For the longest time, I’d at all times wished to go to Northumberland. Come to think about it, I keep 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 keep in mind whizzing by 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 occasions 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 had been immediately glued to the window pane (normally with my Thermos of tea in hand). Along the best way, I’d see spots like Berwick-upon-Tweed, Holy Island and the shoreline round Dunstanburgh Castle. During these practice journeys (when let’s be trustworthy, I used to be most likely imagined to be revising), I promised myself that I’d go exploring Northumberland in the future.
And what, that is precisely what we did!
With a nifty little bit of planning and grabbing our practice tickets, we had 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 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 time we jumped in our automotive, my tummy was a hungry rumbling mess.
Now, I’m not liable to rational thought once I’m hungry (yeah, I’m a type of those that will get hangry actually fast), so Yaya made some preemptive plans to discover a lunch spot earlier than any type of Jekyll and Hyde state of affairs got here into being! 😉
After a bit jaunt within the automotive, we arrived at St. Mary’s Inn (in Morpeth) which was a comfy pub that appeared fashionable with locals. Now, that is at all times a great signal for me, particularly when travelling.
You see, with guests, pubs and eating places solely must please you as soon as – you’re solely there briefly in spite of everything and will probably be changed the subsequent 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, nevertheless, they must be a great time and time once more in any other case they run the chance of getting no clients.
As the pub was stuffed with locals, I immediately knew we’d made the fitting 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 selfmade steak and ale pie with mash. It was a type 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 manner 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.
This is once we stumbled upon Belsay House and Gardens.
Perched within the countryside, about twenty minutes from Morpeth, Belsay House was house to the Middleton Family 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 Hall.
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 Hall was in-built a Grecian model after a Greek honeymoon that Sir Charles Monck took upon his marriage. As we headed inside, we rapidly noticed how spectacular this may have been as a house.
The Pillar Hall 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 may truthfully really feel like 4 seasons in in the future at occasions.
That being stated, we lucked out on this event with some beautiful sunshine which was excellent for exploring the gardens.
As we headed by 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.
Whilst strolling by the quarried walkways, I immediately remembered what the English Heritage workers had been saying. The gardens of Belsay Hall have a novel little micro-climate.
This made excellent sense! It virtually felt like summer season strolling round. There had been bushes and vegetation I didn’t even know may stay this far north. It felt virtually tropical… properly, for England a minimum of! 😉
After about twenty minutes, we got here throughout a clearing that led us to the historic house of the Middleton’s, Belsay Castle.
Many lots of of years earlier than Belsay Hall was constructed, the fortress itself was the household house.
Now principally in ruins, it virtually feels eerie strolling round. Almost 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 had been as soon as a part of the rooms of the fortress.
Now, I really like a little bit of historical past like this, particularly when the fortress dates again so many lots of of years. That being stated, with solely myself and Yaya right here, I undoubtedly obtained just a few 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 straight 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 Castle and head to our lodgings to examine in.
We determined to remain at Newton-by-the-Sea, on the Joiners Arms. It was a type 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 fitting alternative. The rooms had been beautiful. (I’m a sucker for uncovered timber! 😄)
It’s simply the type of place that makes you are feeling immediately welcome. Someone 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 night time! Grey Goose vodka, Chambord and loads of contemporary raspberries, which made for the proper 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 had been just a few miles from the seashore, 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.
Well 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. Apart from 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 type of Scotch eggs that come out good and working, which I devoured instantly.
Yaya, however, when for the contemporary 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 wonderful.
Filled 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 had been gonna love Northumberland.
Read Day two in Northumberland, beneath
Visiting The Beautiful Bamburgh Castle And Farne Islands, England
Check Out The Very Best Of Great Britain!
