Bradford 1635

The day starts with a trip to Caerlaverock Castle. It’s a beautiful sunny day, but the castle is closed. We walk the ground, which doesn’t take very long, and then head back to Dumfries along the estuary/river.

We spot the boathouse cafe/restaurant and stop for brunch. Angus puts away a steak sandwich and a bowl of leek and potato soup. I’m less hungry and opt for the roasted pepper soup. It’s all very good.

I drop Angus back at his flat and start my journey to Bradford.

Driving an electric car with a relatively short range (120 miles) is a completely different experience to driving a fossil fuel car. Charging takes a considerable amount of times, and there’s plenty of competition for chargers that gets worse the further south you go.

The slower you drive the further you go, so driving slower can often get you where you’re going faster. I drive at 50 and stop to charge up twice. Once for the full 45 minutes and then just to make sure I’ll get to my destination. Which I do.

First stop is the pub, where Steve and Fran and friends have clearly been for some time. Then back to their relatively new home (new to them, but built in the 17th century). It’s a huge old pile, with four bedrooms and a warren of rooms downstairs. The garden is hidden round the back, and is massive, full of mature plants, though a little on the shady side.

We cook vegetable and bean pie for tea and continue drinking. The red wine is finished before we get onto the cheese, but there’s Yorkshire whisky to wash it down.