UP NORTH

 OLD RUINS - "THE QUICK and the DEAD"

After reading Danny's report of the "Parks Walk" John W was sorry to have missed what looked like an excellent walk. He was however , with his wife Val, North (and South) of the border.  Staying to begin with, at the Premier Inn Dumfries.

The first "Old Ruin" visited was "Sweetheart Abbey".

Briefly , The story goes that the Lord of the manor died and his wife had his heart embalmed and kept it by her bedside in a casket. He was buried in the abbey church and when she died she was buried beside him clutching his heart to her  breast. I'm pretty sure that when I die my wife (Seen below) will not do anything so dramatic.

Alongside was an excellent cafe doing.......

..... wonderful scones.😃

The second ruin we visited was Kirkcudbright. Equally ruinous and less dramatic.

And I suspect that Rapunzel was never at any time held captive in it. 

(Could it be a fairy tale ?? )

The cafe was some distance away down the High street -- 

..........NO scones 😕

As we drove along the Solway coast we could see the Lake District on the other side.

I am pointing to let you know where the "Other" side is.

As we travelled we stopped to explore the town of  " CASTLE DOUGLAS" which perversely had NO castle. The nearest one being "Threave Castle". We were told at the tourist Information Centre that it was presently closed. This was a disappointment as we had been before many years ago. It is on an island in a river, and after a short walk to the river, on ringing a bell, a boatman rows across to take you to the castle. A dramatic ruin once occupied by the notorious "Black Douglas" clan.

Our exploration of Castle Douglas was limited, therefore, to searching for toilets and a cafe. .....

........ Scones quite good. 😐

Wednesday morning we left Scotland to travel cross country to Alnwick in Northumbria.  A long drive broken at Haltwhistle  for the usual "Services". when we arrived in Alnwick our sat nav took us out of the town to a moorland pub. The "Shepherds Rest"  about a mile or so outside Alnwick. Very Modest but very friendly.

Our next castle was hardly a ruin at all. BAMBURGH CASTLE. an old favourite for us.

The picture taken from the car park hardly shows the true dramatic appearance of the castle

The camera slipped out of the photographer's hands for this shot.

This is what should have appeared behind me.

Half way round we went inside the "Clock Tower" cafe for a brew and ..........

.........a SCONE"  Very good   😊

The North sea looked deceptively inviting with the sea a brilliant blue and white horses topping the waves under a blue sky full of sunshine.   Bamburgh Castle is always a windy spot though and usually chilly too.

 

From here we followed the coast to visit Seahouses and Amble. Later,  a planned afternoon visit to Alnwick Castle gardens was prevented by a outbreak of heavy rain which lasted a long time. Picnic, bought to eat in the gardens, was taken inside a misted up car parked by the sea at Alnmouth. The rain battered on the roof. ...... 

.........Gregg's unfortunately don't do scones 😒

Back to the "Shepherd's Rest".   A drink in the bar and then bed before an early breakfast and start for the long journey home. 

As we drove home we stopped at Southwaite Services where the Car Park was crammed and the people thronged everywhere.

"Is it always so busy?" we asked. "No" said the shop assistant, "It's Edinburgh holiday weekend, They're all heading for Blackpool".  Oh dear !   Busy motorway all the way down then.

So that's it.   Back to walking next week.

J W 

p.s.  Overall scone quality score 8/10....😉