Alnwick Castle

To conclude our camping trip in the Summer of 2010 we visited Alnwick Castle and Gardens. Alnwick Castle is also a stately home in Alnwick in Northumberland, it is a Grade I listed building, residence of the Duke of Northumberland and was build after the Norman conquest and has been renovated a number of times. The castle guard a road crossing the River Aln, and the first parts were built in around 1096, it was built to protect the northern border of England against Scottish invasions.  Alnwick Castle Website

Below: Another Magnificent View of the Castle Exterior

As well as its magnificent grounds the castle contents a number of exhibits', the castle is also famous for its exterior and interior being used for the Harry Potter Films (2001 - 2011) it was also used for the 2010 Robin Hood Film. The castle embraces this and holds events such as Knight's Quest, Wizarding with Hagrid and Dumbledore and Broomstick Training. Visit Northumberland Website

Above: Castle Exterior (Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - Flying Lessons)

The Alnwick Garden

The revived Alnwick Garden was opened around ten years ago, it is an amazing ambitious garden, from a number of landscaped gardens to vibrant water features as well as a huge tree house. One of the main vocal points and water feature is The Grand Cascade which involves 7260 gallons of water tumbling down 21 weirs every minute. Alnwick Garden Website

The gardens include a large collection of European plants as well as a range of unusual plants within the Poison Garden. The garden has a family feel about it and has a lot of chances to get wet and play. The Treehouse is very exciting sitting high in the trees, to add to the excitement there are wobbly rope bridges to walk across in the sky.

This was my first visit to the garden and I found it very intriguing with all the different types of plants and water features, the layout of the garden helps keep you engaged as around each corner there is something completely different and surprising. I particularly liked the water sculpture garden 'The Serpent Garden' and the 'Woodland Walk. Visit Northumberland Website

Holy Island

Lindisfarne is an island of the north – east coast of England, it is also known as Holy Island. The island was given the name Lindisfarne by the first Anglo – Saxons to live there, the monks of Durham added the words ‘Holy Island’. Lindisfarne is a tidal island and access to the island is by a causeway which is covered by the North Sea twice in 24 hours. Lindisfarne is famous for both its medieval religious heritage and also its picturesque landscape and castle. Visitors range from bird – watchers to photographers to historians. Our visit to Holy Island was during our short camping trip to the Northumberland coast in 2010, we visited the island during a bright but drizzly morning, however the weather did not affect our peaceful and tranquil walk around the island, it lead to more dramatic scenery and photographs. Lindisfarne Website

The Castle was built in the 1550’s using stones from the demolished Priory. In 1902 Sir Edwin Lutyens began the conversion into the Edwardian country house you see today.

The Priory was one of centres of early Christianity in Anglo – Saxon England, and is still a place of pilgrimage today. England North East Website

Below: Causeway to the Island

Bamburgh Castle

Bamburgh Castle is an imposing feature of the Northumberland Coastline.  From the castle there are views of the Farne Islands, Holy Island and the Cheviot Hills. My visit to Bamburgh was during a very short camping trip during the Summer of 2010, the weather was I would say normal for a summer in the North of England, mild with a fair few rain showers, we were lucky and although fairly grey the showers were limited. Visit Northumberland Website

The castle boasts a long history, with settlements on the site dating back to prehistoric times, archaeological digs often take place on the site. More recent history of the castle shows the castle hosted royal guests, including Edward IV who almost totally destroyed the castle in the War of the Roses. Lord Armstrong restored and saved the ruin and the castle still provides a home to his ancestors today.  Bamburgh Castle Website

Above: Bamburgh Castle Information Sign

Below: Bamburgh Castle From Village

 

High Force Waterfall (Teesdale)

One of the most breath taking waterfalls I have witnessed in England. High Force is within the North Pennines on the River Tees which is near Middleton – in – Teesdale in County Durham. I first visited this waterfall back in 2005 on a school walking expedition, on this occasion the sun was shining so bright and was one of the hottest days I can remember experiencing in England. Most recently I re visited this beautiful 71ft (21m) drop of the River Tees in 2010 with my boyfriend and a friend, the whole of the river drops over the cliff edge into the plunge pools below.


High Force is set within the Forest of Teesdale, the woodland walk to the waterfall is approximately 1/3 of a mile and is a well kept pretty route with a number of resting and view points along the way. There is a seasonal gift shop, toilet facilities and a car park. More information can be found at: North Pennines Website

Above: High Force 2005

Below: High Force 2010

Other points of interest:

Low Force

Downstream from High Force are the smaller more elegant set of falls ‘Low Force’, Low Force is known for its beauty as well as for a place for white – water canoeists and leaping Salmon.

Photos: Low Force 2010

Wynch Bridge

Also at the spectacular Low Falls is the Wynch Bridge. Around the year 1741 the first chain bridge was built in the country and it is said to be over the River Tees and called the Wynch Bridge, to be used by miners who lived at Holwick to the mines in Middleton. It was said to be of wooden construction, supended by iron chains. Later in 1802 it is known to of collapsed when one of the chains snapped. In 1830 the bridge we know today was built slightly up stream to the site of the original. For more information about Teesdale visit: Discover Teesdale

Above: Wynch Bridge Information Sign

Below: Wynch Bridge 2010