Castleton and Danby Floral and Horticultural Society Annual Show - 12 Sep.

If you want to experience a traditional North Yorkshire village show I would recommend the Castleton show in the Esk Valley, North Yorkshire on 12 September 2009. The village is in the North York Moors National Park.

The show attractions include craft stalls, tombola, raffle, Downe and Outs Jazz Band, classic and vintage cars and motorcycles, vintage engines, motorcycle trials display, ferret show, children's foot races, free face painting, tug-of-war, birds of prey, local childrens Salsa Band, terrier show, lurcher show, ferret show and the pony sports.

Competition categories include the following (with 172 individual classes!): fruit & vegetables, flowers, handicrafts, art, dairy produce, floral art and photography.

One of the highlights of the show is the Castleton Show Run, a road race of approximately 10k or 6 miles, which starts and finishes at the Castleton Show Field. The race is organised by members of North York Moors AC. The race route traverses minor roads in a circular manner via Dibble Bridge, the ford at Hob Hole and the village of Westerdale.

The show field opens 12 noon and the tents open at 1pm. Admission £2.50 adults (including car park), £1 OAP, £1 children.

What appeals to me most about the show is that I have seen no mention of a Labrador category so those crazy puppies won’t spend from now until 12 Sep practicing their tail wagging and cute walk!

Rally Yorkshire takes place in Dalby and Cropton Forests 26 Sep 2009.

The Trackrod Rally, organisers of Rally Yorkshire, offer a range of individual events within the overall umbrella, meeting the needs of competitors from contenders in the British Rally Championship through to those in the regional clubmans’ championships.

The Pickering-based rally will take in the North York Moors forests of Cropton and Dalby, on Saturday, September 26. The highlight will be the 16 mile stage over the classic forest tracks of Dalby forest.
The start and finish of all events is at Pickering Showground along with the Super-Special Stage. Central service is also at the Showground which the competitors visit during the event.

For further details visit the website www.rallyyorkshire.co.uk

York Food and Drink Festival 18th to 27th September 2009

This amazing food and drink festival is set to take place once again in York from 18 to 27 September 2009. The year the chosen theme for the event is Crude Food, referring to natural, raw, simple or unadorned food. Tickets for various events throughout the festival are now on sale.

The organisers tell us that the highlights of the York Food and drink festivals are:

1. 10 Days of quality led markets. Yorkshire produce stands, plus visiting wine and other guest stands, include an active smokehouse presentation integrated into the show, and lots of 'Yorkshire ethnic foods' from the Indian sub-continent, to Malaysia, Turkey and Ghana (These are ethnic recipes but using Yorkshire Produce).

2. A diverse daily programme that always includes, an introduction to wine, a comparative food 'taste workshop', a cocktail demonstration and cookery demonstrations. Demonstrators at the Festival include Andrew Pern, (The Star at Harome), James Mackenzie (Pipe and Glass), Stephanie Moon, (Rudding Park), and Michael Hjort (Melton's Restaurant).

3. Local Produce Dinner: these include a Launch event with locally produced Tapas dishes (Friday 18th with Melton' s Too) and Spanish wines presented by Charles Metcalfe. Others include a dinner arranged around produce from the southern edge of the North Yorkshire Moors with Rabbit, Shearling Lamb, Trout, Apples and Watercress all grown within a few miles of the town of Pickering.(Friday 25th)

4. A Dedicated Chocolate Fair on Sunday 20th: will include a range of chocolate stands, tutored tastings, demonstrations and hands-on workshops. The day culminates in a true celebration of chocolate at a Chocolate Dinner in York's Guildhall.

5. A Drinks Programme including a walk around wine fair (Saturday 26th), a Whisky Festival (Saturday 19th) tutored wine and food meals at quality York Restaurants including the Lime House (Portugal Thursday 24th) and Melton's Restaurant, (California Sunday 27th) Other themed tutored tastings include ""Wine and Christianity"", Burgundy, Spain and a Champagne tasting led by Yorkshire Post wine critic Christine Austin.

