Gosh it's nearly February - It will be Valentine's Day soon, and Half Term holidays, Easter and then that first Bank Holiday in May, when the Tour de Yorkshire is coming our way - the route has now been announced and I'm sure all you keen cyclists out there already know that Stage 1 on the 1st May is from Bridlington to Scarborough .. Yay .. and Stage 2 on 2nd May is Selby to York, Stage 3 on 3rd May is Wakefield to Leeds. We already have a keen cycle fan booked into one of our lovely cottages, but still have two cottages available for that period.  Stage 1 peloton will be zooming right through Hackness, only metres from Granary Cottage! Have a look and book soon ... Route maps can be found on:

http://letouryorkshire.com/stage-1/map

http://letouryorkshire.com/stage-2/map 

http://letouryorkshire.com/stage-3/map

Christmas is officially in the air - you can almost smell it! Christmas Grottos, Music, Pantomimes, Fairs and Markets all over the place - from Scarborough and environs in Yorkshire, Barnard Castle near Durham, to Avoch in the Black Isle near Inverness, Scotland - all great fun.

Christmas lights were switched on in Scarborough this week and they are fabulous! We also had the huge Coca Cola truck (from the TV commercials) in town at the weekend which proved very popular http://thedms.discoveryorkshirecoast.com/Scarborough-Christmas-Markets/details/?dms=3&feature=1024&venue=1711754 

Also in North Yorkshire, Santa specials on the unique North Yorks Moors Railway http://www.nymr.co.uk/special-events/santa-specials/

Pantomime season is also here http://www.scarboroughspa.co.uk/events/Snow-White-Pantomime-Scarborough-Spa-December-2014 and https://www.sjt.uk.com/content/aladdin.

Inverness Winter Wonderland 12 December, when Santa and his Reindeer 'bring a touch of Christmas magic to the Highland Capital' http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php. 

In and around Barnard Castle there are Christmas Markets at the Bowes Museum  http://www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/VisitUs/WhatsOn/Events/ChristmasMarket.aspx, 

Ice Skating at Beamish Museum http://www.beamish.org.uk/outdoor-ice-skating/, 

Winter Wonderland at the Bowlees Visitor Centre http://www.northpennines.org.uk/Pages/NewsUpdatesItem.aspx?NewsUpdatesID=138.

Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at Country Cottage Holiday

Useful links for all of you coming to visit us in Scarborough over the next month or so: yorkshire.com, discoveryorkshirecoast.com, robin-hoods-bay.co.uk, fishermenandfiremen.co.uk, scarboroughmuseumtrust.com,sjt.uk.com, scarborough.ymca.org.uk, scarboroughspa.co.uk ... SEE YOU SOON 

16th December marks the 100th anniversary of the Bombardment of Scarborough - the first attack on our shores in 1914. There are some very interesting bits of information, accounts and photographs of that day (see www.scarboroughsmaritimeheritage.org.uk/) when over 700 shells were launched from sea in half an hour! There are also lots of events around town to mark the occasion - see discoveryorkshirecoast.com/scarborough-remembers.aspx for more info. On a brighter note, it's actually a lovely time of year to visit the Yorkshire Coast and stroll along our beautiful beaches with your fish and chips