This week was one that we’d all been looking forward to for some time: our main family holiday of the year. Our first one that we’ve had to take during school holidays too – we used to go in September and last year we went in June before H started school. We decided that by going north we’d get better value and availability, plus it was quite a while since we’d been north for a holiday. Last year I’d travelled on the East Coast mainline past the lovely Northumberland beaches and been tempted to holiday there as a result. So on Saturday we ended up in Alnmouth, near Alnwick in Northumberland in our little holiday cottage. Alnmouth is a pretty little village right on the coast and this picture was taken in the beer garden of one of the local pubs.
After driving up to the far north of England from the midlands, I wasn’t in the mood for too much driving so we went to nearby Alnwick Castle and Alnwick Garden for the day. Alnwick Castle is quite spectacular and was used as a location for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. There was lots to see and do and H particularly loved getting in some water play in the Serpent Garden section on Alnwick Garden. With the sun shining the garden was the perfect place to play.
On Monday we went to Cragside, a nearby National Trust property. This was a magical place and we all came away saying we wanted to go back. It’s a large estate that you can drive slowly round on a one way road. H loved ‘guiding’ us round with the map and the fact that the road goes right through the courtyard of the house. Here he is at the adventure playground about half way round, just before the rain really got going for the day. We didn’t get to do everything we wanted because of the rain and we’d love to go back to walk through the estate and visit the gardens.
Tuesday was a better day weather wise and we spent the day outside. First up was English Heritage owned Warkworth Castle. This is a ruined castle, but the keep is quite complete and rather unusual (I have been round more castles than I have fingers and toes, so I feel I can say that with some authority). We also made a visit to Alnwick to mouch around the shops, in particular the famous Barter Books (it’s a very large second hand bookshop in a former railway station with a model train running over the bookcases and a cafe in the former waiting room). In the afternoon we went to Alnmouth’s beach so that H could complete another of his 50 things to do before you’re 11 3/4 challenges: burying someone (in this case Daddy) in the sand.
Wednesday saw us heading even further north to Berwick on Tweed. Berwick is further north than some parts of Scotland and was a frontier town for a large part of its history. We walked along the Elizabethan bastions and town walls and visited some military museums. The highlight of the day was our tour of Berwick’s townhall. During its history the town hall had functioned as a prison and here is H wearing some manacles in one of the criminal cells. It was a great tour that was geared to its (in this case) family audience and we all learnt a lot.
Another day, another castle so Thursday saw us visiting Bamburgh Castle. Here’s a view from the castle of the sea and the Farne Islands. We ambled back down the coast road, after our visit, and returned to base in Alnmouth for another beach fix.
Friday’s castle was Newcastle (a bit of a cheat perhaps, although we did see the castle keep at a distance). We gave the car a rest and went into Newcastle on the train which didn’t take long at all. Most of the day was spent at the Life Science Centre, but we also made a short visit to the Discovery Centre, which is where this picture was taken. The Discovery Centre covers the history of Newcastle and has lots of interactive exhibits, plus it’s free.
Sounds like a great week – very busy! I went to University in Newcastle (many) years ago and love Bamburgh Castle and the beaches there. I would love to go back to Alnwick now they have done so much to the gardens.
Rollercoaster Mum recently posted..Afternoon Tea – 52 Photo Project – Week 35
Blimey Erica even when you ae on holiday you still have an action packed and very busy week! I can tell you are an expert on castles just from the weekly updates I read of yours! You can’t beat a good castle for exploring , inhale fond memories of doing so when I was a child. I like the shot of H playing on the beach with a blue sky above him!
Sounds like a lovely holiday and week xx
It was a fantastic week Jenny. I’m always a bit conscious that we do this when on holiday and I wonder if we shouldn’t just have more lazing around days (sometimes H complains about going out all the time, but enjoys it when we get there & it seems a waste to hang around the cottage). His dad thinks we should get out and see things as we are only there a week, which is true. Hoping to do some camping with H next year & make that more relaxed. We only saw about half what we wanted to see in Northumberland, so we’ll have to go back some time.
I’d love to go to Alnwick castle, it looks like you had a great week!
Emma recently posted..52 Photo’s 2nd September
I love that you love castles! I love them too but have only seen a couple. So far Windsor is my favourite. I am definitely putting Alnwick on my list though
Notmyyearoff recently posted..Project 52 – Week 35 / Silent Sunday
We’ve been to loads – with a 5 year old boy a holiday isn’t complete without one. Quite a lot day trippable from here too.
Wow, sounds like you packed in so much to your northumberland holiday, you definitely packed in all the best places to go and there is so many others.
Cragside is lovely and our smalls also love the adventure playground and all the beaches along the North East coast are super (clean soft sand, even is the sea is chilly).
So see you next year too (Try Rothbury, Kielder Forrest, Beadnell Bay, Etal and Ford, Wooler, Tynemouth sands)
Tina Robson recently posted..Fifty Shades of Grey: Are children able to buy it?
Thanks for the suggestions – we didn’t research this holiday much as it was booked on the spur of the moment, but lots of people told us about places to visit when we said we were going. Would like to go back soon and see some more, particularly some of the smaller places plus revisit a few favourites.
Well you really did pick some good’nes to visit.
Tina Robson recently posted..Fifty Shades of Grey: Are children able to buy it?
Looks like an amazing week – I’d love to visit the Harry Potter castle.
Rebecca recently posted..Silent Sunday
I don’t know the North of England at all but it looks beautiful from your photos.
Coombemill – Fiona recently posted..Silent Sunday / Project 52
Looks like you had an action packed week. I’ve never been to Northumberland but it looks beautiful.
Sounds like a great holiday, we have never ventured that way, maybe one day xxx
cakesphotoslife (Angie) recently posted..Peaches #LoveFoodHateWaste and #OneIngredientAugust
I lived for two years in England as a child and we used to take holidays just like that – they are some of my fondest memories. These days we tend to find a beach and stay put which means my son misses out on a lot
susan recently posted..September 1. Day 245. Curiouser and curiouser
Wow sounds like a lovely week! It’s a part of the country I’ve never visited but it sounds lovely so will add it to the list!
Nikki Thomas recently posted..366 Project – Week 35
You pack a lot into your week! Good that you have a mix of play and education.
Sue Tyler recently posted..#Project366 Pictures 240 to 245
Some great photos, looks like H had a lovely week.
Jane Townson recently posted..My Sunday weigh
Great photos for this week, love your beach shot. Looks like you had fun x
Donna Bird recently posted..Sunday 2nd September 2012 ‘Olympic Stadium’ (296/366)
kids just love the novelty of getting to see new places and having relaxed parents with them.
Elaine Livingstone recently posted..Project 366 246/366
Lovely selection of pictures. My ex comes from that part of the world, so my kids spend a lot of time there. It’s a really beautiful part of the world.
Claire recently posted..Project 366 – Day 241/366
Looks like a fun week x
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Susan Mann recently posted..The Gallery 113 – Back To School
Went to Berwick upon Tweed a long time ago. The beach was brilliant – long and not at all crowded. You’ve had an action packed holiday!