Holiday - Northumberland and North Wales - Day 5 - Simonside

Northumberland and North Wales Holiday

Monday 5th June 2017

This morning the rain had already begun! We had a lazy morning and then had a walk out to the local bakery. We had some lunch and decided we would have a walk out even though it was still raining! We set off for a carpark at the bottom of Simonside, put on our waterproofs and made our way up the hill!

There was not much of a view on the way up as the clouds were low and it was raining! It cleared a little on the top and by the time we got to the bottom it had really brightened up. I was a nice walk and we were glad we had got out for some fresh air!

Back at the cottage we dried off, warmed up and had a look at where we can go ringing tonight. We decided on going to Whitley Bay. There is also a Toby Carvey on the way there so dinner is sorted too!

So this evening didn't quite pan out as planned!  We set off to the Toby Carvery following directions the app had given me. We got to where it said it was and drove up and down the road but n sign of it.  We carried on toward Whitley Bay hoping we would come across it but we didn't.  We saw another pub and decided to eat there instead.  By now I had google searched the Toby and it was placed 1 1/2 miles away.  Feeling grumpy I wrote and complained to Toby!  We then continued into Whitley Bay and joined their ringing practice - there were quite a few ringers there and 2 other visitors also.

Holiday - Northumberland and North Wales - Day 4 - Farne Isles and Holy Island

Northumberland and North Wales Holiday

Sunday 4th June 2017

This morning we went along to Rothbury church to join the local band for morning service ringing.  There was only going to be 4 of them so they were pleased we had turned up. After ringing we drove over to Seahouses to look at the boat trips to the Farne Isles and see if we could get booked in on one.  We eventually managed to find somewhere to park and we went to the cabin to ask about trips.  By now it was about 11:15, the next trip was full so we booked on the 12:45. We visited the Seahouses Lifeboat Station and then found our way down onto the beach and found a rock to sit on for lunch.  Just before 12:30 we made our way to the harbour to meet the boat.  There were about 30 people on the trip.  

The trip took us round all the islands and docked at Inner Fare so we could get off and have a walk around.  The trip was about 2 1/2- 3 hours long and we stopped on Inner Farne for an hour. During our trip we saw Kittiwakes, Puffins, Grey Seals, Arctic Turns, Sandwich Turns, Guillemots, Shags, Razor Bills, Fulmars, Herring Gulls, Black Headed Gulls, Gannets and Eider Ducks. I even had an Arctic Turn land on my head!

Back on dry land we headed back to the car and decided that as the tides were right we would go to Holy Island.

We arrived about 16:30, parked and then walked up to the remains of the priory getting an ice cream on the way! We then set off walking around the island. It was about 4 1/2 miles and got very midgy at the end!

We got back to the car about 18:30 and headed back to the cottage. We went to the local chip shop that also did chinese - it was an interesting mix and not one we will repeat during our stay here! We had a relaxing evening going through nearly 800 photos we took and sorting out the ones to keep!

Holiday - Northumberland and North Wales - Day 3 - Drive to Rothbury

Northumberland and North Wales Holiday

Saturday 3rd June 2017

This morning we set off about 09:30.  The journey was fairly good and we made quick progress.  We stopped at some services for some lunch before continuing.  We headed for Ponteland to get some shopping.  We had saved a gift card we had received for Christmas so we could get some posh shopping in Waitrose!! 

We arrived about 15:45 and got unpacked and settled in.  The cottage is very nice - Tim has done well this time.

We had a little walk around Rothbury to the river and the church.  They had a notice up about service ringing so we might try and join them in the morning.  

Back at the cottage we cooked ourselves some inner and then had a relaxing evening planning what we want to do this week.

Holiday - Northumberland and North Wales - Day 2 - Drive to Northampton

Northumberland and North Wales Holiday

Friday 2nd June 2017

After getting few jobs done this morning we started to get out stuff packed up to go.  In amongst all of this the washing machine (that had been making odd noises) decided it was finally going to die! It wouldn’t drain and left clothes swimming in soapy water! Not ideal just before we go away!  We finally got on our way just before 19:00.  We are having a stopover night in a Northampton Travelodge to break up the journey.  We arrived about 21:30 and made our way up to our room.  It was rather warm in the room so we watched a bit of TV before going to sleep.  Tomorrow we will continue our journey up to Northumberland.

Holiday - Northumberland and North Wales - Day 1 - Portland Climbing and Doughnut Holiday

Northumberland and North Wales Holiday

Thursday 1st June 2017

Tim and I were both back from work by 5.  We packed our climbing gear and the rabbit in the car and headed over to Portland. Doughnut bunny is staying with Tim’s mum for the two weeks we are on holiday for.  We delivered the bunny and then went to The Lost Valley for some climbing.  We started on the Neapolitan Slab - ‘Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This’, ‘4,8,15,16,2,42’, ‘Rhys Gets Another Monkey Bite’

 and back on the main wall we climbed ‘Flaked Out’ (Number 1) to finish.

On the way back to Tim’s mum we called in at the chip shop to get some dinner.  After eating we had cuddles with Doughnut and then put him away for the night before leaving him for his holiday!