Off again, 5 nights at a site near
Bambrough, years since we have been up here, this is an area of
outstanding natural beauty.
We have joined the Camping &
Caravanning Club hoping to use the certificated sites but everywhere
seemed booked up so got a listed site, not part of the club. Arrived
to find a field full of tents, caravans and screaming kids, oh what
had I done.....Roy booked in and thank goodness we were on the adults
field, far away from the fun and games!
BAMBROUGH DAY
First day we walked to Bambrough about
a 5 mile round trip, we took a bridleway across the fields and
returned along the beach dodging the incoming tide.
Due to Northumbria's history of
hostility against the Scots, there are more strongholds and castles
here than in any other part of England. The first major stronghold
was built around 550 by a Saxon chieftain, Ida the Flamebearer. In
its heyday between 1095 and 1464 Bambrough was the royal castle used
by the Northumbrian knights for coronations. Bambrough Castle is so
photogenic.
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| BUDLE BAY |
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| LONGSTONE LIGHTHOUSE |
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| BAMBROUGH CASTLE |
LINDISFARNE & BERWICK ON TWEED
DAY
Day two saw us
up early to drive across the causeway to Lindisfarne or Holy Island.
We had just over three hours to explore before the long narrow neck
of land sank under the North Sea tide for five hours. The island was
made famous around 635 by St Aidan, St Cuthbert and the Lindisfarne
gospels(held in the British Library).
We had a great
walk round the sights and managed to escape the crowds, we sat
enjoying our lunch while waiting for the tide to cover the road and
watch the crazy people who tried to beat the tide with their cars.
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| ST MARYS CHURCH |
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| St Aidan 600-651 Irish missionary founded monastery at Lindisfarne |
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| PYRAMIDAL ORCHID |
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| TIDE'S COMING IN! |
On to Berwick
Upon Tweed, an interesting walled town,which changed hands 14 times
between the 12th and 15th centuries in the wars
between the Scots and English. The English won in 1482!
We walked part
of the walls, there seemed to be miles of beautiful trails around the
town looking over the River Tweed.
THREE BRIDGES AT BERWICK
ALNWICK CASTLE DAY
A sightseeing
day at Alnwick Castle was quite superb! We chose just to see the
castle and not the gardens. It is the main seat of the Duke of
Northumberland, whose family, the Percys, have lived here since 1309.
This castle doubled as Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter movies.
We enjoyed
wandering round the state rooms, discovering that the Duke lives in
the actual rooms during the winter, Downton Abbey was also filmed
here. Heard about how they filmed the broomstick scenes in Harry
Potter and laughed to see the kids and grown ups taking part in
Broomstick training! A stunning Castle!
BROOMSTICK TRAINING
TREE HOUSE AT ALNWICK CASTLE
DUNSTANBURGH CASTLE
Our last day, we drove through
Seahouses and Beadnell to Low Newton then hiked along the
Northumberland Coast path to the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle.
Impressive even though there was not a great deal left, it must have
been spectacular in its day. We walked back along the beach, missing
the big black clouds that flew by. Ice Cream in Seahouses and ended
the day with fish and chips – what more could you ask! Another perfect day.
St Mary's Church Low Newton end of 19th
century purchased in kit form constructed from corrugated steel
sheeting with pretty stained glass windows
VIEW OF BAMBROUGH CASTLE FROM THE SEAHOUSES ROAD.
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