'We went on a Sunday stroll in North Yorkshire and ended up stranded for two hours without an Uber'
What could be more delightful on a Sunday afternoon than a leisurely stroll to the nearest country pub for a roast and a well-deserved pint? Not much, in my humble opinion!
The North-east is brimming with splendid places for a walk, and last weekend we found ourselves in North Yorkshire after a couple of nights at the Yorkshire Spa Retreat. After a few days of relaxation, we decided to shake off the lethargy, lace up our walking boots and head out for a stroll.
The Yorkshire Spa Retreat is somewhat secluded, with Helmsley, Malton and Pickering being the closest villages and not much else nearby. We chose to walk into Helmsley, having driven through it on our way to the spa and finding it quite charming.
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The walk was approximately 3.5 miles and according to Google Maps, would take us around 1 hour and 15 minutes, which suited us perfectly. Our plan was to explore the village, stop at one of the local pubs for some food, and then catch an Uber or taxi back to the spa later that evening for our final night, reports Yorkshire Live. Given that it's only a six or seven-minute drive back, we didn't anticipate any issues.
The picturesque village of Helmsley, nestled on the banks of the River Rye, is a popular destination for day-trippers due to its rich history, making it an ideal choice for a relaxed Sunday afternoon. The town itself is charming, with narrow winding streets lined with independent shops, cafes and traditional pubs - quintessentially British! I spent an enjoyable hour or so exploring the clothing boutiques, interior and trinket shops before hunger set in.
Besides the shopping opportunities, Helmsley also boasts a wide variety of venues for a well-deserved drink and some locally-sourced food. There are three pubs close to each other in the market square, as well as several cafes and bakeries scattered across the village.
We chose The Black Swan, craving something hearty after clocking up 11,000 steps. We'd overheard another couple saying they couldn't get a table anywhere, but we must have timed it right as we managed to secure a table immediately - our lucky day, or so we thought!
By this point, it was around 3pm and we were disappointed to find there were no roast dinners left, but I suppose that's what we get for strolling in at 4pm on a Sunday afternoon without a reservation! It wasn't a big deal, we opted for something else equally warming and hearty and were just pleased to have secured a table.
After a hearty meal, we began to contemplate our return to our accommodation. Despite being tempted by the dessert menu, we were too full from our steak and ale pie, so we decided to pick up a dessert from the nearby Co-op to enjoy later at our lodge, post hot tub dip.
It was shaping up to be an ideal Sunday. We checked Uber for a ride back, but there were no cars available.
We had noticed a poster with taxi numbers at the pub's reception desk, so we took a picture of it intending to call a taxi after our shop visit. After getting our dessert and still finding no luck with Uber, I called one of the taxi numbers from the pub's list.
To my surprise, I was told "sorry love no cars available until Tuesday now! " I found this amusing and somewhat ridiculous - it was only 5pm on a Sunday!
I assumed it must be a small firm and didn't worry too much. I dialled the next number on the list, expecting a different response.
However, the operator informed me that there was nothing available in Helmsley until around 8pm. This wasn't ideal as things were beginning to close and a three-hour wait wouldn't work. I thanked them and said I would try elsewhere.
At this stage, we began to fear that we had made a mistake. I called the third taxi firm on our list, only to receive the same response.
I turned to Google to search for other taxi services, only to find that options are limited in the North York Moors area. Meanwhile, my partner was still struggling to find an Uber. He managed to book one at one point, but it cancelled shortly after, much to our disappointment.
Reality check
We contemplated retracing our steps, but the darkness had set in and the main road we'd used to reach Helmsley lacked street lights or a proper footpath. It had taken us over an hour to walk it, so we weren't keen on braving the cold and dark.
Spotting some folks waiting for a bus in the town square, we approached, hoping to catch a ride instead. However, there was no visible information about bus schedules, and having not used public transport in years, we were at a loss.
We tried to find the timetable online and identify the right bus to take us back, but we were unfamiliar with the area. An elderly lady at the bus stop, clearly amused by our predicament, offered assistance—or rather, a reality check.
She informed us that the last bus heading in our direction had likely already departed, adding that buses were "few and far between at the best of times, let alone on a Sunday evening! ". She was waiting for the last bus herself but it was going in the opposite direction of where we needed to get to and so was of no use to us.
'We don't have that luxury up here love'
She asked us where we were from, we told her Huddersfield and explained we didn't for one second think we wouldn't be able to get a taxi or an Uber back, it hadn't even crossed our minds! She was very amused by this, we told her we are so used to being able to just click a button and have a car available in minutes, she laughed and said "we don't have that luxury up here love! " before boarding her bus and wishing us luck.
I got on the bus and asked the driver if he went anywhere near where we needed to get to but he told me he was going in the opposite direction, just as the lady had told us. I suppose I was just hoping for a different answer!
By this point we were freezing and pretty much out of options, we decided to head back inside one of the pubs to warm up, accepting the fact the three hour wait for a taxi was probably our only option. One final attempt at being rescued I called the spa where we were staying hoping they might have some words of advice or be able to help but the reception had closed at 5pm and there was nobody available to take the call.
I remembered seeing an emergency mobile number on the guest information pack when we arrived at the lodge but obviously I didn't note it down and couldn't find it anywhere online. Reluctantly, I rang the second taxi firm again to see if the 8pm car was still on offer and whether we could book it. No surprise, it wasn't available.
I got onto the third taxi company and managed to secure a ride for 8.30pm; not ideal, but better than nothing, so I booked it, resigned to our fate of being marooned for a bit longer. Stuck in a pub – there are worse places to be, right?
We ordered another round and just then, my partner announced that an Uber had accepted his request. We didn't get our hopes up, expecting another cancellation. But suddenly, his phone rang – it was the Uber driver, confirming where we were.
We dashed outside and, like a miracle, there he was! We shared our saga with him, which he found hilarious (were we missing the punchline?). He told us we were "so lucky" because he'd only been nearby after a drop-off at the same spa.
Spotting our request post-drop-off, he figured he might as well take it since he was there, mentioning it's rare to get jobs around here. Eventually, we got home, two hours late but still clutching our sticky toffee pudding and custard – by then, we were definitely ready for dessert!
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