Andrew's Travels

Andrew's Travels

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Imperial War Museum Duxford Voyageur
Hangar 2; Flying Aircraft
19 novembre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C
Hangar 2 is where IWM flying partners use their own teams of engineers in special restoration workshops to restore, maintain and prepare privately-owned historic aircraft for flight; the museum's aircraft do not fly and are conserved to prevent future deterioration whereas the act of restoration is returning the aircraft to a complete, historically accurate flying condition using original parts where possible.

All the aircraft in this hangar are used in air shows etc; in fact, the Sally B was used in the 1990 film Memphis Belle as one of five flying B-17s needed for various film scenes, and it was used to replicate the real Memphis Belle in one scene.En savoir plus
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Imperial War Museum Duxford Voyageur
Hangar 4; Battle of Britain
12 novembre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Hangar 4 is an original General Service Aircraft Shed - these are also known as Belfast Truss hangars because of their distinctive lattice Belfast Truss roofs - and now houses an exhibition that tells the story of the Second World War aerial campaign from the defeat of France through to the end of the Battle of Britian in late October 1940. It also explores Duxford's history as an operational RAF airfield from the First World War to the Cold War.

Britain's air defence during the Second World War is particularly emphasised; the Spitfire and Hurricane flown by "the few" are present, as well as a Messerschmitt Bf 109 which was flown during the Battle of Britain until forced down in Sussex due to engine failure - there are also anti-aircraft guns on display and both the Blitz and the V-1 flying bomb offensive are described.

At the back of the hall, the Cold War period is represented by a Hawker Hunter which flew at Duxford with No. 65 Squadron RAF and by a Hungarian Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, a common Warsaw Pact jet fighter, as well as several other aircraft.

A fascinating visit; it was also interesting to see a party of school children being shown round by guides - I eavesdropped on one who was relating his childhood during a bombing raid at home in London and his subsequent evacuation to the Cambridge area!En savoir plus
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Imperial War Museum Duxford Voyageur
AirSpace
12 novembre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
The original Hangar 1 was upgraded to a 'Superhangar' in the 1980s and then redeveloped and expanded to bring the museum's British and Commonwealth aircraft collection under cover. It was opened in July 2008, providing 12,000 m2 of floor space, consisting of an aircraft conservation area, a large exhibition hall, and a mezzanine providing views of the aircraft; over 30 aircraft are on display, dating back to the First World War.

The collection has some of the most famous aircraft in the world, featuring the Concorde (built to fly at the speed of sound), an Avro Lancaster (one of the most recognised allied bombers of the Second World War, famous for its role in the Dambusters raid), an Avro Vulcan and an Airco DH.9 (one of only six surviving DH9s and the only example on display in the UK). More recent notable aircraft include a Hawker Siddeley Harrier (which served during the Falklands War), a Panavia Tornado (which flew the highest number of bomber sorties of any Tornado in the 1991 Gulf War) and a Eurofighter Typhoon DA4.

AirSpace also houses Airborne Assault, the museum of the British Army's Parachute Regiment and airborne forces; the museum chronicles the history of British airborne forces from the Second World War to current operations in Afghanistan.

It was great to see all these iconic aircraft, go inside the Concorde and to learn about the Parachute Regiment.En savoir plus
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Essex Voyageur
Ashdon and Bartlow Circular
9 novembre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
This walk starts in Ashdon in the district of Uttlesford, Essex; it is situated approx. 4 miles northeast of Saffron Walden and is very close to the Essex / Cambs border (Bartlow is in Cambridgeshire). Our route takes us out of Ashdon via Newnham Hall Farm and doglegs left and right before we reach the bridleway, where there are good views of the surrounding area; this takes us to the small village of Bartlow, the southern border of which divides it from Essex.

The path takes us through the churchyard of Bartlow St Mary's, one of only two existing round-tower churches in Cambridgeshire; it is also known for its 15th-century wall-paintings whose fragments include depictions of St Christopher, St Michael weighing souls, and St. George's Dragon. Bartlow Hills, a Roman tumuli cemetery with four remaining mounds, is nearby and we visit these; the tallest is 15 metres tall, thankfully with a walkway to the top, and is the largest barrow north of the Alps.

