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