For the longest time, I’d at all times wished to go to Northumberland. Come to think about it, I bear in mind the precise second when travelling to school 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 stunning cities like York and Durham earlier than making it to the northeast coast of England and Northumberland. I should have taken that practice tens of instances throughout my years at St Andrew’s however every time I might do the identical factor.
As quickly as I might attain the Northumberland shoreline, my eyes have been immediately glued to the window pane (normally with my Thermos of tea in hand). Alongside the way in which, I’d see spots like Berwick-upon-Tweed, Holy Island and the shoreline round Dunstanburgh Fortress. Throughout these practice journeys (when let’s be sincere, I used to be in all probability speculated to be revising), I promised myself that I’d go exploring Northumberland sooner or later.
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 choose up our wheels and head throughout the moorlands. Now, the practice itself took a bit over three hours from the centre of London however truly 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 sincere, is immediately noticeable when arriving from the hustle and bustle of London.
By the point we jumped in our automobile, my tummy was a hungry rumbling mess.
Now, I’m not liable to rational thought once I’m hungry (yeah, I’m a kind of people who will get hangry actually fast), so Yaya made some preemptive plans to discover a lunch spot earlier than any sort of Jekyll and Hyde situation got here into being! 😉
After a bit jaunt within the automobile, we arrived at St. Mary’s Inn (in Morpeth) which was a comfortable pub that appeared widespread 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 need to please you as soon as – you’re solely there briefly in spite of everything and will likely be changed the subsequent day/week/month by one other customer (which is basically why eating places in vacationer lure areas have a tendency to not be that nice – there are exceptions, after all). For these catering to locals, nonetheless, they need to be an excellent time and time once more in any other case they run the danger of getting no clients.
Because the pub was crammed with locals, I immediately knew we’d made the best alternative.
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 depart 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 means he was having this one alone.
After filling our tummies, we thought it greatest to truly work off a few of these treats with a bit stroll across the space.
That is after 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 data 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 in-built a Grecian type after a Greek honeymoon that Sir Charles Monck took upon his marriage. As we headed inside, we shortly noticed how spectacular this may have been as a house.
The Pillar Corridor is simply unbelievable and just about the point of interest of the corridor itself.
After a bit stroll across the corridor, we head straight out into the gardens themselves.
Now, we Brits have some fairly unpredictable climate and it will probably actually really feel like 4 seasons in sooner or later at instances.
That being stated, we lucked out on this event with some beautiful 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 workers had been saying. The gardens of Belsay Corridor have a singular little micro-climate.
This made good sense! It virtually felt like summer time strolling round. There have been timber and vegetation I didn’t even know might reside this far north. It felt virtually tropical… properly, for England not less than! 😉
After about twenty minutes, we got here throughout a clearing that led us to the historic dwelling of the Middleton’s, Belsay Fortress.
Many lots of of years earlier than Belsay Corridor was constructed, the fort itself was the household dwelling.
Now largely in ruins, it virtually feels eerie strolling round. Virtually as if it was deserted and caught in a second of time when the household left.
Even inside, you’ll be able to nonetheless see the unique fireplaces and nooks that have been as soon as a part of the rooms of the fort.
Now, I really like a little bit of historical past like this, particularly when the fort dates again so many lots of of years. That being stated, with solely myself and Yaya right here, I undoubtedly obtained a couple of shivers as we walked round.
Personally, I don’t consider in ghosts or something like that, however If somebody advised me this place was haunted, I might have believed them right away. It actually was fairly spooky – particularly when nobody else was there. 😉
After a bit wander throughout the grounds, we determined to name it a day at Belsay Fortress and head to our lodgings to test in.
We determined to remain at Newton-by-the-Sea, on the Joiners Arms. It was a kind of beautiful village pubs that you just see nestled into the countryside.
As quickly as we stepped foot inside, I knew we’d made the best alternative. The rooms have been beautiful. (I’m a sucker for uncovered timber! 😄)
It’s simply the form 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 equipment 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 concerning the sea air that makes me extra hungry and regardless that we have been a couple of miles from the seaside, I used this as an excuse for us to move straight for dinner.
Now, Northumberland is thought 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 stunning 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 over the past 150 years.
The fish and seafood are nonetheless caught regionally and sometimes comes from the native fisherman from the harbour itself, the views are simply as superb 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 working, which I devoured instantly.
Yaya, alternatively, 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 a lot of butter. I’m a sucker for something dipped in butter and this was simply superb.
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 right now was something to go by, I knew we have been gonna love Northumberland.
Learn Day two in Northumberland, beneath
Visiting The Stunning Bamburgh Fortress And Farne Islands, England
Verify Out The Very Finest Of Nice Britain!
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