We are back in Essex and the route takes us through Waltons Park and Steventon End; the Hall is is next to Ashdon Place and both are beautiful private residences. There are good views back to these as we reach Ashdon Windmill (aka Bragg's Mill, William Bragg's Mill, Bartlow Hamlet Mill or Stevington End Mill); this is a grade II listed post mill, where the whole body of the mill that houses the machinery is mounted on a single vertical post, around which it can be turned to bring the sails into the wind - subsequently, the more familiar tower mill took its place.

It is then back to Ashdon; it has been an interesting 7 mile walk and the weather was beautiful today.En savoir plus
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Imperial War Museum Duxford Voyageur
Land Warfare Hall
5 novembre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C
The Land Warfare Hall was opened in 1992 by Field Marshal Lord Bramall and houses the Museum's collection of armoured vehicles, artillery and military vehicles to tell the story of the mechanisation of warfare. Walking among these was a good experience. The collection includes the three command vehicles used by Field Marshal "Monty" Montgomery, used during the Second World War in North West Europe; he was always close to the frontline and they became his office, bedroom and map room, respectively. There is an excellent film to watch called "The Normandy Experience" that describes what D-Day was like.

The Land Warfare Hall also houses the Forgotten War exhibition, opened in 1999 as a joint project between the Imperial War Museum and the Burma Star Association, to represent veterans of the Burma campaign who often consider themselves to have fought in a "Forgotten Army" compared to those who fought in Europe. There is also a display dedicated to Captain Sir Tom Moore, who served in Burma.

The Hall also accommodates the Royal Anglian Regiment Museum; formed in 1964 by the amalgamation of the three regiments of the East Anglian Brigade and the Royal Leicestershire Regiment, it covers the history of the Regiment and its predecessors, which date back to the seventeenth century, up to recent operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone. In 2010, a Royal Anglian Regiment memorial was dedicated at IWM Duxford, just outside the Land Warfare Hall.En savoir plus
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Norfolk Coastal Path Voyageur
Mundesley to Cromer
20 octobre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
The coastal path from Mundesley takes you through a caravan park - there are many along the coast here - on its way to the village of Trimingham. On the outskirts of the village, we pass the RAF Trimingham Air Defence Radar Station, which is shaped like a giant golf ball. We reach the parish church of St John the Baptist's Head; a life size alabaster head of the saint was kept at the church and visited by pilgrims. The church has a short, buttressed and unfinished tower.

From here, it is back to the coast to walk along the Sidestrand and Trimingham Cliffs, another Site of Scientific Interest, en route to Overstrand. This village was originally a crab fishing centre like Cromer, but it became a holiday destination for wealthy Victorians and was dubbed "the village of millionaires". We walk along the promenade there and then on to the beach for the rest of the way to Cromer.

It is a lovely stroll to Cromer and there are excellent views as we get closer. It has been another excellent walk (about 8.5 miles).En savoir plus
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Norfolk Coastal Path Voyageur
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Mundesley Circular Walk
19 octobre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
The coastal village of Mundesley is well known for its firm, golden sand beach. In the cliff top gardens above this is the memorial to the Bomb Disposal teams that cleared the Norfolk coast of landmines post WW2, which is next to the smallest maritime museum in the world (formerly a coast guard lookout station).

Many of the coastal villages around here have circular walks, and the Mundesley circular walk heads inland, past the golf course and follows the Paston Way as far as Gimlingham. From here, we head towards Trunch; the village is known for its 14th century, Grade I listed parish church of St Botolph as it contains a magnificent carved and painted wood font canopy (one of 4 in tbe UK), as well as a decorative hammerbeam roof.

We follow "quiet roads" as they are known here, back to Mundesley and enjoy a view of the Stow Hill tower windmill in the neighbouring village of Paston on the way.

Back in Mundesley, The Ship Inn beckons.En savoir plus
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Ant Travels Cool
22/10/2021Répondre
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Norfolk Coastal Path Voyageur
Sea Palling to Mundesley
18 octobre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Sea Palling is a small holiday resort village to the south of Cromer. The Environmental Agency has erected 9 barrier reefs here to protect the village from the North Sea, as there is a lot of coastal erosion in this area. We start our walk at the small RNLI station and take the beach walk option towards Eccles-on-sea; this was abandoned in the 17th century due to being engulfed by the sea, and now exists as the Bush Caravan Estate behind concrete sea defences.

We reach Happisburgh, which has national archaeological significance as evidence of the oldest human occupation in the UK was unearthed here in 2010. There are many groynes along the shore here to slow erosion; we pass the iconic red and white striped lighthouse - the oldest working in East Anglia - and St Mary's Church, the tall tower of which is an important landmark for sailors.

