6th November 2024

Hi,

This brief blog is an accompaniment to the photos I took whilst in Northumberland for a three day trip with brother Donald, sister Rachel and brother in law Brian. It was the last chance to catch up with Donald prior to his return to New Zealand. It also ticked a few items on my retirement bucket list, namely Lindisfarne and Bamburgh.

Wednesday October 30th

It was a two and a half hour drive from Glasgow to Alnwick where we met up for lunch. Alnwick Castle was closed but we viewed it from outside on what was a nice day and took a walk alongside the castle beside the River Aln. The origins of the castle go back to 1096 and I'm sure a look inside would be worth it if a future trip is undertaken.

Our lodgings were at Doxford Hall Hotel about 15 minutes from Alnwick and this would be our base for the next two days. This was an upmarket place but we got a good deal on a dinner, bed and breakfast offer. It has a spa and pool and the food is excellent so I would recommend it if you have the wherewithal!

Thursday October 31st

We were remembering our late mother Grace whose birthday was on this day. I took a look around the grounds of Doxford Hall after breakfast. It has its own Maze and the gardener showed me a statue with 'Palace of Westminster 1933' on the plinth. I haven't been able to find out any more about it at this time of writing.

Lindisfarne, which is also known as Holy Island, has been on my list for many years. It is a tidal island so we arrived just before 1200 and were then trapped until 1700 when the tide went back out. There was no shortage of things to do, so we visited the Castle, Priory and the Church. We had great weather so you should enjoy the photos. The 16th Century Lindisfarne Castle is one of these iconic sights that you just keep on taking more photos of it but I have pruned my collection down a bit! The religious history of the island goes back to the 6th Century when it was an important centre of Celtic Christianity and the home of the Lindisfarne Gospels. Everything on the island is close together so it is easy to explore and you could do plenty coastal walks as well as visiting the major historical sites.

We had a fantastic sunset as we made our way back over the still very wet causeway. Lindisfarne is a must visit site for anyone interested in history. A thoroughly enjoyable day out.

Friday November 1st

Our trip today was focussed on Bamburgh. I had seen photos from Brian and Rachel who had visited previously and had immediately added it to my 'must visit' list. Bamburgh was home to the kings of Northumberland going back to the 6th Century and it has a rich history which I'm not going to repeat here. Go and visit! Bamburgh Castle is perched above the sea with a vast beach below it. Viewed from any position the castle and beach and sand dunes are stunning. The castle interior is well laid out with good information available. It is still occupied so not all areas are open. We took a walk along the beach which provides further great views of the castle.

The weather started to turn in the early afternoon so we had lunch in the village of Bamburgh and visited St Aidan's Church. Aiden is reputed to have brought Christianity to the area from Iona and between Lindisfarne and Bamburgh claims are made that it was the cradle of Christianity in England. Within the church is the burial place of Grace Darling, a lighthouse keeper's daughter who became a national heroine in the 19th Century for her part in the rescue of survivors from a nearby shipwreck.

Saturday November 2nd

It was time to say goodbye to my brother who heads back to New Zealand today. For travellers who like their history this is a great area to visit. As you can see from the photos there are three stunning ancient castles to visit plus a good number of other sites of historical interest and plenty good coastline walks. Thanks to my family for organising the accommodation. Another memorable family trip!

Take a look at the photos and if you have anything to ask about this trip please don't hesitate to use the comments section below.

All the best

Murdo