This past weekend Mark and I certainly backed in a ton and while I plan on deep diving on elements I wanted to share a few highlights while it is still fresh. It should come as no surprise to anyone who has read Sparkles & Shoes for a while that I love castles and this weekend focused quite a few of them as we went to see the Northumberland Castles. Northumberland is the northern-most county in England and after only a few hours it is very easy to see how it is the sparsely-populated county in England. It is so far North in England it is actually faster to go to Scotland and cross the boarder south.
Thus Friday after work we took an hour flight from London to Edinburgh and then drove an hour and a half south to a local inn where we stayed for two nights. When you Google the phrase Northumberland Castles nearly a dozen come up and we visited three of the most famous; Lindisfarne Castle, Alnwick Castle, and Bamburgh Castle plus a bonus one in Scotland. Take a look at some of my favorite shots from our journey North:
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Lindisfarne Castle from the harbor
Hundreds of seals on the beach across from Lindisfarne
Balancing rocks on the coast of the North Sea
Spring flowers in the Alnwick Castle gardens
A selfie outside the gates of Alnwick Castle
Brooms Outside and the Kitchen Inside Alnwick Castle
(if you missed my Harry Potter reel make sure to check it out!)
The approach to Bamburgh Castle
Sitting room at Bamburgh Castle
The Royal Border Bridge which spans the River Tweed between Berwick-upon-Tweed
Our last stop was a visit to Tantallon Castle – I was excited about reading that you could go in this 14th-century castle ruins but sadly due to the COVID restrictions visitors are still not allowed in. This did not stop us though, we were able to enter the grounds without paying admission and got to take a look at the castle but I found the lighthouse on Bass Rock the most impressive.
The ruins of Tantallon Castle
Lighthouse on Bass Rock
And ending with the first official bump photo of my pregnancy – 17.5 weeks with twins:
Would you want to visit the Northumberland Castles?
A Snowy Weekend in Boston
The Holidays with My Family
Feeding the Deer in Dublin’s Phoenix Park
My Evening at the Opera in Vienna
Sabine says
How romantic and I remember that you got engaged at a castle. Must bring back some sweet memories for you.
I would gladly go castle touring any day of the week. We don’t have them here so have to live through your touring!
Marylou says
Looks like a scene out of a movie or Downton Abbey, these are magnificent and so glad that I got to see them through your eyes.
I can’t even imagine how they built those in the day and they seem so huge. Are they as big as they look. They are all so different architecturally too. And yes of course I would love to visit them one day.
Simply stunning weekend get a way!
Amanda says
Those daffodils are insane and what a gorgeous photo with the castle as the backdrop.
I am having serious travel wanderlust now and glad that you are back on the road letting me tour via your travels.
Wonderful trip Kelly!