We pass Walcott, well known for its sandy beaches, to reach Bacton; there are extensive sea defences here.... The Bacton Gas Terminal is an industrial complex of 6 different supplier terminals, each receiving gas from the UK continental shelf; a scheme was undertaken here in 2019 to deposit 2 million metric tonnes of sand in front of the cliffs to form an artificial dune to protect the complex and local villages for the next 15-20 years from from further erosion.

The path continues along the beach at the bottom of Mundesley Cliffs, a site of scientific interest, to reach the RNLI Volunteer Station at Mundesley.

It has been a good walk of close to 10 miles.En savoir plus
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Wolfgang und HeidiYou are brave. 10 miles are about 18 km. But everything looks quiet flat, which makes it a nice stroll…
24/10/2021Répondre
VoyageurYes, it was flat but some ascent to get to the cliff tops. We like coastal walks.
24/10/2021Répondre
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Norfolk Voyageur
King's Lynn
8 octobre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
King's Lynn, known until 1537 and the dissolution of the monasteries as Bishop's Lynn, is a port and market town in Norfolk. It was one of England’s most important ports from as early as the 12th century, and the Hanseatic League - a powerful German trading organisation made up of merchants from North Germany and neighbouring countries around the Baltic Sea - contributed greatly to this prosperity; there are still many historic buildings, merchants' houses etc to see today.

This "Heritage Trail" walk starts at Quayside, where there is Marriott's Warehouse (a 16th century warehouse that is now a restaurant) and close by is Hanse House (the only surviving Hanseatic business HQ in England and dating from 1475). Just round the corner is the Saturday Market Place which is surrounded by King's Lynn Minster, formerly St Margaret’s Church and designated as a Minster Church in 2011 by the Bishop of Norwich, and the Town Hall and Trinity Guildhall. Back to the quay, it is a short walk to the Grade I listed and iconic Custom House and from there, walking up King Street, we pass St George's Guildhall, the largest surviving 15th century guildhall in England, to reach the huge Tuesday Market Place, a beautiful square now used as a car parking area.

The trail continues past St Nicholas' Chapel - unfortunately closed - and a Fisherfolk museum before heading back down through the modern town to reach Tower Gardens. These contain Greyfriars Tower, the last surviving significant part of a 13th century priory; it survived the Reformation because it was an essential seamark for ships. Adjacent to Tower Gardens are The Walks, a lovely walking area where the Red Mount Chapel can be found; this was a wayside chapel for pilgrims heading to the shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham - it is one of only two octagonal chapels in Europe.

It has been a good visit to an interesting town.En savoir plus
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Wolfgang und HeidiYou are not in Europe anymore …
11/10/2021Répondre
Voyageur😧
11/10/2021Répondre
Wolfgang und HeidiHeidi: don‘t worry Andrew. We will love our friends ever. Hope we will meet us next year !
11/10/2021Répondre
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The River Great Ouse Voyageur
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4. Ely to Pope's Corner
8 octobre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
As I head south from Ely, there are views of Ely Cathedral - the "ship of the fens" - looming in the distance, as well as a few houseboats on the river.

Further south, I reach Pope's Corner, the confluence of the River Cam and the River Great Ouse. This is the site of the large Fish and Duck marina; the River Great Ouse flows from here down to Earith and St Ives in Cambridgeshire and then on to Bedford and beyondEn savoir plus
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Wolfgang und Heidi 👍
16/05/2021Répondre
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Imperial War Museum Duxford Voyageur
American Air Museum
1 octobre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
The American Air Museum was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997 and was updated in 2014. It tells the story of American air power and its effect on the 20th century, focusing largely on World War II in Europe; this is appropriate as Duxford was known as Base 357, the headquarters of the U.S. 78th Fighter Group, and home of P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs; these aeroplanes acted as fighter escorts on the large US bombing raids over Europe and Germany. The 78th provided air cover for the Allied invasion fleet on D-Day and shot down the first German Me-262 jet aircraft.

