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Martin and Debbie KinallyMartin and Debbie Kinally
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  • TravelerIs it really 'Grim up North?'
    Day 6

    It Really Is 'Grim Up North'

    Yesterday in England ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Well what a change in the weather. After yesterday's beautiful sunny day, we wake to thick grey clouds and mist.

    We are moving on to Berwick-upon-Tweed today. Driving along the coast road and hoping to pop in to check out a couple of beaches on the way but with the weather like this we change our plans and head straight to the site to catch the bus into town to spend the rest of the day there.

    We drive through Bamburgh with its impressive Castle. We've stayed here once many years ago when Tom was a toddler. An aborted nights camping, the weather was so awful we booked into the towns hotel.

    Onwards to the site, with great views of the small harbour at Spittal, which you can't see today because of the mist! We catch the bus into Berwick-upon-Tweed a walled town on the border with Scotland. Well what else can I tell you about the town, not much, unless you want me to expell the virtues of it's wide range of charity shops and grey stone buildings. Oh it does have an impressive arched bridge carrying trains from one side of the River Tweed to the other, and a very nice tea room.

    Sorry this is a grim place, 8.76 and this is being kind only saved by the great cafe we sheltered from the rain.

    So we decide to make a quick exit. But not even that goes to plan, just about to step on the bus 'and get the hell out of this town ' and we remember Martin has left his rucksack in the cafe, tragically this means we have to find something else do for the next 30 mins until the next bus!

    Back at the site we settle down to watch the local children's football match on the towns pitch, just over the wall from our van. Oh well tomorrow's another day.    Read more

  • TravelerIs it really 'Grim up North?'
    11
    Day 5

    Craster

    April 30 in England ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    Craster is a lovely little harbour village with its own smoke House supplying fresh smoked kippers.

    Rolled into the only car park and squeezed width ways into a parking space but sticking out a long way so not really in a space. Decided to risk the parking police and on going to pay at the machine a nice Geordie handed us, a day ticket, Result!!

    The little harbour is central to the village overlooked by the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle. Apparently this is a lovely walk,over the cliff top path, the only way to get there, but too far for me so instead we sit in the garden of The Jolly Fishermen enjoying a pint watching others enjoy the walk.

    After refreshments it's on with the arduous journey of 2 miles to our next overnight stay and a sit outside to enjoy the rest of the day.

    Today's grim eating 1.67 reflecting not being able to park at Alnmouth.    Read more

  • TravelerIs it really 'Grim up North?'
    111
    Day 5

    Alnwick Castle and Gardens, pt 2

    April 30 in England ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    After a rest in the sunshine, might as well make the most of it, and a cuppa and cream tea. We set out to explore the rest of the gardens . Including the bamboo maze.. We did want to visit the Poison Garden but you have to have an escorted tour around these of and we had just missed one so would have had to wait, instead we visited the Lego replica of the gardens instead. It took over 6 weeks to make and cost over £5,000 , and that was just for the Lego bricks.we make our way back to the Motorhome through the café and gift shop watching out for the family of ducks on the way,

    We didn't get to see the castle as that was quite a walk away, and an extra entrance fee, or the country's largest tree house, complete with restaurant.

    The plan next was to visit the beach at Alnmouth, but there's only one place to park and we decided tha £10 to park for what was essentially a stroll around the village and a look at the beach was too much so we carry on to Craster,

    The scenery around here is lovely and the gorse bushes add a lovely spot of colour.    Read more

  • TravelerIs it really 'Grim up North?'
    1
    Day 5

    Alnwick Castle and Gardens, pt 1

    April 30 in England ⋅ 🌬 11 °C

    The weather's taken a turn for the better today. We woke to a beautiful blue sky, lots of sunshine and a lot more pleasant temperature, even if it's a bit windier. Today we're moving on but first we are visiting Alnwick Castle and Gardens,

    Not NT so it's going to cost, but not a bad price at £18,90 but having to pay an extra £3.50 car park charge was a bit steep.

    The first thing you see when you enter the Gardens is the huge stepped fountain reaching up to the formal garden. The water display goes off at regular intervals and it's fun watching all the unsuspecting people getting sprayed with water when it starts up.

    The gardens are symmetrical on both sides of the fountain steps with huge arched frameworks with trees and bushes trained to grow over them. There are smaller fountain displays dotted all around the gardens.

    The Formal Garden is surrounded by high walls and so there are a lot of plants in flower here earlier than at home. The displays are intermingled with flowers and vegetables.

    After this we were going to walk through the cherry blossom trees but this had all gone over so we went and found the 250 year old Sycamore tree instead, before walking back down the steps to the café.    Read more

  • TravelerIs it really 'Grim up North?'
    111
    Day 4

    Cragside House, Morpeth pt 2

    April 29 in England ⋅ 🌬 13 °C

    The house has a beautiful gallery with glass ceiling and an extension which was added in time for the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales- the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra and boasts a drawing room which has a stunning 10 tonne marble fireplace and the Owl Suite bedroom.

    The house even boasts a hydraulic lift which together with all the lighting powered by the hydro electric system installed all those years sgo

    The amount of rooms you can see in this house is quite amazing, well worth the £25 entrance fee, thank god for our NT membership.

    So not at all grim today apart from being rained on walking back to the van!

    After the house we stop off for some new supplies before heading to Alnwick for overnight stay.    Read more

  • TravelerIs it really 'Grim up North?'
    11
    Day 4

    Cragside House, Morpeth pt 1

    April 29 in England ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    Well yesterday was a complete washout, quite literally. It rained from first thing in the morning until late afternoon. So despite the location it's grim rating is 8.76 😊 But it didn't put the rowers off so at least we had something to watch. A quiet day was spent reading and using our tablets. Martin did manage a bike ride late afternoon for some fresh air. So no post or pictures.

