Annual trip to Northumberland 2022

After checking the weather forecast, we were tempted to cancel this trip but it would have been a lost opportunity.

On the outward journey, we made a pit stop at Hartlepool, an interesting place where we would like to spend more time to visit the National Museum of the Royal Navy and the headland.  We did take a walk along the England Coast Path, a wide promenade next to the beach which was busy with cyclists and dog walkers.  Our goal was the seaside town of Seaton Carew, but learnt that it was further than we thought.

From the England Coast Path looking towards the headland

We took the coastal route to our base, The Amble Inn at Amble, and the heavens opened as we checked in.  This was the first significant rainfall that we had seen for many months.  Nevertheless we drove up the coast to Alnmouth and, during a lull in the rain, we managed a short stroll on the beach.

The next day dawned bright and dry so, after a comfortable night at the hotel with a large breakfast and even a sausage for the dog, we visited our old haunts:

Boulmer beach

Seahouses - where we ate our packed lunch while looking out to sea where the Farne Islands were clearly visible before buying a couple of items from Farne Gifts, the shop that sells everything from pottery penguins to paintbrushes. 

Bamburgh:  Bamburgh village was busy as usual so we drove up to the Bamburgh Castle Golf Club at the top of the cliff and took the Northumberland Coast Path towards Budle Point, marvelling at the long stretch of golden/white sands.  It is an easy walk giving great views of Bamburgh Castle and Lindisfarne.

The weather stayed fine and we felt we had earned our afternoon tea at Copper Kettle Tea Room in Bamburgh, where we sat in the sunshine on the patio.  I bumped into an ex pupil who remembered me from all those years ago making me believe that I hadn’t aged at all!

The next day, rain threatened so we had an early morning amble in Amble. It has an interesting history displayed on information boards, a working harbour and marina.  We saw a film crew interviewing a man at one of the stalls.  He told us he was just giving advice for young people who were thinking of starting up their own business but then, to be polite, we had to listen to his political views which were not so different from our own.

The rain then started in earnest and, on our homeward journey, persisted the whole day but we were glad we kept to our plans and had an enjoyable trip.

Annual Autumn Trip to Northumberland

 Sunrise over Seahouses Harbour from our window
 

Instead of the wet and windy weather we frequently encounter on our visits, it was very mild and the sea was calm.

As well as stopping off at our usual haunts along the coastal route, we revisited areas we haven’t seen for a while.

 Alnmouth

 Boulmer



 Low Newton with Dunstanburgh Castle in  the background

We stayed at the Gun Rock B&B at Seahouses which was a good, central base and offered quality accommodation with a good view of the harbour.

We enjoyed eating at the Elan Pizzeria, which has a variety of Italian dishes on its menu.   The staff was helpful in adapting the ingredients to suit our needs and the venue is a good place for a coffee and cake or glass of wine, rather than a noisy pub.  I can’t believe I just made that last remark which really shows my age!  

I can see for miles and miles.  Sea for miles and miles

Walking round Holy Island (Lindisfarne), we found that an observatory had been built which gave us an amazing 360 degree view of Bamburgh, the Farne Islands and the Scottish border.  A bagpiper busking at the entrance to the castle added to the ambience.  We were conscious of the time as we completed our walk as the tide would prevent us from leaving after 2.40 pm, when the causeway would be submerged until 9 pm.  We returned to the car park with time to spare for a cup of tea but on switching on the engine, the dashboard displayed a message that the car was overheating.  We tentatively drove to the mainland and managed to reach a garage on the A1 where a bottle of coolant solved the problem.

 

The Priory

 

 Lindisfarne Castle, where there is a Gertrude Jekyll garden

 

 Navigation aid; the pyramid, not me!

 

Bamburgh to Budle

A favourite route of ours is to walk along the shore from Bamburgh castle and over the golf course to Budle Point.  The landscape is stunning.  At one spot on a fern lined, downward, twisting path, you come across a wooden bench.  Apart from it offering a welcome rest, there is a great view.  The bench is dedicated to the memory of Audrey, who loved to visit the area.  Last time we were there, we met Audrey’s husband, who also told us about Budle pier from where regular shipments of stone were delivered to Kings Lynn, Boston and Whitstable in 1913. Loading was carried out by a steam crane on the pier.  There used to be a railway line down to the pier from the quarry, so they could transport stone onto trade ships.

 

 Rock pools left when the tide goes out

 

Harkess Rocks also known locally as Stag Rocks because of the mysterious stag painted on them

Has anyone a theory of the origin of the stag?   I have heard that it was painted by an artist c1914, or it was painted in memory of a stag which drowned in the sea trying to escape its hunter or that it was painted by the Argyll and Southern Highlanders who were stationed on the golf course in WW1 who had a stag as part of their insignia.  

Bamburgh Castle