The American Air Museum houses some of the USA’s most famous warbirds and bombers dating from World War I to the modern day including a B-17G Flying Fortress, a B-29 Superfortress named "It's Hawg Wild" and a B-52 Stratofortress. It is a really interesting hall to visit.En savoir plus
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VoyageurWell done identifying the aircraft! You have taken some good photos
12/08/2021Répondre
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Imperial War Museum Duxford Voyageur
Historic RAF Duxford Trail
24 septembre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 5 °C
During the Second World War, RAF Duxford played a prominent role in Britain’s air defence including the Battle of Britain in 1940, when its squadrons took to the air to repulse Luftwaffe attacks aimed at London; it was twinned with nearby RAF Fowlmere.

The original main entrance to the site was through the gate next to the RAF Duxford Station Offices (now the staff entrance). Behind this was the Operations Block; the Operations Room here was the nerve centre of Duxford's Battle of Britain contributions and there is an excellent exhibition and film here describing a critical day in this campaign.

From here, behind a hangar now used as the Battle of Britain Hall, you pass the original buildings used for training pilots. A little further is an original and complete Uni-Seco prefabricated bungalow that was relocated to the museum from south east London (SE15).

Back to the airstrip and doubling back to another original hangar, now used to house the Air and Sea Exhibition, is the original Watch Office; this was, built in 1918 and is now used as a small exhibition hall that tells Duxford's story through the eyes of the men and women who worked there.

A new Control Tower, built in 1941, now fulfils the functions of both Watch and Control.En savoir plus
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North Yorkshire Voyageur
Wensleydale; Aysgarth Falls
21 septembre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
The start of this circular walk involved a short drive to Redmire; the walk heads to the village of Castle Bolton, named after the famous 14th century Bolton Castle.

From here, our route takes us via the buildings of a sheep farm and we are fortunate to watch a shepherd and his dogs round up a flock of sheep in front of us. There are great views before we turn off towards the village of Carperby; we walk through and continue south to Aysgarth Falls.

Aysgarth Falls are on the River Ure and comprise a triple flight of three stepped waterfalls over a one mile stretch of the river. The scene in the film "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves" where Robin tackled Little John was filmed at the Upper Falls.

We continue through the woods and have a long walk north east to Castle Bton and then back to the car. It has been a great walk!En savoir plus
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North Yorkshire Voyageur
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Wensleydale; Askrigg
20 septembre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
On our way back south from Hadrian's Wall, "we" have arranged a short stay in Askrigg; this is a small village in Wensleydale, part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

We set off on a circular walk from the village towards the tiny hamlet of Newbiggin, pass through a copse and then turn along a path under Ellerkin Scar with lovely views into Wensleydale on our left. Eventually we turn to go through woodland with a stream a long way below us; we descend and cross it and reach Mill Gill Force (aka Askrigg Waterfall). We pass the Old Mill and enter the village, passing the church.

After sampling the beer in The Kings Arms, I was compelled to visit the Yorkshire Dales Brewery for some excellent bottled beers to enjoy at home; the brewery is actually on the outskirts of Askrigg! The Kings Arms doubled as The Drovers in the popular TV programme "All Creatures Great and Small".En savoir plus
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Wolfgang und Heidi Lovely
24/09/2021Répondre
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Hadrian’s Wall Voyageur
Birdoswald Roman Fort
19 septembre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Birdoswald Roman Fort (originally called Banna) is situated on a commanding spur of land overlooking a meander of the River Irthing; originally a garrison for up to 800 soldiers, its defences are the best preserved of any along the Wall - it is close to Milecastle 49. There are excellent views of the surrounding countryside here (hence its location). We have a good explore and look round the interesting and good museum there.

The fort was reoccupied in the Middle Ages and was the target of raids by border reivers in the 16th century. In the 19th century Victorian Birdoswald Farmhouse was constructed in the grounds of the Fort within metres of Hadrian’s Wall.En savoir plus
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Hadrian’s Wall Voyageur
Hadrian's Wall Path; part 2
19 septembre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
We start at the Poltcross Burn Milecastle, Milecastle 48, just outside Gilsland; this is one of the best-preserved Milecastles on Hadrian's Wall and is unusually large as it contains two barrack blocks, an oven, a stair to the ramparts walk, and the remains of its north gateway. It is known locally as The King's Stables.

We reach Willowford and walk along some beautiful and imposing sections of Hadrian's Wall to reach the bridge remains (abutments) of a Roman bridge that crossed the River Irthing. This part of Hadrian's Wall that leads up to Birdoswald is the longest continuous stretch visible today.

