For the longest time, I’d at all times needed to go to Northumberland. Come to consider it, I bear in mind the precise second when travelling to college in Scotland from London. It was the primary ever journey to Scotland by practice and boy was I in for a deal with.
I nonetheless bear in mind whizzing by means of lovely cities like York and Durham earlier than making it to the northeast coast of England and Northumberland. I will need to have taken that practice tens of occasions throughout my years at St Andrew’s however every time I’d do the identical factor.
As quickly as I’d attain the Northumberland shoreline, my eyes have been immediately glued to the window pane (normally with my Thermos of tea in hand). Alongside the best way, I’d see spots like Berwick-upon-Tweed, Holy Island and the shoreline round Dunstanburgh Citadel. Throughout these practice journeys (when let’s be trustworthy, I used to be in all probability speculated to be revising), I promised myself that I’d go exploring Northumberland someday.
And you realize what, that is precisely what we did!
With a nifty little bit of planning and grabbing our practice tickets, we have been all set to move to Northumberland.
After hopping on our practice, we arrived in Morpeth to select up our wheels and head throughout the moorlands. Now, the practice itself took somewhat over three hours from the centre of London however really feels one million miles away. Not least as a result of Northumberland is the least populous county in all of England, which, if I’m trustworthy, is immediately noticeable when arriving from the hustle and bustle of London.
By the point we jumped in our automotive, my tummy was a hungry rumbling mess.
Now, I’m not susceptible to rational thought after I’m hungry (yeah, I’m a kind of those that will get hangry actually fast), so Yaya made some preemptive plans to discover a lunch spot earlier than any form of Jekyll and Hyde state of affairs got here into being! 😉
After somewhat jaunt within the automotive, we arrived at St. Mary’s Inn (in Morpeth) which was a comfortable pub that appeared common with locals. Now, that is at all times an excellent signal for me, particularly when travelling.
You see, with guests, pubs and eating places solely should please you as soon as – you’re solely there quickly in spite of everything and can be changed the following day/week/month by one other customer (which is essentially why eating places in vacationer lure areas have a tendency to not be that nice – there are exceptions, in fact). For these catering to locals, nonetheless, they should be an excellent time and time once more in any other case they run the chance of getting no prospects.
Because the pub was full of locals, I immediately knew we’d made the precise selection.
For starters, I went for the mackerel pate with pickled fennel and sourdough, which was so tasty. And Yaya determined upon the crispy king prawns which he refused to share!
For mains, Yaya went for a juicy steak and I grabbed myself a do-it-yourself steak and ale pie with mash. It was a kind of heartwarming meals that go away you so full you wanna be rolled out of the door.
That being stated, Yaya discovered room for a serving to of sticky toffee pudding, which I insisted he ordered with two spoons this time! There’s no method he was having this one alone.
After filling our tummies, we thought it finest to truly work off a few of these treats with somewhat stroll across the space.
That is once we stumbled upon Belsay Home and Gardens.
Perched within the countryside, about twenty minutes from Morpeth, Belsay Home was dwelling to the Middleton Household for over 700 years. In truth, there have been information going again to round 1270 when Richard de Middleton was Lord Chancellor to King Henry III.
Now, with all that historical past, I simply knew we needed to go discover the grounds and home. As quickly as we arrived, we headed straight for the newer (however nonetheless over 200 years outdated) Belsay Corridor.
That’s the factor you begin to realise, ‘new’ is such a relative time period, particularly when there’s a lot historical past that goes again 1000’s of years in Northumberland.
Apparently, Belsay Corridor was inbuilt a Grecian fashion after a Greek honeymoon that Sir Charles Monck took upon his marriage. As we headed inside, we shortly noticed how spectacular this could have been as a house.
The Pillar Corridor is simply unimaginable and just about the point of interest of the corridor itself.
After somewhat stroll across the corridor, we head straight out into the gardens themselves.
