We are starting today by heading a few miles north back in to Scotland (they can’t keep us away). We will then spend most of the day continuing our drive back in England, along the Northumberland coast before ending the day in Newcastle.
Photo of the day
The Tour of Britain Cycle Race arriving in Bamburgh.
St Abbs
Starting our day just north of the Scottish border at the quiet fishing village of St Abbs.Rocky views past St Abbs Harbour.
English & Scottish border
Crossing the border back into England.
Berwick-upon-Tweed
The Royal Border Bridge spanning the River Tweed. The railway viaduct was opened by Queen Victoria in 1850.I remember these parking discs as a kid, and didn’t realise they were still in use.The simple but neat lighthouse at the end of the Berwick-upon-Tweed breakwater.
Lindisfarne
Crossing over the causeway to Lindisfarne (AKA The Holy Island).We better be quick, in fifteen minutes the tide is coming in, and we won’t be able to get back to the mainland until the evening.In case you get stranded as the tide returns, there’s a handy refuge hut to escape the rising tides. Your car might get a bit wet though.
Tour of Britain Cycle Race (coming into Bamburgh)
As we drove along the country lanes towards Bamburgh we suddenly found ourselves on the Tour of Britain Cyle Race route. A complete surprise. Perfect timing.So we parked up on the verge, a few minutes later the police and race marshals arrived……quickly followed by the ‘Eye in the Sky”…… then the race leaders came charging through….…followed by the main group. Ten minutes later we were back on the road again after this nice little interlude.
Bamburgh Castle
Stunning views over the freshly plowed fields to the huge Bamburgh Castle.And even more impressive close up.
The Farne Islands
Just passed Bamburgh Castle, the view over to The Farne Islands and Inner Farne Lighthouse. The islands are famous for their seals and wide variety of seabirds.
Beadnell Beach
Kite Surfing on Beadnell Beach.
Embleton & Newton Links
Jarno doing some more beach graffiti at the National Trust managed Embleton & Newton Links. In the distance you can also spot Dunstanburgh Castle.Washed away…
Craster
A little bit of colour as rain clouds rolled in over Craster Harbour.Dunstanburgh Castle that we had seen earlier from Embleton & Newton Links. Now viewed from the south, walking across the fields from Craster. A bit hazy due to the rain…
Alnwick Castle
The seat of the Duke of Northumberland, at our final castle of the day, Alnwick Castle, just outside the picturesque market town of Alnwick.
Amble Beach
The tiny Coquet Island and its lighthouse viewed from Amble Beach.
Low Hauxley
Low Hauxley Beach. Just a bit further along the beach a two-hundred meter long ancient forest has been uncovered by the sea cutting through the sand dunes.
Blyth
An interestingly arty and industrial coastline as the light faded passing through Blyth.
St Mary’s Lighthouse
St Mary’s Lighthouse across another causeway, at Whitley Bay.
Tynemouth
Ending the day with delicious fish tacos on the beach at Riley’s Fish Shack. We then headed inland to Newcastle for the night.
We started today by heading back east to the coast at Crail, as we’d run out of sunlight yesterday evening after leaving St Andrews. From Crail we then looped back west along the coast, crossing the Firth of Forth before continuing along the coastline to Berwick upon Tweed.
Photo of the day
A telescope at North Berwick.
Crail
A quiet Sunday morning on Crail seafront.
Pittenweem
Fishing boats gathered in Pittenweem Harbour.
Elie Ness
A modern lighthouse on the headland at Elie Ness.
Lower Largo
A statue of Alexander Selkirk mounted on a house in Lower Largo, the inspiration behind Robinson Crusoe.Colourful bollards on the Lower Largo seafront.
Dysart
Just outside Kirkcaldy, the quaint Dysart.And an interesting coastal art installation by Donald Urquart just by the harbour. The 9 huge vertical beams painted to represent the colour of the sea under different light.
Aberdour Castle
Yep, no idea either, but we seemed to be enjoying ourselves at Historic Scotland’s Aberdour Castle.We weren’t sure what this building was on the terraced gardens that lead down to the castle orchard. Anyway, it turned out to be an unusual beehive shaped doocot.And inside the doocot, looking to the sky.
Firth of Forth Bridges
Crossing over the Forth Road Bridge. It was really busy, with lots of police and tourists around, then we realised it was the opening week of the new Queensferry Crossing bridge.From South Queensferry, looking back to the Forth Road Bridge, and the new Queensferry Crossing behind.The Queen would be visiting to officially open the new bridge tomorrow. In the meantime the bridge was open for pedestrians to cross.And the equally impressive Forth Rail Bridge sitting opposite the other two bridges. OK, enough bridges for the day…
Royal Yacht Britannia
As we skirted around the north of Edinburgh we decided to make a stop at the Royal Yacht Britannia, one of the highlights of our day.In service from 1954 to 1997, and now kept as a museum piece. A fascinating insight into the royal life on the seas.The Royal Roller kept on board for visits to local Kings and Queens.Having a royal beer in the royal pub with the royal corgi. Love the bar name 😉So The Queen likes a game of Operation! Good for her.Royal washing machines in the royal launderette.
North Berwick
North Berwick in the shadow of the Law hill. A lovely little town and harbour.Colourful doors in the harbour boatyard.A handy telescope to view Bass Rock, 3 miles out to sea in the outer part of the Firth of Forth.
Bass Rock
White from bird life. Thousands of gannets visit the island every year, and as many as 150,000 in high season! Poor lighthouse, bet that needs repainting quite a bit!We tried to zoom in, this is about as close as we could get. You can just about make out the thousands of gannets hogging every bit of the island and circling in the sky.
Tantallon Castle
The red sandstone Tantallon Castle, as we drove east out of North Berwick.
Torness
Another regular along our trip, every few days passing a coastal power station. This time Torness Nuclear Power Station, peeping over the blurred fields as we drove past along the A1 to the Scottish border and Berwick upon Tweed.