After crossing the river, we head uphill to reach the Harrows Scar Milecastle, Milecastle 49, and walk up to the Birdoswald Roman Fort - there is an interesting carving on the wall as we get nearer.En savoir plus
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Hadrian’s Wall Voyageur
Hadrian's Wall Path; part 1
18 septembre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
There are dramatic parts of the Hadrian's Wall Path either side of Housesteads as this is part of the Whin Sill escarpment, a tabular layer of igneous rock (dorolite). The the most intact parts of Hadrian's Wall are, not surprisingly, in the highest and least accessible parts of its course.

We start at a dip in the crags known as King's Wicket, East of Housesteads and Milecastle 36. Passing the back of the fort to its west side, we reach trees and the path is actually on top of the wall. There are wonderful views looking ahead, and Hadrian's Wall does not look dissimilar to the Great Wall of China! We pass Hotbank Farm and we can see Crag Lough, an inland lake, ahead - but it is more spectacular looking back. We drop down to Sycamore Gap to pass a tree known as Robin Hood’s tree after its appearance in the ‘Prince of Thieves’ film, and soon reach Milecastle 39. Just before the Steel Rig car park (close to Milecastle 40) there are great views back to the Highshield Crags outcrop of the Whin Sill.En savoir plus
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Hadrian’s Wall Voyageur
Housesteads Roman Fort
18 septembre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Housesteads Roman Fort (originally called Vercovicium) is set high on the Whin Sill escarpment, a strategic position as you can see for miles. It occupies a 5 acre site, could accommodate 1,000 infantry and cavalry and is Britain's most complete Roman Fort; outside was a Roman settlement. The Fort is between Milecastle 36 and 37.

It is noted for its communal latrines, hygienically placed at the lowest corner of the fort. It is well known for its granary where you can see the pillars that supported a raised floor to keep food dry and free from vermin. There was also.a hospital here. The view looking East from the barrack blocks is excellent.En savoir plus
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Hadrian’s Wall Voyageur
Roman Temple of Mithras
17 septembre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
The Roman Temple close to the Carrawburgh Roman fort (known as Brocolitia) was dedicated to Mithras; it dates from the third century. Only earthworks of Carrawburgh itself remain now; these are close to Milecastle 32.En savoir plus
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Hadrian’s Wall Voyageur
Chesters Roman Fort
17 septembre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Chesters Roman Fort (originally called Cilurnum) is the best preserved cavalry fort in Britain. It was built to defend a weak point where Hadrian's Wall crossed the River North Tyne and was necessary to guard the roman bridge there. The fort had the standard four gates, officers quarters and barracks blocks, but is particularly noted for the garrison bath-house complex and is the best example in the UK; there were hot, cold and steam baths for the tired and weary soldiers. The nearest Milecastle is 26.

We also visited the small museum in a listed building that displays some of John Clayton's excavations.En savoir plus
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Hadrian’s Wall Voyageur
Corbridge Roman Town
17 septembre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Corbridge (originally called Coria) was founded well before Hadrian's Wall was built; the wall is 2.5 miles away to the north (the nearest Milecastle is 22). It was originally a military fort, but evolved into the most northerly town in the Roman Empire due to its position at the junction of two major Roman roads (Dere Street and Stanegate).

We explore the ruins of the fort, seeing what would have been the main street, including the large granaries and market. The museum is excellent and we see the Corbridge Hoard, found in 1964 and concealed in a wooden chest hidden away by a footsoldier, and marvel at the sculptures, including the Corbridge Lion; found in 1907, it dates from the second century, and was originally intended to adorn a grave.En savoir plus
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Hadrian’s Wall Voyageur
1
Introduction
17 septembre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Hadrian's Wall was built to reflect the northern extremity of the Roman Empire and not the boundary between Scotland and England, as many people think. Construction of the wall started in AD122 and was completed in AD128 under the stewardship of Emperor Hadrian; it is 73 miles long and runs from Wallsend in Newcastle, Tyne and Wear to Bowness-on-Solway, Cumbria and acted as both a military fortification and to control trade and immigration across its boundary; 16 forts and various towns were on its route and there were turrets every Roman mile (milecastles). The Romans also constructed a Military Road immediately south of the wall for troop movements etc. Hadrian's Wall formed the North West frontier of the Roman Empire until AD410, when serious invasions started from the North by the Picts.

