First Impressions of Northumberland & Holy Island
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- čas přidán 16. 06. 2024
- Today we are exploring Northumberland, starting with Holy Island. We barely made the crossing to the island in time, but it gave us several hours to explore Lindisfarne and what it has to offer. We also make our way down the coast, checking out Bamburgh Castle and trying to find local foods like kippers to try.
Check out some of our other travels in the North of England:
Visiting Durham & Tynemouth: • First Impressions of D...
Newcastle Upon Tyne: • Exploring NEWCASTLE UP...
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Northumberland is an incredible place and we definitely want to come back. Please let us know your suggestions to check out next time!
Check out some of our other travels in the North of England:
Visiting Durham & Tynemouth: czcams.com/video/i4JzMAT_w1M/video.html
Newcastle Upon Tyne: czcams.com/video/IBs-rq0EjMk/video.html&t
So glad you love it. I live in Newcastle upon Tyne and we're so lucky to have such great beaches and spectacular landscapes so close.
Holy Island is special to me because my sister got married there, wonderful place. We stayed at a village called Beadnell on the coast which was lovely. My sister lived in Glanton in the Northumbrian countryside which is nice as well (though have to say I think you lucked in with the weather!) If you get the chance I strongly recommend East Anglia- Norwich is a great city, Cromer and Southwold on the coast, Beccles and Bungay are great market towns, all good!
Wow great video!
If you join English Heritage or the National Trust you will receive a comprehensive guide book to all of their properties plus how to get to them and what amenities they have. I've been a member of both for years and have never regretted it! 😁
The National Trust membership is really worth it, lasts for a year and includes NT carparks. Loads of lovely houses and gardens to visit and if you are travelling, nice to pop into the tea rooms and get a nice lunch etc. in beautiful surroundings. Once you pay your membership all entries to properties are free.
We gave up our NT membership some years ago, when the interpretations became overtly political and full of guilt and self-loathing. I visited to see the work of the artisans who designed, built, decorated and furnished the houses, not the landed gentry who largely owned them. There is an ongoing battle for the soul of the Trust, and if people are aware of the ideological takeover and how it differs from the way the National Trust bought or was gifted the properties, it may be worth the membership.
Thank you! We'll have to get one the next time we visit.
You two are the most English Americans ever 😁
On Holy Island every anniversary they have small events to remember the Viking invasion - the island was the first place in Britain that the Vikings raided in 793AD. It’s such a cool place!
No, it was the first place raided by Vikings that was written about. Monks were among the only literate people of the time, so it is likely that the Vikings raided other places before where there was no one to write about it. Also the reason why the Vikings have an overstated reputation for carnage, because the only ones giving them that reputation were the literate monks that the Vikings targeted for their wealth
@@TheJthom9: "ackchyually"
@@illmitchjax ew
Saint Aidan was an Irish monk. There were many Irish missionaries to Northern Britain at that time. Back then, relations between the Irish and the Anglo Saxons were very harmonious. Things only started to go South when the Normans came on the scene.
Bamborugh Castle is the place on which Bebbanburg, the home of the central character of Utred in the Bernard Cornwell books The Saxon series are based, and the subsequent Netflix series The Last Kingdom.
A lot of people are recommending The Last Kingdom. I guess we'll have to check it out next time we have Netflix.
I’m so pleased to finally see you both up in the North east. There is so much to visit on the north east coast. Cragside House would be one of the main places I’d recommend.
Also lots of very famous films are shot in the north east. Not only India Jones but Harry Potter was filmed at Alnwick castle (you must visit that and the gardens). Also transformers was filmed on the streets of Newcastle, a city we are all very proud of.
I was just going to say the same thing. Cragside was really nice. Last year we visited the Earl Grey house and grounds , also really nice. Northumberland is my homeland and even after 40+ plus years of living in Canada it will always be home ❤️
The recent Dungeons and Dragons movie had some scenes filmed there too 🙂
I absolutely agree that Cragside is a gem of a house and surrounding land. Further South, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, is Fountains Abbey, a breathtaking sight in absolutely wonderful lanscape. Both National Trust.
Rothbury for a visit to Cragside.
Amble for outstanding seafood, and Spirelli ice cream (locally gathered sea buckthorn flavour is something special).
Go into the Cheviots for some amazing little villages.
