Day 2 - The Search for Wall

Curry for Breakfast

After getting into the campsite at 2335 on Saturday night it was a shocker to be up at 8 the next morning! I think it was probably the quickest we've ever put the tents up and got a cup of tea on the go!

My Handsome Boy

Prince is enjoying the exploring and sleeping in the car bit of the holiday, he's not so sure about the whole tent thing. Fabric house isn't his favourite, but he's getting used to it!

Up early and out today with a few missions to complete: Find a bit of Hadrian's wall to have a selfie by and do the same to the Welcome to Scotland sign!

Hoping to knock the first one off early we stopped at Corbridge Roman Town, which is owned by English Heretics (not Heritage, as they're working hard to either destroy or ruin our heritage). As usual for an EH property, the entrance fee outweighed the actual attraction, which was a bit sad really. The museum was ok and I found a few Roman games counters which was interesting because they were very similar to the ones I made for medievals. Looking at the artefacts on display it's interesting to see how "civilised" the Romans were in comparison to the later medieval people, I wonder why that is? Answers on a post card please!

Roman game pieces

There was an area to look around outside which was a tiny town and military base, that was quite cool to be able to wander around an actual size town.

After Corbridge we were recommended to visit Aydon Castle, which was a manor house owned by the Boarder Reivers (history close to my heart there). we drove up the tiny little path towards it but it was another £5 to enter, there really wasn't much to see either so we decided a quick scout around the outside was all we'd do.

Onwards and upwards again (kind of, we actually travelled South to Corbridge...) in search of lunch; provided by an ok 'tea room'. More like a greasy spoon, but it was ok!

We searched for ages to find a bit of Hadrian's Wall but honestly couldn't find any (or any that wasn't owned by English Heretics, and I hate giving them money!). So that's still on the list do do for the way home!

Fantastic. Wondering if the other
side says "First Cafe in England"?

Quick trip through Norumberland National Park (which is TOTALLY stunning by the way) and a drive past the 'Last Cafe in England!', and WE FOUND THE SIGN!!

Very exciting, had to do the tourist thing of having a few pictures by the rock and sign and it's off into Scottyland!.

Obligatory Selfie

We travelled on the A93 road all the way through the Spittal of Glenshee in Caringorms National park and I must say... wow! No picture I can take will ever describe how utterly beautiful it was! There's a ski resort in the highest point (as well as an 18 hole golf course!) and it's odd to see Scotland looking really alpine like Swizerland or somewhere, but the gorgeous mountains and log cabins just added to an utterly pleasant drive and I'd highly recommend it to anyone!


Stay over at Ballater Caravan Park and a kindly lady charged my netbook (which is nearly dead again...) so I could update Day 1 and Day 2, as well as upload all my pictures! Don't forget to check out the Live photo album, I'm updating it all the time with some amazing photos!







 Live photo album: https://goo.gl/photos/Gos9KaSACAwi4n7b7

Things I have learnt from this trip:
1. Robert Burns was right; “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry”
2. Even clean wet dog smells just like wet dog
3. A wool and linen cloak is an incredibly versatile piece of clothing and I've no idea why it went out of fashion from the 15th Century onwards?!
4. The A93 is the most beautiful road in Britain.

Day 1 - Road, Rain and Relatives

This blog post is a day late, sorry about that! The campsite we stayed on didn't have agreat phone signal!!

Byland Abbey

Today was a bit of a crazy day to be honest. Teapot needed an emergency trip to the dentist in the morning so we couldn't leave when planned at around 10/1030 but thought its ok we'll leave around midday and miss the early traffic, good plan. Except I get all the way to Duxford (about 40 minutes) and think 'did I pack HARVe's batteries?' back home, only to find yes, I did indeed pack them!

Byland Abbey

The drive from my house to Yorkshire was both uneventful and dreadfully boring... M11/A14 all the way... very very boring.

We did, however, decide that yes we could have a little stop in Ampleforth and say hello to our Aunt and our Grandad, and caught them just as they were on the way out. My Aunt has a Corgi mix dog and my Grandad has some odd mix that's Corgi/Chihuahua/Goodness knows what so Prince and Princess had a great time hanging out with them for an hour or so!

On the way to Ampleforth there are two options, there's Sutton Bank which is an enormous hill that lorries aren't allowed up (but with one of the most beautiful views in England; see picture!) or there is the 'Caravan Route' which goes past the ruins of Byland Abbey.

View from Sutton Bank taken a while ago on my phone

Love a bit of decay!!

I chose the Caravan Route because I wasn't sure how my car would car dragging the trailer up Sutton Bank (and didn't really want to be towed home on the first day) but also because my great-Grandmother used to like in Old Byland and my dad remembers playing in the ruins of Byland Abbey as a child (before English Heretics took it over and charge you a fortune to go in...).

Byland Abbey ruins are beautiful and well worth a look if you've got time or arrive there before they lock the gate! The ruins really do show what a magnificent building it must have been!

Almost at Ampleforth!

Back on the journey from North Yorkshire to Northumberland, another two hours to Bellingham where the campsite was. Bit scary as it got dark and we were followed through the back roads of Northumberland National Park by a taxi driver flashing his lights wanting me to pull over. I'm not a violent person but neither am I stupid... I will not be pulling over for a random taxi in the middle of moorland! Nothing was wrong though (think he was just being an arse) and after about an hour of searching we finally found the campsite, ready for a whole night of torrential rain!!

Dinnertime for my little prince <3

 Live photo album: https://goo.gl/photos/Gos9KaSACAwi4n7b7

Things I have learnt from this trip:
1. Robert Burns was right; “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry”
2. Even clean wet dog smells just like wet dog
3. A wool and linen cloak is an incredibly versatile piece of clothing and I've no idea why it went out of fashion from the 15th Century onwards?!