6. Regional Real Ales: The Festival links up with Daleside Brewery to run the Festival Ale tent situated among the markets. The Ale tent is the starting point for the Festival Ale Trail, taking you around 12 Real ale pubs and the reward - if you needed any other! - of a Daleside T-shirt for those who finish. For the first time York CAMRA are running their Ale Festival to co-inside with the Festival (York Knavesmire 17th to 19th).

7. Fountain Cafe. Alongside the Ale tent, the Fountain Café hosts a Beer Fair (Thursday 24th) On other evenings the Café links up with local charities to run simple two-course dinners. Those involved include, Mare Cure and Macmillan Cancer, Brunswick Organic Nursery (they provide work for adults with special needs) and the Aegis Trust, who provide solar powered cooking equipment for refugee camps in Darfur.

8. Foraging As part of the Crude Food theme, the Festival runs Foraging courses in the city (Wednesday 23rd) and a day trip to the coast. (Coach travel included to the Yorkshire coast, Thursday 24th).

9. Chefs & Producers day on Monday 21st. An opportunity to see local producers and chefs from the region, working together on stage, to produce great dishes. Lunch is included in the day and the producers also have stands around to hall for further sampling etc. Also an opportunity here to vote for the Yorkshire Post's 'Taste of Yorkshire' readers' Award.

10. Taste Workshops with Slow Food North Yorkshire. A daily opportunity to learn more around the great quality of regional produce, try seasonal apples and tomatoes, organic breads and flours, honey and cheese.

For full details about the festival click here.

To buy tickets call the ticket and info line on 01904 466687

National Railway Museum - How a Steam Engine Works 2 Sep 2009

As part of a series of talks held at the NRM 'How a Steam Engine Works' explores the amazing and very complicated workings of a Steam Engine with the help of a full size sectioned locomotive.

The Museum's Explainer Team will take you through each step of how a steam engine works from lighting a fire, to creating steam, to using the steam to move hundreds of tons of metal, freight and passengers. The locomotive its self is a fantastically re-built sectioned engine showing in detail the main components needed for a working steam engine and how they all work in unison.

The talk will begin at 16.10 outside Ellerman Lines locomotive in the Great Hall.

For information about the National Railway Museum click here.

Flamborough Rigg Cottage B&B, Stape, in full bloom.

Hi,it is Lily here the little yellow Lab. I am curled up in my basket feeling sorry for myself, nursing my wound, well really a sting. Payne the pesky cat is grinning and making “I told you so” noises!

Here at Flamborough Rigg Cottage B&B, in Stape, North Yorkshire, the gardens are in full bloom. There are so many sweet smelling and pretty flowers. That also means that the garden is full of beautiful butterflies. While my sisters Meg and Katie were snoozing I was having a brilliant game chasing the butterflies, they are pretty fast. When they landed I would use my special puppy skills to sneak up on them, nudging the flowers with my nose to make them fly………..what I didn’t think about were the wasps and the bees. I now know that wasps and bees are even grumpier than Payne!

I wonder if Caroline has a plaster for my nose?

Celebrating Seafood in Whitby, North Yorkshire

On Saturday, 29 August 2009 and Sunday, 30 August 2009 Endeavour Wharf in Whitby will be transformed and will play host to a Food Hall, Food Theatre and an array of entertainment - with live street theatre, acoustic music, and entertainment for all the family.

The event is a celebration of what Whitby is all about - its heritage, its vibrant fishing industry and the stunning coastal location. Dozens of specialist food producers from across the Yorkshire Region will showcase their high quality and varied produce in the Food Hall.TV Celebrity chef, Ed Baines will be taking centre stage in the Food Theatre. Ed is currently one of the judges of ITV 1’s hugely successful ‘Britain’s Best Dish’, and has recently filmed ‘Taste the Nation’ for ITV 1 and ‘Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is’ for BBC 2.

Also on the celebrity chef line-up is National Seafood Chef of the Year 2009, Rob Green, chef/owner of Green’s Restaurant, Whitby, as well as the inspirational Tutors from Bettys Cookery School.

