Merry Christmas!

Dunsley is ready to celebrate Christmas, with a perfect little tree from Duncombe Park estate. The village tree, by the harbour, is much bigger and bolder, but the Dunsley tree is just right for our private little yard. Our Christmas guests arrive on Friday for two weeks, and are sure to enjoy the Staithes atmosphere. Merry Christmas, all!

Christmas!

The Staithes christmas tree, which sits right by the harbour, just above the beach was illuminated on December 4, but last weekend it had extra help from the full moon. I took this picture just after sunset, with the lights twinkling on the tree and on the water. The sea was pure silver against an indigo sky; just wonderful. There's a festive atmosphere in Staithes already, with decorations and lights on many of the cottages. It should be a fun season! We've already had an enquiry for Dunsley for New Year 2012-13! so if you fancy the idea of Christmas in Staithes, it's worth planning ahead! www.dunsleyinstaithes.co.uk

'Round the corner'

A combination of beautiful autumn weather and a low tide meant we managed to walk 'around the corner' this weekend. That's the name for the seashore below Cowbar Nab, which is usually covered in surf. As we crept across the slippery rocks, we found a flock of seabirds scurrying around, pecking lunch from the rockpools. We think they're dunlins, which are the birds on our stained glass window at Dunsley (www.dunsleyinstaithes.co.uk). The views were amazing, north toward Saltburn. It was a real treat, especially with the clear blue sky.

Romance at Dunsley

Dunsley is set to welcome its first honeymooners! We've taken a booking for 2012 for a happy couple to start their married life in style... A bottle of French champagne will welcome them to our romantic little cottage, before they settle in for a cosy week 'a deux'. Staithes is such a friendly, relaxed and relaxing village - I can't think of anywhere nicer for a post-wedding week. See Dunsley for yourself: www.dunsleyinstaithes.co.uk

Coffee and cake!

Great discovery: the best coffee and cakes in the north of England are a short walk from Dunsley! We walked the Cleveland Way from Staithes to Runswick Bay last weekend - it's about 1.5 gentle hours on the clifftop or a little longer if the tide is out and you scramble along the beach boulders. The cafe in Runswick Bay is right on the seafront, just above the coastguard station; you can sit inside or outside. We walked back but if you walk to the top of the bank, the regular bus service whisks you painlessly back to Staithes. Anyway, I had a double-shot cappuccino and a huge slice of home-made apple and cinnamon cake (plenty big enough for 2), and it was superb... I have a feeling the cafe is closed out of season but that's even more reason to book ahead for a holiday in Staithes in 2012: www.dunsleyinstaithes.co.uk

Pictures of Lifeboat Weekend

Here are the pictures for the last post, on the Lifeboat Weekend...

www.dunsleyinstaithes.co.uk

Well, the Lifeboat Weekend was a big success; we were lucky with the weather, given conditions were difficult all over the country. The fireworks on Saturday night were wonderful, blasting off over the harbour. The weekend culminated in Sea Cadets strutting their stuff, the brass band giving a superb performance, and the religious service and hymns conducted in bright sunshine.
 Our first guests are in residence at Dunsley; hopefully they love it as much as we do! You can see the new pictures of the kitchen and front yard, at www.dunsleyinstaithes.co.uk

Lifeboat Weekend coming up...

One week to go before the Staithes and Runswick Lifeboat Weekend! From 12-14 August, there'll be boats all over the place, plus fancy dress, raft races, duck races and evening entertainment. It's one of the biggest events on Staithes' calendar, and is open to all. We've guests staying at Dunsley so will be spectators rather than residents: if the weather's good we'll launch our sea kayaks and join the Runswick sailing club flotilla on their journey up to Staithes on the 13th. See you there!
www.dunsleyinstaithes.co.uk
Picture: Steve's beautiful coble, Rose of England, will be taking part in flotillas at Staithes over the weekend

 

It's been the most beautiful weekend in Staithes: wall to wall sunshine and a lovely atmosphere with all the holiday-makers. We caught up on news of the annual charity concert at the top of the bank, held the other night: apparently Richard the butcher cut quite a dash as Elton John, and Neil, who sanded and varnished all the wooden floors at Dunsley, was startling as the Fifth Beatle in a woolly black wig, then in a blonde hairpiece as Status Quo!! An excellent night was had by all, as they say...

Did you see the Sunday Telegraph this weekend (July 17)? Staithes was listed as the Winning Review in a special report on English beaches. The picture, shot from the Cowbar Nab road down to the river and out to sea, is a bit old as Yvonne's lovely garden, isn't there, but still, nice to see!  Here's (my) newer version, although from a slightly different angle and with fewer boats.

Big news from the fishing competition: a 13-pounder has stormed into the lead. We saw lots of cod and ling coming in with the fishermen last night, and were lucky enough to be given a few fillets. Thai fish curry tonight, then, in Dunsley's smart new kitchen!

Spring tides at Staithes yesterday meant a yellow 'cruise boat' from Whitby made it into the harbour. The Cod & Lobster was crammed inside and out, with people enjoying the evening sunshine as the tide nearly touched their feet! We joined them briefly,but my mission was to take some more pictures for the website. Check them out at www.dunsleyinstaithes.co.uk  but in the meantime, here are 3 for the flavour: bathroom, bedroom, sitting room!

Dunsley's first blog!

Hi! Welcome to the first blog from Dunsley in Staithes, our beautiful holiday cottage for couples. My name is Judy, and my husband Duncan and I are working hard to make Dunsley a place to relax, and enjoy the glorious North Yorkshire heritage coast. I plan to use this blog to keep you posted about news from Dunsley and from the village itself. Festivals, boat launches, who's caught the biggest fish in the annual fishing competition, weather - you name it. In fact, please feel free to name it: any questions burning a hole in your mind over Staithes, please just ask. If I don't know the answer, I might know someone who does. Contact me at dunsley.staithes@gmail.com
 So, at present we're working on renovations, and will have Dunsley ready for rental in August. Mike the joiner is putting in the kitchen this week, and I plan to take photos next week for the website. In the meantime, here's a pic of the beautiful stained glass panel that's just been inset into the new front door. It was made for us by Val Green of the Stained Glass Centre in Cayton, and is of two dunlins on the beach. I love it!