We enjoyed a fun family day out last month, making the most of sustainable travel from our doorstep. The day began at Gargrave station, less than 1 1/2 miles across the fields from Newton Grange (along the Pennine Way footpath), or in our case, a 2 mile drive to the free station car park in order to transport everything we needed for the day. Including a bucket and spade, of course!
For we were heading to the seaside in Morecambe. After just under an hour and a half on the train, passing through fabulous Dales and Three Peaks scenery, we arrived. It was mid-morning and we walked the short distance to the promenade and the beach, for the first of the day’s sandcastle-making. It mainly involved us making sandcastles, rapidly followed by them being knocked down as quickly as possible by Emma!
We enjoyed some walking – and running games – along the wide promenade to the centre point that is the Midland Hotel. Known for its art-deco styling and an impressive refurb, the hotel occupies a promenant position on the seafront. We tucked in to a tasty lunch in the Rotunda Bar, which had a pleasing menu for children as well as adults. Emma loved the bolognese, and the pasta gave her more energy for post-lunch running, which we just about managed to keep up with!
The promenade is a popular spot for walkers, runners and cyclists and nice and wide. It is also on the National Cycle Route and there were enticing signboards to the Coast-Coast Cycle Route from Morecambe to Bridlington. I made a mental note to remember this for sometime in the future.
We walked along the pier towards the sea, and enjoyed a pot of tea during ‘nap-time’. It was a welcome refreshment before the second phase of sandcastle making commenced. The delight of filling buckets with sand and simple pleasures in life.
We felt full of fresh air and contented on our way home, sitting on the train that transported us almost all the way back to our doorstep. A highly recommended day out, and great to take a train journey to the seaside from our home in the Yorkshire Dales.
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