Springtime in Northumberland is truly stunning with bouncy lambs springing across fields, the landscape daubed in the yellow …daffodils, gorse and primrose, coming into bloom.
We are lucky to have family in the beautiful seaside resort of Whitley Bay, just north of Newcastle. Matt’s grandparents, both their 90s, have lived there since the 1960s.
One Easter Sunday we followed the A697 through the rolling landscape, heading north in the national park towards Scotland on a sunshiny kind of day. . the landscape grew more desolate as we gained height. The Simonside hills still dusted with snow in April.
We endured a running commentary from the twitchers in the front of the car, talk of grouse, goshawks, buzzards, peregrines and a plague of egg thieves. Matt my partner is a Boy Scout, birder, mountain biker and hiker. This holiday he had a new telescope and binoculars and was enjoying a bird bonanza, in the company of his grandfather 93 year old Geoff, another avid twitcher.
Our reward was Easter Sunday lunch at Three Wheatheads Inn in Thropton, and what it lacked in Michelin Stars it more than made up for with its lovely garden and glorious views over the river Coquet valley on an Enid Blyton kind of day with fluffy clouds in the bright blue sky.
After our lazy lunch we returned to Whitley Bay via Cragside, a National Trust Property, This time we didn’t enter the house, a Victorian pile which was the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity by its genius/eccentric owner Lord Armstrong during the Victorian Era, it is well worth a trip and blog post of its own. Today we pootled around the grounds (we had two nonagenarians in the car), past the waterfalls, puffy rhododendrons, birch and scots pine until we reached a glassy lake.
Eight toads swam languidly the reflection of the clouds making them appear to soar through the sky.
In addition to two 90+ year olds, we had a pre-schooler in our midst so a stop at the adventure playground was non-negotiable. Kitty clambered over the wooden climbing frames and obstacles as I pretended to be a circus ringmaster celebrating her acrobatic feats, to the applause of her great grandparents.
Kitty’s big top routine wore her out and she went to bed that night without a murmur of complaint. Dreaming of more Northumbrian adventures tomorrow.
I have linked this post to #mondayescapes hosted by Karen at Mini Travellers, Lisa at Travel Loving Family, Sarah at Extraordinary Chaos and Claire at Tin Box Traveller.
What a lovely day you all had! I love spring!
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Many thanks for your comment. It was a glorious day. I love spring too, looking forward to the flowers emerging again.
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I was born in Hexham and lived in Seaton Delaval until I was 13 so always love reading posts about Northumberland! There is so much to see and do up there I really should go back more often! A beautiful part of the world! #MondayEscapes
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We are going back next bank holiday, so looking forward to that. I am hoping to go Alnwick castle, finally. I have been the gardens but never the castle. Matt’s grandfather was volunteering in Seaton Delaval until about two years ago – he is 95 !
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What a lovely place. Lovely images as well.
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Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
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I grew up in Newcastle so Whitley Bay and Cragside are a trip down memory lane for me! Cragside is one of my favourite NT properties and Lord Armstrong’s impact beyond it on Newcastle and it’s industrial heritage I always find fascinating. #MondayEscapes
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So glad you like it. I love that area. Cragside is amazing. I want to go inside again and show it to Kitty. The train heritage is great to the Stephenson railway museum is fascinating.
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Being non-British, I had to look up what a “twitcher” was, as I had a feeling it didn’t have anything to do with a person who has a twitch..! 😉
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Excellent! One for the ‘weird things Brits say’ list. 😜
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Aw what a lovely day out with Great Grandparents! Your photo of the reflections is absolutely stunning, the one of the frog swimming is great too. Thanks for linking to #MondayEscapes
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Thanks for hosting. So glad you enjoyed it.
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I would love to have family in an area like this! Everything looks beautiful. I really like the way you have described the scenery. Felt like I was there. #MondayEscapes
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Northumberland is stunning, a real hidden treasure. It’s one of my favourite counties.
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such beautiful photos of the wonderful landscape
#mondayescapes
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We spent Easter in Northumberland and visited Cragside too. Such a beautiful place to visit. We loved our time there. Looks like you had a great time #MondayEscapes
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Northumberland is top of my travel wishlist, it looks like such a beautiful place with so much to see. loved reading your post #MondayEscapes
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Thanks. I think Northumberland is very underrated as a U.K. destination.
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