We had a celebration to attend in Edinburgh, so decided to visit the north east of Emngland on our way up to Scotland. We stayed in Alnwick for a couple of nights - arriving last night in time for dinner, and today we have spent the whole day around the Gardens and Castle.
The Gardens have been painstakingly created by the Duchess of Northumberland after she found them in a sad state ten years ago. Now there are several garden areas all surrounding the amazing Water Gardens. The Grand Cascade 'performs' every half hour and there are apparently four different displays. I don't know if we saw them all, but we did watch at least two performances when we were in the Garden.
We walked all around, visiting the different areas, coming at last to the serpent garden with its water sculptures using all sorts of different scientific phenomena to create them. The special Torricelli sculpture was sadly undergoing repairs, but maybe we will go back one day to see it.
And I shouldn't forget to mention The Poison Garden, hidden away behind decorative security gates, where poisonous plants and others used in medicine are kept safely out of harm's way. It is guarded by the gatekeeper who has a sort of Hagrid's Hut to keep warm in.
When we had seen all there wasat the castle, we walked into Alnwick town and had to have a cup of tea at Grannies. We decided against the Tea Cake that had been recommended by friends, it was really enormous and we had already asked the B&B landlady to book a restaurant for dinner! We walked alll through town, ending up at Barter Books, a second hand bookshop in the old railway station. It has to be seen to be believed - an amazing place.
Alnwick Garden
Alnwick Castle
Barter Books
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