Head along to Whitby this weekend to taste the best of Yorkshires seafood.

Castle Howard plays host to up and coming Yorkshire Artisans.

Over the coming bank holiday in the Stable Courtyard at Castle Howard up-and-coming Yorkshire-based designers and artisans who will be selling high quality ceramics, textiles, jewellery, sculpture, paintings and fashion.

This is an excellent opportunity to purchase some unique pieces of art, jewellery or clothing. The designers and artisans are all connected to Artsmix a Leeds based non profit making organisation created to encourage and provide sales platforms for Yorkshire based art projects.

The event takes place on 30 & 31 August 2009 from 10.00am until 4.00pm with free admission.

Helmsley walled garden in North Yorkshire in full bloom.

We strongly recommend to our guests here at Flamborough Rigg Cottage that they visit Helmsley Walled Garden in the pretty market town of Helmsley in North Yorkshire over the coming weeks as it is truly a treat for the senses with a glorious array of colour and scents.

The garden boasts long beds of hot summer colours, an area that combines grasses and lavender to great effect and an exciting mix of fruit trees and climbers along the walls.

As well as lucky visitors the garden also attracts hundreds of butterflies and bees.

To see the garden at its best plan a visit soon.

Whitby Regatta 22-24 August 2009.

Once again, what is probably the world’s oldest sea regatta is to be held in Whitby, North Yorkshire.

All three days are crammed with activity including yacht racing, rowing races and a host of entertainment culminating in Grand Parade with floats and a spectacular firework display on Monday 24 August 2009.

The yacht and rowing races will take place across the weekend. There will be air displays by Air Sea Rescue, the Red Arrows and vintage aircraft.

There are daily Army, Navy and RAF displays. A highlight for many will be the motor cycle and quadbike gymkhana.

Puppet shows, bouncy castles, trampolines, clowns, fancy dress competitions, face painting and treasure trails will keep the children busy.

For full details on the Whitby regatta click here

Cycling across the North Yorkshire Moors and Coast

We have just had the very energetic Horton family staying with us. Mum, Dad and the two children, Josh 14 and Sarah 11 stayed in the Hayloft here at Flamborough Rigg Cottage for a week and the grandparents, David and Anne stayed at the B&B for 4 days.

One of the reasons for visiting North Yorkshire, as the Horton family love cycling, was to explore the Moor to Sea cycle route.

The whole family rode the 18 miles from Scarborough to Whitby along the disused railway line. The route takes in Ravenscar, Robin Hood Bay (where they stopped for lunch) and then over the amazing Larpool viaduct into Whitby.

On another day their grandparents dropped the family in Pickering with their bikes so they could ride the 7 miles of the trail from Pickering to Low Dalby and if that wasn’t enough the family then rode the excellent trails laid out by the Forestry Commission in Dalby Forest! David and Anne chose a more sedate visit to Scampston Walled garden collecting the family from Dalby forest enroute back to Flamborough Rigg cottage.

They promised that they will be back to more of this 80 mile route in the Autumn…..for now they have gone home for a rest.

Obviously I can’t ride a bike which is a shame as they said it was brilliant! Maybe Phil could get a trailer on the back of his bike to pull along Meg, Lily and I.

Cropton Brewery in NorthYorkshire.

Some of our guests here in the Hayloft at Flamborough Rigg Cottage have just returned, very excited, from a tour of the award winning micro Brewery in Cropton, North Yorkshire. They even brought back a few mementos, none of which they seem to want to share with me.

Having had the odd lick of their ale myself, obviously only when I have managed to nudge Phils hand when he has been having a pint, I can tell you it is very, very good.

Cropton Brewery has been producing excellent ales now for 17 years although the brewing tradition in the village goes all the way back to 1613 which I think is a very long time.

From March to September they open daily offering tours and the chance to sample some of the ales. Tours are available during the winter months but they recommend that you ring ahead to check opening times.
Be warned that children under 12 are not permitted in the brewery.

