19.5.16

A Run Around Northumberland With Lola

So it's less then 3 weeks until we go away to Marrakech on holiday, I've left it a bit late to get the dream bikini body but something is better then nothing non?!
I've been a seldom runner for a few years now, I've never really found it easy, some people are born to run, not me, but I do love the feeling after I've completed one, the health benefits are definitely to be reaped.
Since moving here running is no longer so much of an urban chore, I'm not sure if it's because every run is an adventure and I'm not doing the same mundane route.  Sorry this is the second 'Northumberland is my new beau' post but it really does make my heart beat.  Today's run was a good 10.5k but a slow one (1hr 41) because I kept stopping to catch my breath and soak up the views. Here's some pics to share...


 Acomb Hall in the distance
 Rapeseed as far as the eye can see, I just wanted to dive in this field, the smell was immense!
 These cheeky calves, so curious. Lola was too, she's not met that many.

 a lot of Northumberland was regularly under attack from Scotland so had means of defence built to protect livestock.




18.5.16

Northumberland Day Out

We've been living in Northumberland for around 4 months now, Davy was born and bread here but I am from the lakes and never really ventured east but this county is gorgeous, some say Britain's best kept secret.


I love doors especially when they are full of character, it gives you an insight of what the home is like inside.
I wonder if the heads above this door are of the lord and lady that built the house and became the first residents?



This is Allen Mill or what is left of it.  It use to be an old smelting mill powered by the force of the river.
Bardon Mill is close by, the chimney has a plaque on it to say it was built in the 1920's but this must of been a later add on as the mill started making pottery in 1878.  Before that lay a woollen mill but this was destroyed by a fire made by a one-legged employee with a grudge!
One of the kilns


We topped off the day with a nice drink sat outside the anchor in Haydon Bridge with it's stunning view of the Tyne.


Langley Castle -  those windows!

17.5.16

Our New Van

The hunt for a VW van has been a long one, all the decent options seem to be around the south-coast which would be a trek and a half.  After endless days of searching one came up in Scotland, so we bundled in my car and headed up with Lola in tow.



 On the Anglo-Scottish border there is a place called Carter Bar where two stones lay, one to mark Scotland and one to mark England.  Here in 1575 hosted the last large scale battle between the two countries. 



 Whilst in Scotland you have to have an Irn Bru!

Lola seems to like the van too! The view from the border is gorgeous especially on a nice day.