Now, we Brits have some fairly unpredictable climate and it may possibly actually really feel like 4 seasons in someday at occasions.
That being stated, we lucked out on this event with some attractive sunshine which was good for exploring the gardens.
As we headed by means of the grounds, we discovered ourselves within the Quarry Gardens.
It completely felt like a misplaced world which has been forgotten for hundreds of years, particularly as there was no-one else round.
While strolling by means of the quarried walkways, I immediately remembered what the English Heritage employees had been saying. The gardens of Belsay Corridor have a novel little micro-climate.
This made good sense! It virtually felt like summer time strolling round. There have been bushes and vegetation I didn’t even know may dwell this far north. It felt virtually tropical… properly, for England at the very least! 😉
After about twenty minutes, we got here throughout a clearing that led us to the historic dwelling of the Middleton’s, Belsay Citadel.
Many lots of of years earlier than Belsay Corridor was constructed, the citadel itself was the household dwelling.
Now principally in ruins, it virtually feels eerie strolling round. Nearly as if it was deserted and caught in a second of time when the household left.
Even inside, you possibly can nonetheless see the unique fireplaces and nooks that have been as soon as a part of the rooms of the citadel.
Now, I really like a little bit of historical past like this, particularly when the citadel dates again so many lots of of years. That being stated, with solely myself and Yaya right here, I positively received a number of shivers as we walked round.
Personally, I don’t consider in ghosts or something like that, however If somebody informed me this place was haunted, I’d have believed them instantly. It actually was fairly spooky – particularly when nobody else was there. 😉
After somewhat wander throughout the grounds, we determined to name it a day at Belsay Citadel and head to our lodgings to examine in.
We determined to remain at Newton-by-the-Sea, on the Joiners Arms. It was a kind of attractive village pubs that you simply see nestled into the countryside.
As quickly as we stepped foot inside, I knew we’d made the precise selection. The rooms have been attractive. (I’m a sucker for uncovered timber! 😄)
It’s simply the kind of place that makes you’re feeling immediately welcome. Somebody playfully described it as a five-star inn – with a hug and I’ve to agree!
Plus, what made it much more scrumptious was the cocktail making package that was left within the room every evening! Gray Goose vodka, Chambord and loads of recent raspberries, which made for the right nightcap.
That being stated, the nightcap must wait, as dinner was calling. There’s one thing in regards to the sea air that makes me extra hungry and despite the fact that we have been a number of miles from the seaside, I used this as an excuse for us to move straight for dinner.
Now, Northumberland is understood for its tasty seafood, so we headed straight for the shoreline and over to Craster for some grub on the Jolly Fisherman.
Perched a stone’s throw from the working harbour, it was a beautiful little spot to spherical off our first day.
Effectively over 150 years outdated, I can nonetheless think about all of the Nineteenth-century fisherman stumbling out of right here after days spent fishing within the North Sea. Other than my concepts of tipsy fisherman, not a lot else has modified during the last 150 years.
The fish and seafood are nonetheless caught regionally and usually comes from the native fisherman from the harbour itself, the views are simply as wonderful with the village virtually feeling prefer it’s been frozen in time.
After a fast dabble over the menu, I ordered the mackerel Scotch egg for starters. It was a kind of Scotch eggs that come out good and operating, which I devoured instantly.
Yaya, however, when for the recent scallops and cured salty meat.
For mains, we each went for the native lobster that was from the harbour itself. It was so yummy, particularly slathered in numerous butter. I’m a sucker for something dipped in butter and this was simply wonderful.
Stuffed to the brim, we determined to name it an evening and head again to the Joiner’s Arms for some well-earned relaxation (and our nightcap).
If immediately was something to go by, I knew we have been gonna love Northumberland.
Learn Day two in Northumberland, under
Visiting The Lovely Bamburgh Citadel And Farne Islands, England
Verify Out The Very Greatest Of Nice Britain!
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