Definitely recommend NT membership, so many amazing venues. My favourites are Blickling in Norfolk, Hardwick Hall in Nottinghamshire and Ightham Mote and Knole in Kent. There’s an app which will show you all the properties.
Your vlogs are giving me ideas as to where I want to take my American friends when we fly over to England as I take them around my beautiful country. I hope you’re still there at Christmastime and you go around the different Christmas markets. I love flying home for Christmas every year and visiting the Christmas markets.
During my own visit there on a motoring/walking trip, I found it so easy to imagine the sight of the feared
Viking invaders appearing on the distant horizon. Northumbria - one of THE ancient kingdoms of Old England
with its great countryside and its coast, dominated by impressive castles.
I love your videos , youre so enthusiastic about everything and you have a genuine affection for the UK, I'm not at all surprised that youre so popular.
You should visit my home town of Berwick Upon Tweed. You were a stones throw from it when you were at Holy Island. Impressive Elizabethan walls, three historic bridges, castle ruins. Lots of history. It’s the last town in England before crossing the border to Scotland. Love your videos x
I'm a southerner and I love Berwick ,it's got a great atmosphere, history is everywhere,not surprising considering it's history and I loved the Lowery trail .
As someone who lives on the aforementioned walls,I can concur! Though better to visit than live in my opinion. 😜
I haven't been for way too long, but you picked one of the most perfect areas of the country. I hope your pup had a run n Bamburgh beach- it's doggy paradise, miles long (literally- you can walk to Seahouses) and mostly deserted. I really have to go back.
It’s a real shame (I understand why) you didn’t get down to the beach at Bamburgh. One of the best in the UK.
We'll have to go back!
Highly recommend Cragside (National trust) , Housesteads along Hadrians wall
Yes Northumbria is really nice
My wife and I have just returned from a fantastic stay in Norham on the English/Scottish border right on the river Tweed. It is a lovely village with a ruined castle on its edge. The coast and beaches are fantastic with so many lovely places both in land and on the coast worth exploring.
Ive been to Bamburgh castle - it’s fabulous! Looking forward to see what you think of Durham, the cathedral is one of the best in the country!
Yes my cottage overlooked it. Breathtaking.
Me and my hubby are going up next weekend we never been before it looks lovely
I live in Northumberland and you have done a good on showcasing that area.If you head inland towards Hexham you’re getting into Hadrian’s Wall country well worth a visit.Park on the route of the Wall at Housesteads,so impressive and built in 122AD.All the best to you both.
Go to cragside! It's a beautiful stately home where the first hydro electricity was invented. You can walk around the grounds and the house. Very interesting!
Sounds lovely!
It was also used for the stately home in the 2nd Jurassic World movie a few years ago 🙂
I don’t know if you intend to head West on this trip? I live in the Ribble Valley in Lancashire (although I’m from Nottingham originally, just watched that video!) and it’s beautiful. We have loads of amazing pubs and restaurants and most are dog friendly. Check out the Tolkien Trail in Hurst Green, then dine at the Inn at Whitewell (this was apparently one of the Queen’s favourite places to visit, she is said to have said she’d have retired here if she has retired. It’s in an area called the Forest of Bowland now owned by the King). Ribchester for Roman remains and Clitheroe for the castle and shops. Everyone bypasses the Ribble Valley to get to the Lake District but it’s well worth a stay. You’ll need a car to get around as public transport isn’t great although you can get a train from Clitheroe to Manchester.
Brilliant that you are shoeing there is more to thr UK than just the big cities. Shows the beautiful countryside we have. The castle was used in the scarlet pimpernel film
Slightly further up the coast is Berwick upon Tweed the last town in England. Still has its town wall which you can walk round, it changed hands dozens of times between Scotland and England hence the fortifications
Hey guys. My parents had a holiday caravan near Bamburgh when I was a young kid. So I spent many happy hours on the beaches round there and in the seaside villages like seahouses. Amazing coastline. Unfortunately the weather can be a little harsh round there at times.
If you ever get membership of the English Heritage or National Trust you get a free book listing all of their places to visit throughout the UK. No matter where you go in the UK they have places to visit.
