Bamburgh

Today we set off for Edinburgh via Bamburgh and other points north. Arriving early at the castle, we had time to walk along the walls, although it was extremely windy, and we saw people on the long, golden sands beach walking their dogs and having waves of sand blown into their faces.

Inside the castle are magnificent high ceilinged rooms full of treasures, and down in the basement there are wonderful kitchens including various strange objects such as a very early vacuum cleaner. 

Our next stop was Berwick with its Elizabethan walls and viaducts enclosing the original town. We took the self-guided walk around the walls, reading the plaques full of interesting information. One was all about a certain L.S.Lowry who spent many summers living in a house just by the walls with lovely views across the water.

Three bridges - the furthest is Royal Border Viaduct

House where L S Lowry spent summers

 We also saw the Royal Border Bridge built in the late 1840s that is a railway viaduct - although not quite at the English/Scottish border. That is about 3 miles further north.

After suitable refreshments we drove on along the coast and made Edinburgh in time to stretch our legs a little before the celebrations.

Alnwick

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.

 We indulged at the cafe and then went on to visit the castle, which has apparently starred in the Harry Potter movies. There are strange figures on the ramparts and a lantern that has definitely been seen in HP, and it was all very interesting. Around 700 years old, it has been in the Percy family all that time and they still spend the winter here. When they are in residence, the castle is closed to visitors and the family host hunting parties.

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