Much of the wall has been lost due its use for construction etc over the centuries; it is either simply not there or its route indicated by dry stone walling. Portions of it do remain, however, as do many Roman artefacts; this is thanks largely due to the efforts of John Clayton, a Victorian.

It is possible to walk the course of the route that Hadrian's Wall took via an 84 mile long footpath There is also a road, the B6318, that runs along some of, and in parts parallel to, the old Military Road (with the footpath criss-crossing it). We take the road option, turning off close to West Denton close to where Milecastle 8 was situated, and plan to visit some of the main sites en route . We will be based at Haltwhistle; there is no time to explore the town though.En savoir plus
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Wolfgang und Heidi Lovely 😊
19/09/2021Répondre
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Northumberland Voyageur
Alnmouth
16 septembre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Alnmouth is located at the mouth of the River Aln about 4 miles south east of Alnwick. Originally a small port supporting fishing and trade, Alnmouth is now a well conserved and picturesque coastal resort; this was partly the result of a violent storm in 1806 that changed the course of the river.

We start at the Grade II listed stone Duchess Bridge and follow the estuary past the harbour and round to Alnmouth Bay. Walking up Northumberland Street, at the end we note the gardens for the Friary of St Francis are open and visit them. We walk up Bracken Hill and have great views of Alnmouth Bay. We then follow the Northumberland coastal path and walk along the beach to Marden Rocks, with the links of Alnmouth golf course on our left, up to Foxton Hall - now the club house - as far as Seaton. It has been a good visit, and we can recommend Alnmouth to potential visitors.En savoir plus
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Northumberland Voyageur
Warkworth
15 septembre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Warkworth village and its castle are situated in the neck of a tight loop in the River Coquet about 1 mile from the coast. The village was originally reached via an ancient bridge of two arches with a fortified gateway that crosses the river; we walk over this and visit the Church of St Lawrence, which dates from Norman times, before walking around the village.

Warkworth Castle took shape during the 13th century, but gained glory during the Middle Ages when the Percy family - the Dukes of Northumberland who also owned Alnwick Castle - took it over. We cross the moat (empty) and enter via the impressive Gatehouse to see the large enclosure; the huge keep, with its tall and distinctive Great Tower, is directly ahead and we explore the many rooms here (we enjoy excellent views of the village and River Coquet estuary from the first floor). The enclosure / courtyard had state rooms added to it which were accessed via the Lion Tower; this still has the Percy heraldry on it. A church was built here also, but little remains of this.

Outside, the castle has a hermitage associated with it; this is a short and pleasant walk down the River and on the opposite side, but it was unfortunately closed.En savoir plus
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Northumberland Voyageur
Amble
15 septembre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Amble is a town on the Northumberland Coast Path at the mouth of the River Coquet. We start our walk on the coast path close to the sand dunes near a small nature reserve. There are good views of Coquet Island from the path here; this has a lighthouse built on the remains of a medieval monastery. We pass the recently renovated Cliff House and walk via the South Jetty to the Town.

We walk via the twee Harbour Village with its food stalls and gift shops on our way to the town square. Here , there is a large sundial (2001) in front of the large war memorial; the main street and St Cuthbert's Church are behind it. We follow the coast path via Warkworth Harbour and have great views of the boats in the marina. As the coast path heads towards the river across The Braid, there are excellent views of Warkworth Castle further upstream. The coast path is alongside the A1068 as it heads up to the next village - Warkworth.En savoir plus
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Northumberland Voyageur
The Alnwick Garden
14 septembre 2021, Angleterre ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
The site was derelict 10 years ago, but the Alnwick Garden today is one of the world’s most ambitious new gardens; its construction was the vision of The Duchess of Northumberland as a public garden for families to enjoy.

We see the Grand Cascade, have a guided tour of the Poison Garden (for obvious reasons, you must be accompanied) and wander through the Cherry Orchard up to the magnificent Ornamental Garden. On the way back down, we wander through the Rose Garden, go through the dark maze that is the Bamboo Labyrinth and see the excellent water sculptures in the Serpent Garden. The features in the Roots and Shoots Garden are the result of collaborations with local schools and the NHS. On the way out, we pass The Trehouse; this is the largest wooden treehouse in the world: and built around 16 mature lime trees, which grow through and into the building, and is a restaurant with rooms linked by rope bridges (it is closed at present).

The Alnwick Garden is a thoroughly recommended visit!En savoir plus
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Wolfgang und HeidiNice pictures 👍
15/09/2021Répondre
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