We want to drive from York to Edinburgh. We are thinking to see Durham and to drive to Alnwick to see the castle and stay there for the night and in the morning continue to Edinburgh. Can you recommend the best route to take from York and a place to stay in Alnwick? Has anyone visited the castle, is it worth the trip? Also any suggestion where to visit on the way to Edinburgh would be greatly appreciated.<BR>Thank you<BR>

Suggestions?

Bamburgh Castle is one of the largest and most impressive castles in Britain. The town Berwick-upon-Tweed is certainly worth a stop. Ramparts and many old buildings.

you're going to be taking the A1 road, which in parts isnt the greatest. just be careful.<BR><BR>Seahouses in northumberland is lovely is a little breezy, north berwick, east lothian is worth a visit, ditto tantallon castle in the same area.

My boyfriend and I drove from York to Edinburgh for Hogmanay 2000. This is what we saw on our drive: SHEEP

Ana:<BR><BR>I drove from York to Edinburgh with a stopover in Durham for lunch. Durham looked interesting from the highway and was worth a short visit. There is a very pretty river in Durham and it was a relaxing break. The countryside is beautiful betweem York and Edinburgh, but I don't remember seeing a lot to "do" along the way. I'd suggest just taking your time and stop if anything inspires you. Don't cut your time too short in Edinburgh!<BR><BR>Dave

ana: Since you could easily make the drive in one day, breaking it into two legs will give you a nice opprotunity for sightseeing.<BR><BR>York &gt; Durham in the AM. Visit Cathedral and have an early lunch. Then Durham &gt; Hadrian's Wall. You would have time enought to visit a couple of the main sites plus the most scenic sections of the Wall (hear Haltwhistle) before going on to Alnwick. Stay the night near there and visit the Castle the next morning. Then you will have plenty of time to travel the A1 to Edinburgh. between Alnwick and Edinburgh there is a LOT to see so just stop wherever you have time - some possibilities: Holy island, St Abbs head, Tantallon Castle (amazing ruins high over the North sea with views that go on forever), Dirleton Castle (another nice castle ruin with an absolutely gorgeous garden).

Thank you for the information.<BR>Can you recommend a B&B or a hotel in the area?

Just did part of this trip a couple of weeks ago. We stayed near Helmsley about 26 miles north of York and day tripped into York. In York do not miss eating at Betty's--it was the best place we ate in the whole two weeks in England. There is a scenic road just west of Helmsley the goes past Rievaulx Abbey (a must see in my opinion) then on up through the North York Moors __It was B1257 but a very good road with not many peaople on it.<BR>We also spent time in Durham but besides the Cathedral and maybe the castle, which is now a college, there is not much there out of the ordinary working day town. We also went to Hadrians wall, visited Housesteads Fort but enjoyed vinolinda more with its amazing museum. Stayed the night in a small town of Slaley, south of Hexham--nice place, nice owner.<BR>Then spent a day driving up the Northumberland coast. Didn't stop at Alnwick because there was major road work on the A1 and that made it difficult to get on or off or even drive. Got off as soon as we could and went all the way to Bamburgh castle, a real piece of work!. Stopped for lunch Seahouses at Louie's or Lewis's, a place recommended by the local person working a Bamburgh as where the locals go for good fish and chips. <BR>That was as far north as we went this year but two years ago we also visited Tantallon Castle and best of all,the perennial garden a Dirleton Castle which, I agree was outstanding and I don't miss many gardens.<BR>If visiting all this castles, gardens, etc. it makes economic cents to buythe Great British Heritage Pass.<BR>Oh I forgot to mention, Castle Howard, near York, if you have time but there you dont see many rooms, but it was still interesting and worth a photo.<BR>Have fun.