EYWandBTV

Hello all,

We're getting very granular in the Britain trip planning for June 2016, down to the last few bits of the itinerary. We are now trying to decide on where to go for one night between Hadrian's Wall and Glasgow. I welcome your thoughts on the following draft:

Days #6,7,8: Hadrian's Wall: already reserved at Ashcroft B&B, do intensive exploration of Black Bull Pub; Vindolanda; Housesteads; Roman Army Museum; Hexham and the Abbey

Day #9:
9:00 am or so: drive to Alnwick
12:00 noon: visit Alnwick castle and gardens
3:00 pm: drive to Bamburgh Castle, visit, walk on beach
5:00 pm: drive to Berwick-upon-Tweed, stay the night - not yet reserved

Day #10:
morning: explore Berwick
2:00 pm: drive to Dryburgh Abbey
4:00 pm: drive to Traquair
5:00 pm: arrive in Traquair - already reserved for two nights
6:00 pm: dinner in Innerleithen??

Day #11
morning: explore Traquair and house brewery and maze
afternoon: go to Melrose Abbey, Abbotsford, maybe something else depending...
7:00 pm: reserved dinner at Traquair YESSSSS

We have reserved three nights in Haltwhistle at the Ashcroft B&B, which comes highly recommended. Very nice owners, have already exchanged emails with them. But...wondering whether it might be worth two nights in Berwick, taking one night away from Haltwhistle. If we decide to do this I would need the okay of the Ashcroft folks to cut back one night, and I already feel guilt-ridden at the prospect of requesting a change. But maybe this early it's not an issue. Anyway, your thoughts?

janisj

I probably would not stay in B-o-T.

And I think your Alnwick day is ambitious. The Gardens take a couple of hours (especially if you also eat in the Tree House) and the Castle is a 15 minute walk and another couple of hours.

What I'd maybe do is stay 3 nights in Haltwhistle, and 1 night in Alnwick (to visit both the Castle/Gardens and Bamburgh.)

OR - 2 nights Haltwhistle and 2 nights Alnwick -- for Alnwick, Bamburgh, and Lindesfarne.

janisj

Thinking more about it -- where are you driving <i>from</i> to get to Haltwhistle? If close enough that you arrive by early afternoon, I probably stay just the two nights on the Wall and two nights in Alnwick or somewhere nearby.

EYWandBTV

We are driving to Haltwhistle from Keswick via Penrith. We would leave around 10:00 am, perhaps taking the A686 through the countryside, stop somewhere for lunch, arrive in Haltwhistle at 2:00 pm or so.

janisj

Oh - you have tons of time. Leaving around 10AM you could visit Lanercost Priory (Very interesting - and there is a cafe right there) and Birdoswald and still easily get to Haltwhistle before 2PM

In that case -- yes, I'd only stay the 2 nights and then 2 nights at Alnwick. You will have a nearly 2 hour drive to Alnwick so time for the Castle and Gardens that day and Bamburgh/Lindesfarne the next day.

janisj

That is so weird -- I posted but it didn't top the thread so trying again . . .

EYWandBTV

Janis, thank you for this information and especially for the mention of Lanercost Priory. I've just been reading up on this on the web, it's beautiful. I had never heard of it. Even my trusty big Rough Guide to Great Britain doesn't mention it. And it's right on the way to Haltwhistle.

AtlTravelr

One of the reasons I find this site to be unique is a post like this. I have been searching the past few days for information on how to spend 4 days between Derbyshire and Edinburgh and bam - I stumble on this and now I realize I need another week!

EYW - I'll be following your posts to see what else you turn up. Our trip is in August so hope you will have time to post a trip report. Also - are you going to stay in Alnwick then? I'm also trying to decide whether to stay there or just stop if possible before Edinburgh.

dotheboyshall

I would go to Seahouses and take a boat to the Farne Islands, go to Craster and walk along the coast to Newton on the Sea, go onto Lindisfarne (tides permitting)

Might even consider Warkworth Castle & a boat trip to Coquet Island

stevelyon

I'm not a big fan of Berwick, don't ask me why but a big fan of the Northumbria coast like Seahouses, Lindisfarne etc. I would put more of a focus on there as opposed to Berwickk.

janisj

I agree w/ you - I love the Northumberland coast, and St Abbs and the Borders -- but have never been a fan of B-o-T.

EYWandBTV

We've decided against BoT. Instead, after three days roaming around the central part of Hadrian's wall, using Haltwhistle as a base, we will drive to Bamburgh, stay a night, visit the castle and Lindisfarne. We may or may not do the castle at Alnwick. Seems big, commercialized, razzmatazz, and harrypotterized. Instead of doing Alnwick we may just take our time before leaving the Bamburgh area and savor the coast a bit before driving over to Traquair for a couple of nights.

After Traquair, we then drop the car at Galashiels and catch the newly opened Borders railway to Edinburgh and then on to Glasgow for the last bit. Thanks for all of the input.

sofarsogood

Alnwick Castle - big, yes; commercialised, razzmatazz - hardly.

When driving from Haltwhistle to Bamburgh rather than taking the main A roads use the smaller B roads and cut across to Rothbury. Visit Cragside - a famous Victorian house.

The roads are quiet and you come across many small villages. Get a proper road atlas for this, not your sat nav nonsense.

janisj

Oh my goodness -- Alnwick is not at all 'razzmatazz'. It is really lovely -- fabulous castle w/ great views over the countryside. It is a quiet walk across open land to the castle gate -- not even a car park in sight.

On their website they do promote the kids-focused attractions -- but you will have to go some to even be aware of those.

EYWandBTV

Thanks sofarsogood and janisj for correcting my impressions of Alnwick. The castle web site and the various video snippets on the web gave me the impression that the place was full of children practicing riding on broomsticks. (I have nothing against children, btw, some of my best friends have been children at some point...) OK, we love castles and the structure looks very impressive so it's back on the list!

janisj

There are scheduled 'quidditch' lessons -- but the Inner Bailey where they do them is a <u>massive</u> lawn and at most there will be 8 or 10 kids and maybe a couple of adults down in one corner -- It isn't like there are wizards and such running amok.

This might give you sort of an idea http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6001/...a7e554a769.jpg