Home

Safe and sound.

I loved Northumbria. What would I change? Well, I would go out of season in the wild weather and do a lot more walking.

Until next time...

Thursday

This is our last day in this most beautiful part of the world.

We spent the afternoon on the beach.

Millie played catch the ball and bury it and the boys played bat and ball, frisbee and rolling down sand dunes.

C and I ate ice cream.

We are all off down to the Craster Arms for a bite and a well deserved pint.

Wednesday

A really quiet day today.

We started fairly early (after braking our fast on the last of the Kipper Pate) and went to Bamburgh.

Bamburgh is probably my favourite place up here, the castle is magnificent, visible for miles around and completely dominating the village. We went for a walk along the beach with Millie who was very very happy and drinking seawater again...

Lunch in the Victoria Hotel was Ok but no cigar, I think that they try too hard. Then a visit to Carter's butchers for breakfast makings - their sausage rolls must have drugs in them because having had one, I crave another...

I have just walked on the beach here in Beadnell and visited the lime kilns - well worth a visit if you, dear reader, like industrial heritage.

Tonight we are being whisked away by taxi to a mighty fine fish restaurant. A review will follow.

Tuesday

Today started quietly with smoked kipper pate on toast...

The boys were fishing this afternoon so we went to the local pub for excellent crab sandwiches in the sunshine...

...and cider.

The boys returned triumphant with two bags full of mackerel and cod.

Dinner tonight is fish. Mackerel baked in the oven with soy and ginger. Yum.

Monday

Today we went to Wallington, a NT property near to Morpeth. The walled garden is very beautiful. They have four Griffin heads buried in their lawn, presumably their bodies are below...

We had tea and cakes too :)

Then home.

Tonight we went to Seahouses for rather average fish and chips and fun on the 2p slots.

The boys are running around the beach right now with Millie. Just perfect.

Sunday Walk

C was good enough to drive us all to Craster, famous for crabs, this morning.

After a tearful farewell, the boys and I set off to walk back to the digs.

The Northumbria Coast is beautiful, wide sandy beaches punctuated by black rocks. Today it is sunny but very windy so the waves crashing over the rocks was magnificent.

The walk took us past the majestic Dunstanburgh Castle, a ruined castle which would not look out of place in Game of Thrones.

Millie was, as usual, running around and must have walked 10 times the distance.

A half way stop at the Ship Inn for beer and toasties (the boys had cola) was welcome and I can heartily recommend it if you are ever in Low Newton. They brew it all themselves.

Four hours later and we are drinking tea in the cottage and I am ready for a nap :)

Saturday

In the afternoon we took a boat trip (they call it a cruise) from Seahouses to the Farne Islands.

We saw seals, puffins and shags plus numerous other birds.

Millie enjoyed being the ship's dog and was better behaved than the children.

The evening was a super meal of spicy meatballs followed by a cut-throat competition of Uno which yours truly did awfully at.

Saturday Morning

A bit wet and foggy to start but nothing can dampen my spirits.

Millie is on guard.

First Night

A trip into the local "big" town of Seahouses to pick up supplies (we forgot to bring milk with us) and show the boys the sights of the big city (it has chip shops and an Amusement Arcade).

We had a super curry in the Indian Brasserie and the home to bed.

Millie (the Wrappler dog) is on her holidays too, taking a welcome break from her duties being the face of the Wrappler Blog. She is all cosy in her bed and knows that we have brought a huge bag of treats with us...

...and so to bed.

Here safe and sound

After a long, long trip full of roadworks and delays punctuated by a stop for Mcdonald's (Big Macs for me and C and something chicken for the boys. We arrived at Dune Cottage in Beadnell.

First impressions were excellent and what a beautiful place, all mod cons, clean (very important), tidy and WiFi! It immediately felt like an home from home.