Boroughbridge Update

Ok it's back to Boroughbridge for a fourth time for some unfinished business. As previously posted, the Devils Arrows, and the Marina had eluded us on previous visits. Also, our visit was post January floods and as you would expect were to experience the after effects. This time the Anchor Inn was to provide refreshment. Here is our account of our visit to the historic town of Boroughbridge.

We arrived late afternoon and once again our host was the Crown Hotel.

The Crown Hotel(Boroughbridge)

First job was to get a fix on the location of the Devils Arrows. Google Maps and Street View showed that it wasn't far from the Crown. We drove to Roecliffe Lane and close to the Northern end on our left was one of the three megaliths.

The plaque at the front of the first stone

    

The Megalith on the East side of Roecliffe Lane

The two megaliths on the west side of Roecliffe Lane

The taller megalith on the west side of Roecliffe Lane

The shorter megalith on the west side of Roecliffe Lane

We wanted to examine the site of the two megaliths on the west side of Roecliffe lane but could not see a public walkway that would take us closer since they are situated in a field.

learn more about the Devils Arrows in Boroughbridge

Next up and not 300m from the Arrows is the Marina. Situated once again on Roecliffe Lane. You can walk round the banking and view all the moored up vessels close up. There are all shapes and sizes, and types suitable for the river Ure of course.

The inlet to the Marina from the river Ure

We made our way back to the Crown and from there we re traced our route along Milby Cut towards the Lock. This time there was stark evidence of the river Ure having risen to a very high level. There was large chunks of drift caught high up in the branches of tree that had clearly been under water.

Driftwood deposited in trees submerged by the flood water

Drift wood deposited by the flood water

We reached the Lock and were greeted by people navigating the lock. Coincidentally they were from Wombwell, in Barnsley... it just so happens that my grand parents were from there. We watched the process of navigating a lock.

Their vessel entered the lock, lock door closed, and the water was let in to raise the boat up. Then... the boat went down. Then a few choice words, "your'e doing my head in...". "you don't know what you're doing". Eventually all was well and they caught up with us further down the cut.

Having fun on the water

Next was lunch at the Anchor Inn... well when i say lunch what i really mean is a liquid one as in a couple of beers. It was a typical men's sports pub with the focal point being the TV that was showing Sky Sports 1. That ws terrific since my team was being televised in a Roses derby... Burnley vs Leeds Utd. Well 90 mins later and it's another much needed 3 points for us.

BOROUGHBRIDGE

First published Wednesday, 30 September 2015

Boroughbridge

It wasn't the first time my wife and i had travelled up the A1(M) to stay in this part of the country; on two other occasions we had stayed at the Crown Hotel and this time was no exception.



The Crown Hotel

It is a great place to stay for a weekend break since I worked full time and my wife had retired twelve months earlier. It is a time to unwind for me and a change of surroundings for my wife.

So, what is in Boroughbridge? Well quite a lot as it happens.

Firstly The Crown Hotel our accommodation for the weekend; set on the junction of Horsefair and Fishergate. There are a few places to stay in Boroughbridge but we decided to stick with the Crown as we had stayed there on previous visits and enjoyed our stay. The staff were friendly and helpful. The room was a double executive suite; more than adequate in size with tea and coffee making facilities, and a capacious en suite bathroom. The furnishings were in keeping with it's coach house history.

The dining room was well set out with lots of natural light. The food (breakfast) was traditional i.e cooked breakfast and a buffet of different cereals and fruit, and fruit drinks for the more health conscious.

The leisure facilities were good; a fair sized swimming pool, with a jacuzzi, steam room, and a sauna. My wife and I were there to relax so we didn't use the gym.

The bar area was well stocked with wines, Spirits, and draught beers and lagers. A mixture of booths and open seating offered some privacy.



We explored the surrounding countryside on all our visits to this area and here are some of the things we enjoyed on this particular visit.



Our walk route



The war memorial in Boroughbridge Hall Square



The river Ure meets Milby Cut



A monument

A bridge crosses the river Ure, and sports a plaque that reminds us of the Battle of Boroughbridge

The river bank is a good source of walks in both directions. A village shop will provide a daily fishing license.



There is a variety of trees and wild flora on the river banks. Some species of wild flora we are familiar with in our hometown appear to be of the giant variety on the banks of the Ure.



On the opposite side of the river side path there are large expanses of agricultural land, fields that were crammed with Barley and Wheat... yeah i had to look up the difference between the two cereal crops.



A hedge separates the fields and occasionally a public walkway allows you to leave the river bank and walk parallel with the hedge and at a right angles away from the river. Eventually you reach the village of Aldborough, and guess what, we emerged on the main road in Aldborough not 100m from the Ship Inn.



The Ship Inn early evening

The Ship provided a small but nice outdoor seating area that had a nautical theme, the tables were covered by a large parasol planted in the middle that offered a welcome shade to the summer sun.



Inside of the Ship Inn.

Not far from the Ship Inn is a Roman site. On a previous visit we paid to enter the site and were impressed with the artifacts and structures that provide a glimpse at the Roman way of life.

We followed the main road back to Boroughbridge which.was.occasionally flanked by Georgian style red brick houses.

Back on the main road and nearly back in the centre of Boroughbridge I was drawn to a church that I felt compelled to photograph... don't ask, that's what tourists do. Right!.



Anyways, I snapped away and when I had had my fill I turned and made my way back to the main road only to be faced with a chap wheeling out of his garage a car conversion project.



It turns out the guy had made this creation from an old 2CV only now it had 3 wheels, two at the front and one at the back... I was impressed, since now ,instead of looking like an upside down corrugated pram it now looked a work of art and a tribute to the owners imagination. Kudos to the guy it is a remarkable conversion. I eventually made it back onto the main road and back to the Crown.

In conclusion, our visits to Boroughbridge to date have been short. Further research revealed that we had only touched on only a few of the highlights of Boroughbridge. Some things that we missed included The Devil's Arrow and the Marina.



Location of Boroughbridge

Boroughbridge is situated in North Yorkshire 30 mins from Ripon and 40 mins from York and in our opinion provides a good base for anyone wanting to visit those places.