Get a National Trust membership. You get a National Trust passport and you get a stamp in the booklet every National Trust property you go to. After you visit 30 different places, you get a certificate. It's lots of fun! 🙂
You really should have tried the crab soup at the Jolly Fisherman pub it Craster it is Divine ❤❤❤❤ I live 15 miles away and visit often not just for the soup but the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle a mile walk up the coast are spectacular Love my home county we are the Secret Kingdom 😊😊😊😊😊
Great to see real americans exploring our coastline,hope you enjoyed it
I can thoroughly recommend Warkworth Castle. Lovely river walks and gorgeous village.
I used to love taking a rowing boat along the river.
Good to know!
I don't have English Heritage membership, but I've been a member of Historic Scotland for years. That gets me in to places like Edinburgh Castle, Urquart & Stirling Castles and many more for free all year round, so we save a fortune (especially as Edinburgh is particlularly expensive for a family).
There is or used to be a fish and chip shop in seahouses that sells battered haggis, very nice it was too. The Farne islands are great but the best time to go is spring and early summer when all the birds are nesting, including puffins. Northumberland is wonderful part of the country, definitely deserves more of your time if you ever visit again.
Interesting. We're going to have to give haggis another go at some point.
Highly recommend checking out Kilburn White Horse at Sutton bank, some of the best views especially in the morning and some great little villages to visit like Thirsk!
My favourite place is Cragside which is run by the National Trust 😊👍
I used to spend a lot of time on Lindisfarne in the late 60s and would like to go back but I fear I would be horrified by the way it’s turned into a tourist spot. Bamburgh castle is still spectacular and very haunted!
Most enjoyable as usual.
'That's dangerously nice' the start of all good hangovers
Really enjoyed this blog as we intend to go up there next Spring. Love seeing your reaction to the UK and so glad you enjoy your time here. Stay safe whilst travelling and keep on having fun on your journeys.
Tasting sessions here in the UK are potent. I visited a Cider and Gin distillery last weekend in Cornwall - I'm pleased I was a passenger on the trip home.
That's the best way to be visiting those.
The best County in England. It's like stepping into a fairy tale.
Northumberland is absolutely gorgeous, I’ve been quite a few times but it never disappoints. You should visit my home county of Suffolk (or Norfolk, Essex of Cambridgeshire, different scenery but lovely in other ways.
Great video thanks for posting, it goes to show how much I don’t know about my own country, I’m from SE London, but this is definitely now on my list of weekend trips in the wonderful UK, thanks again….
Another amazing report , thanks so much!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I've been abroad twice in my 40 years, and to the Countries of Scotland🏴 once and Wales🏴 once, and now I don't travel abroad at all I just travel around England🏴, we are lucky to have some of the places we have, I've enjoyed exploring new places in England🏴.
Rosslyn Chapel is just north of there and a splendid things to see. It's a bit south of Edinburgh and apparently has connections to the Templar Nights and where The Da Vinci Code was filmed. I've been there and it is beautiful and makes you wonder about the past etc. I'm English and not Scottish, but I would head there if you can. Secrets abound!
Fully recommend
Oh, cool! We'll have to put that on our list.
My first holiday as a child in the 60’s was at Seahouses. Remember the smoke house for the kippers. Playing French Foreign legion in the sand dunes at Bamburgh castle. Went back in the 90’s and although still lovely,never quite the same as you remember as a child.
Whilst you two lovely people are at home planning your next trip, there are two places I'd like to mention. To fully appreciate them however you need to watch two tv programmes. The first is "The last of the summer wine" filmed entirely in the town of Holmfirth. The programme's claim to fame is that it is the world's longest running comedy. The second programme is called "Bangers and Cash filmed in Thornton -le -Dale about a firm of car auctioneers
Lovley to see here i really should see more places of history n beauty thank u showing and glad u enjoying
Beautiful part of the UK, I went on a motorcycle trip with a good friend in 2015 and we visited Bamburgh Castle, it was so windy we thought we were gonna get blown off when we went outside. Riding across to Kielder Water after was quite the adventure, raining cats n dogs and blowing a gale, looking back we musta been mad!
Good video nice relaxed vibe while enjoying the area
Can't believe you never had a battered sausage before. 😱 Have you guys visited Kinver Edge rock houses in Staffordshire yet? It's a National Trust property. The houses are built into rocks.
The sausage was really good! We haven't seen Kinver Edge rock houses, but I just looked them up. They look festinating. Similar to a a place near where I grew up in Utah, but probably much older.
