A Reunion In Kirkby Lonsdale

We're back in St Andrews visiting the Scottish branch of the family for a week. The caravan site is deserted so we've got it all to ourselves which makes it nice and peaceful. It will, no doubt, fill up on Friday but until then we'll make the most of the solitude. Instead of the usual five hundred mile journey we headed up north on Friday and stopped at Kirkby Lonsdale for another of our now biannual reunions with old North West friends. 

It wasn't practical to organise the usual self catering break this time so we opted for a pub. Here's the view from the window of our room in the Sun Inn. 

We'd been disappointed that friends Dave and Jane from Ormskirk weren't able to join us for the weekend this time but, due to an unfortunate chain of events for another couple in the party, they raced up on Friday evening and joined us to take their place for one night.

We were very impressed with the Sun Inn - nice rooms with good touches, friendly service and excellent food. Here's Mark and Nita just outside. 

It's right next to the church so there's no problem in knowing the time with the bell chiming regularly throughout the night. The inn thoughtfully provides ear plugs!

The weather was kind to us on Saturday so we headed for our old stomping ground of Ingleton. We spent many happy days here with the children when my parents owned a caravan and the popular waterfalls trail was always a firm favourite. The falls were spectacular after recent heavy rainfall.  

Crisis over, our friends Dave and Janet drove up early on Saturday in time to join us on the walk.

Nita, Marion and Janet

After dinner at the Sun Inn on Friday we walked around the corner to the lively Avanti on Saturday night. This bar/restaurant was packed and, whilst we were a good twenty years older than the average reveller we were seated at a quiet(ish) table in the corner and enjoyed a very tasty Italian style meal.

I say Italian "style" as I'm not sure that you'd find a black pudding and Garstang Blue pizza in Italy.

The weather was fine again on Sunday morning so we went on another short walk nearby before driving to Newton-In-Bowland to the wonderful Parkers Arms.

It was recently given the accolade of being one of the top fifty gastropubs in the country.

It's an accolade that is thoroughly deserved. The forty day Himalayan Salt Chamber rib of beef that three of us shared was absolutely delicious. The service was great and it was three hours before we left after a long, slightly boozy and thoroughly enjoyable lunch. Poor Marion drank only water and then drove the five hours up to St Andrews - she's really good to me.

Stop Press. Here's a sneak preview of the cover for my new novel Mr Pendergast's Fantastic Find. It's going to be available soon and I'll be telling you more in the next week or two.