Annual visit to Northumberland 2015

Blog followers may remember that we have been visiting the area each Autumn for decades and still finding new places to see.

 View of the Farne Islands from opposite the hotel with Tumbler Rocks in the foreground

Walking from Seahouses towards Bamburgh along the beach gave us the opportunity to view the front of the wonderfully positioned Monks House, a building I have long coveted.
 This house, formerly known as Brocksmouth is found in a charter of 1257 which gave land to the Monks of Farne to build a granary, being the nearest point to the Farne Islands.  The main building, now Grade II listed, was built in 1495 and renovated in 1949.

Shoreston Rocks

During the 1950s artist Eric and his wife Dorothy ran their own Bird Observatory and Field Centre here at Monks House and well known ornithologists including Bill Oddie stayed here. We looked for the tail fin of a Lancaster bomber which can sometimes be seen here at low tide, but to no avail. The walk was to take us back to Seahouses past the Arts and Crafts style Shoreston House and Hall which date back to 1913 and a walk along the disused railway line which is now a haven for wildlife.  However, we didn’t manage to find the footpath although we did return by car and locate them .......there’s always next year! Another “first” was Bolam Lake Country Park, about 9 miles from Morpeth.  The park was constructed about 1817 by Lord Decies of Bolam and bought by Northumberland County Council in 1972. With its many paths, woodland walks and wildlife it is a great space to explore and free to visit and park.  Unfortunately we didn’t get to see the red squirrels, roe deer or great spotted woodpecker advertised ...... but there’s always next year!    Bolam Lake   Of course we dropped in at some old haunts along the way

 

 Alnmouth

 

 Bamburgh Castle taken from Golf Club

 New retail outlets and fish market at Amble