I wonder if they let 12 year old dogs in…….

King Arthur and his army descend on Whitby Abbey.

Whitby Abbey plays host to King Arthur’s Army on 15 and 16 August 2009.
Visitors to Whitby Abbey can witness hand to hand combat and see the cavalry soldiers of Arthur's army. There is also a chance to cheer for St George as medieval townsfolk perform the legend of St George complete with very large dastardly dragon! The Time Travellers Myths and Legends Big Top activities will be running throughout the weekend too, providing plenty of hands-on activities and fun historical activities for children.

Flamborough Rigg Cottage Posse!

Here are a few of the girls and I making the most of the lovely North Yorkshire sunshine at Flamborough Rigg Cottage B & B. I know you shouldn’t really sunbathe too much but it does make you feel better, a bit of sun on the feathers, and I think it makes the yolks of our eggs even brighter!

We hens are living the good life. We spend our days exploring the fields around the cottage, napping, eating all the treats that come our way from the kitchen garden and the odd worm, although you can guarantee the sight of one of those will start us wrestling. Then at night we snuggle up in our cosy hen house, what more could a girl ask for?

Rumour has it that there are some new hens coming to join us in the coming week, the more the merrier……..

50 Cakes to Leave your Mother at Grosmont Gallery & Jazz Cafe

The Grosmont Gallery & Jazz Café, on Front Street in Grosmont, North Yorkshire is holding an unusual mixed media exhibition up until Sunday 23 August 2009. 50 Cakes to Leave your Mother celebrates cakes and tea time and features Hollie Brown, David Utting, Martin Sadler, Sue Fenlon, Naive Textiles & Helaina Sharpley.

The diverse exhibition features paintings, textiles, 3D wire work and other media.

Wild Wednesdays in the Yorkshire Museum Gardens

Every Wednesday throughout August they are encouraging visitors to Go Wild in the gardens of the Yorkshire Museum. They have promised lots of activities, trails, artwork and experiments and an exciting theme every week: 5 August - Earth; 12 August - Air; 19 August - Water; 26 August - Fire

The events take place between 10.30am - 3.30pm and the activities are free.

For further details The Yorkshire Museum and gardens click here.

Helmsley Walled Garden Green Day 15 Aug 2009

Here is a date for the diary: Saturday 15th August between 10.30am and 5pm is the 2009 Green Day at the beautiful Helmsley Walled Garden.

The event will promote local, ethical and environmental issues through information stalls, trade stands, local produce and more. Stalls will be spread throughout the whole garden, allowing the beautiful backdrop of Helmsley Walled Garden to surround the stalls. Entertainment for the whole family and children’s workshops will all be on offer making it the perfect day out for everyone.

Helmsley Walled Garden was built in 1758 to provide daily supplies of fruit, vegetables and cut flowers for Duncombe Park and the original greenhouses were built around 1880 to produce a range of “exotic” produce and plants to impress “them up at the big house”. The garden was unused for many years until Alison Ticehurst began the restoration in August 1994. Thanks to winning the ITV People’s Millions vote funding has allowed a large new area to be created in the garden.

The 2009 event will allow visitors to enjoy music performed by Ryedale Live and Jam Side Up. A variety of workshops for visitors of all ages will be on offer including a Drumming Workshop by Rod Kirk, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, the Energy Saving Trust, the North Yorkshire Moors National Park and WRAP composting.

A wide variety of stalls will be at the event including:
Side Oven Bakery
Forever Living
Firby Design
Stratford Nappies
Cheeky Herbert
Fairchilds Green Shop
Sophie Hamilton Pottery
Quakers Pickering and Hull Area Meeting
Bioflow Independent Distributors
The Garden Deli
Beez Neez Apiary
Howardian Hills AONB
Phoenix Trading
Barefoot Books
E & E G Bullivant & Daughters
Amnesty International Kirkbymoorside Group
Kids in the Kitchen
The Castle Garden
Fairer World
Fieldside Arts

For further details about Helmsley Walled garden click here.