Day 2: Burgh by Sands to Drumburgh and back & Burgh by Sands to Beaumont and back

Found the perfect place to park in Burgh by Sands - a Village Car Park with a donation box.  Find it on the other end of the recreation ground next to the Greyhound Inn.  

Today we set out on bikes to cover the long flat stretch of road back to Drumburgh.  We decided to head into the wind on the outward journey and coast back with it on the return.  A good plan.

This three mile stretch of road follows a dismantled railway line which serviced Port Carlisle.  The road is open to marshes on one side and an embankment on the other.  I can imagine how bleak this section of HWP could be on a drizzly December day with the tide lapping at your feet but our day was bright and sunny with no fear of flooding.

It was a huge feeling of elation returning to where we had arrived the day before:  a true sense of "we did it".  

The return ride was far more leisurely with time to talk to the cows and sheep and admire Boustead Hill from the embankment. 


Boustead Hill

After packing our bikes back into the car, we set of on foot across fields and up hill to the beautiful village of Beaumont.  [I guess the clue was in its Norman / French name.]  Here we ate our picnic sitting on a bench built to curve around the trunk of a wonderful tree in the centre of the village green.  To complete the rural idyll, we watched a mother thrush feed her fledgling nearby.  Mum flew off to find more food happy to leave her baby to hop after her on the ground.  No traffic, no noise...
We were jolted back to reality when we heard and saw a bus further down the road.  To far away to catch but perfect to help us sort out transport for tomorrow.

The walk back to the car was delightful.  How come everywhere is much nearer on the return journey?  We even had a spot of rain which necessitated trying my new poncho which is big enough to use as a bivouac if required - hopefully not.

St Michael's Church, Burgh by Sands

and its amazing Norman door


     



  


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