    Today was another day, dry when we woke and for most of the morning. We are visiting Cragside House in Morpeth but on the way we stop off to visit The Angel Of The North statue. I've seen this many times on TV especially when watching 'Vera' but it is quite a sight up close, really huge, if you look at the picture you can just see Martin standing at the bottom.

    Onwards to Cragside, a National Trust property which is well recommended in the Northumbria countryside hidden in the trees high above the river that feeds the turbine engine which used to provide the house with electricity. This was the first 'smart house' back in the late 1800's.

     Three floors of rooms to look around plus gardens and a 6 mile carriage drive through the woodland. We didn't do that as the van was too big. We walked through the rockery garden to get to the house. It is beautifully decorated and I especially liked the use of tiles on the walls in the corridors, very practical if you think about it, hard wearing and easy to wipe down, plus little fingers can't piggle them off.    Read more

  • TravelerIs it really 'Grim up North?'
    1
    Day 2

    Durham Cathedral

    April 27 in England ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    After a good but slow trip up yesterday due to roadworks we arrive safely at Durham Rowing Club. We have a spot right alongside the river.
    We woke to a flurry of activity at the club with boats of all sizes being lowered in to the water.
    After breakfast we walked into town centre along the river. We visited the two markets both inside and outside and bought a slab of Lemon Cake for later.
    We then headed up to the cathedral, wow it's another huge beautiful building that keeps you wondering how they managed to build such magnificent buildings all those years ago.
    Durham is a really nice interesting city dominated by a University presence contributing to a vibrant centre with bars and restaurants and many independent shops, we like it very much. So..... grim rating of zero!
    After the obligatory tea/coffee and cake we head back to the van to watch the Baggies on the TV, Now we are really talking grim!!! shame it wasn't the result we wanted. Never mind the bars open in the van and the sun's shining.    Read more

  • TravelerCarcassonne, here we come.
    Day 5

    Homeward Bound

    October 9, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Waking again to another beautiful day and finding an interloper in the apartment in the form of a huge grasshopper, we set about pack up our belongings and head to the hotel Martin has found for us to store our luggage before departing for the airport, can't leave it at the apartment as new guests are arriving.

    We wander down by the river but not much to see here so back to the Bastide, Martin loves saying that word, can't think why.

    We are surprised by how quiet it is and noticed quite a few shops are closed, then it dawns on us 'It's Monday ' not a lot happens in France on a Monday.

    We decide on lunch in The Plaza and sit down to eat and people watch before heading back to the hotel to pick up the bags. We ask the nice lady if she could phone for a taxi for us. In between our limited French and her slightly better English, followed by a couple of phone calls we find that taxis also do not seem to work on Monday's. Oh no what to do now, Martin is also having no luck with Uber. There is a shuttle bus from the airport to Carcassonne so we ask her about that. She kindly looks it up on the computer and tells us its running and where to catch it, off we go to the bus stop.

    By the time the Bus/Coach arrives there are about 15 of us waiting to get on, most seats are already taken and by the time we make the last pickup at the Medieval Town, no seats and people standing all along the gangway, surely not safe but hey ho the only way to get to the airport, thankfully its not far. Plane is on time and after queuing for security and passport control its straight onto the plane and homeward bound,

    Good journey back to end a great few days away,. Great place and would highly recommend Carcassonne for a short break. Thanks for the great company Fiona and Mark, now to plan the next one.    Read more

  • TravelerCarcassonne, here we come.
    Day 4

    Lac de la Cavayere

    October 8, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    After a lazy morning catching up on emails and FB we headed out to The Plaza Carnot for lunch, very civilised sitting outside to eat in the sunshine in October.

    We then colllected our towels and swimming costumes, ordered a taxi and head out to Lac de la Cavayere just a few kilometres away. The taxi driver was hilarious, he spoke quite good English and was telling us how he loved Princess Diana but not so much King Charles and his was dishing the dirt on President Macron. He also agreed the French can't, make beer 'it's piss' his words not ours.

    Lac de la Cavayère is an artificial lake close to the mediaeval town of Carcassonne. also known as Carcassonne Plage, and was created by the building of a 23 metre high dam in 1988 after severe forest fires affected the area in 1985.

    We walk down to the sandy beach and have a paddle, nowhere to change so no chance of a swim. We then take a walk around the lake watching people on the zip wires and climbing ropes high above us. We also saw a red Dragonfly, never seen one of those before

    It's a lovely place with quite few people but nowhere to get a drink or ice cream so we head home using the same taxi driver.

    Tonight Fiona and Mart walked up to the bridge to take some pictures of the Medieval City all lit up.    Read more

  • TravelerCarcassonne, here we come.
    Day 3

    Market's and Canal trip

    October 7, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Saturday is market day so we head off for a mouch. The first one is full of fruit and veg, cheese and olives. A fairly large market and very popular with the locals. The next one is more clothes, belts, handbags and odd and sods. It has an African/Moroccan feel to it.
    We then head into town for a drink while we decide what to do next.

    Decision made we're heading to the canal for a boat trip. We go for the City trip including two locks. A lovely sedate trip with commentary in English. Not too much to see and the view of the Medieval City was from quite a distance but pleasant enough in the sunshine. We arrive at the first lock to be greeted by the lock keeper, no winders and pushing against the lock gates here it's all done electrically with the push of a button . We sail through the lock and immediately turn around and return through the same lock, felt a bit cheated but the leaflet didn't say 2 different locks.

    Back to the central plaza for refreshments before shopping for tea and home for a restful evening.

    Ye another pleasant day in Carcassonne.    Read more

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