank of the river and is within easy walking distance of Scarborough
By contrast Good Friday was devoted to visiting Scarborough, with Maurice showing us the church of St Mary of the Apostles, and the grave of Anne Bronte. The youngest Bronte sister, who died aged twenty eight, loved Scarborough so much that she wished to be buried there. At 12 noon that church had a three hour guided meditation on Christ’s passion done in fifteen minute cycles with breaks of reflective classical piano music. At 3pm we united as a group to attend the traditional RC service with moving Taize music.
Scarborough
castle from the promenade.
For me the highlight of the week was our visit to Whitby. The ruin of Whitby Abbey which was venue of the famous Synod of Whitby that juts out over the sea, its cobbled streets and buildings seem to be straight out of medieval Holland or Germany. It was here, Maurice told us, that Bram Stoker got his inspiration for Dracula. Indeed if any ramblers are thinking of writing a follow up to Dracula they might, on a stormy night, like to stay in the massive youth hostel beside the Abbey. On the other hand, our hostel situated by a river in the brilliant holy week sunshine was small, intimate and friendly, even if at times, the showers were faulty.
Whitby
Abbey close up
Whitby
Abbey from the Cleveland Way
Whitby
Abbey framed by WhaleBones
However, in Scarborough you can get a good hotel facing the sea, often with single accommodation, for around £20 per night. And for those wishing to catch a quick Easter Vigil service lasting just over an hour, you can always nip over to St Oswald’s RC church in Whitby and then be back in Scarborough for closing time.
Maxine O'Reilly
Here are a few more pictures of a memorable holiday
The
Hermitage. I think the inscription GC 1790 commemorates King George IV and
his second wife Caroline. If you know different please let me know.
The
whole walking group on a bridge in very pleasant surroundings.
The
same group but with more of the surroundings showing.
On the last day of the holiday we all went our separate. Four of us spent a most enjoyable day in York including a pleasant lunch hour in Yorkshire Breweries' "Last Drop Inn". They are so friendly in York that they even forgave one rambler for asking for Black Sheep bitter in a YB pub!! Here are a few memories of the day.
York
Minster from the top of the open bus.
Clifford
Tower - site of the infamous massacre of the the Jews. The red tint in the
stonework on the front of the tower is said to be a mysterious remnant of the
blood of those massacred.
Helen,
Colin, Tony and Maurice on top of the open top bus.
At
the bottom of the picture is a small remnant of the Roman Wall of the City of
York. Above part of the later City Wall is visible.