@@TheMagicGeekdom The earliest record of people living here is in 1777. Might be worth a visit if you are visiting that area. It is a fascinating place. A normal battered sausage is even nicer than the German frankfurter sausage you had.
Thumbs up for the correct pronunciation of Bamburgh, in the past I've heard it called Bam-burg, Bam-bruff and Bam-bora. Best part of the country I would say.......then again I would as it's on my doorstep.
National Trust membership is fantastic value for money, it courages you to make the effort to visit some fantastic places, and helps pay for their upkeep. Their cafes and shops are pretty good too. So far this year I have been to St Michael’s Mount, Hidecote, Knole House, Ickworth, Medford Hall, The Guildhall in Lavenham (Lavenham is well worth a visit and was used as location for the Harry Potter films) and Paycookes House in Coggeshall. And there are so many more places to go all over the country. Definitely think about it. It is one of the best purchases I have ever made.
We really should probably get the membership on our next trip.
I loved for a short time in Melrose, also beautiful ❤️
I love that you guys love a drink!
The castles look beautiful!
You must have been wandering around our "patch" when we were! In July/August we spent 3-4 weeks on the Northumberland Coast (Bamburgh, Seahouses, Beadnell, Walkworth etc - though not, this time, Alnwick). We live in Norrh Yorkshire and I know you have recently visited Saltburn (near to where I used to live), Whitby & Robin Hood's Bay but thete are other places like Goathland and Pickering on the North York Moors Railway (steam trains) anf the Yorkshire Dales (Leyburn, Masham, Bedale, Hawes, Richmond etc). Lots to see but so little time....
I really don’t believe it. I lived in was brought up in Northumberland until I was 19, and today I left home and I can tell you, the Sun was a stranger. 😮. I’m very jealous.
Visit Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire - takes both English Heritage and National Trust
Me and the family were literally there a couple of weeks ago, loved it
Waddesdon Manor is lovely, worth a visit!
Bamburgh Castle, Warkworth Castle, Alnwick Castle,Chillingham Castle then go and see Hexham Abbey, the Tyne at Corbrige and if you get a map you can see Hadrains wall, and just look on a ordinance serval map you can't miss a load of of other monuments , Castles etc etc.
Another great video guys, I've never been to Bamburgh Castle which is shocking as I only live in Yorkshire but it's on my to do list 😀👍
You should!
We visited Northumberland this summer - sadly for us we didn't have nice weather like you, but its nice to see how places look in the sunshine :)
In terms of National Trust places, one of my favourites is Cragside in Northumberland, both the house and grounds are stunning.
Northumberland is the natural beauty of England, we are incredibly proud hard working people as well. No better place in the UK than Northumberland.
Thanks so much for mentioning the Indiana Jones filming location! I saw the movie 🍿🎥 Love Harrison Ford as Indy!
Welcome to my county 🎉
You should really check out Skara Brae, a virtually intact Neolithic settlement on the island of Orkney. It blew my mind when i saw it, closest to time traveling
Me and my brother will be up there next week staying in seahouses I’m sure you visited there as it’s pretty difficult to miss but you should also check out beadnell it’s so quiet and peaceful there and warkworth is another nice place to visit there is a lovely castle and really nice river to just sit by and enjoy the view, glad you both enjoyed your visit to Northumberland we have been at least 10 times and it’s just as enjoyable every time 🙂
Hope you enjoyed it!
I don’t know if you’ve ever watched The Last Kingdom but Bamburgh castle was Uthred’s ancestral home.Destiny is all.
We have not, but judging by the comments we might have to now.
Belsay Gardens and Castle are stunning !! Also check out hadriens wall as well.
The Castle you looked at is Embleton Castle, used to playing it as a kid, walked there from Low Newton about 5 to 6 miles kids don't walk that far now!😊
Its Dunstanbrough Castle, never been Embleton. 😅
All mead is made with honey. My fave is Cornish Blackberry mead 🥰
You were in the village of Seahouses rather than Craster. At least that's where you were showing when you introduced it as Craster. They're about 10 miles apart. Both lovely little villages though.
Nice one, John and Caroline
It was sweet of them.
I think you should know English Heritage do free open days to all their sites in England & this year it runs from next Friday, the 8th all the way through to the 15th so, we English have a saying...fill your boots, go make the most of your free access 😉
National Trust. Check out Waddesdon Manor, Cragside, Lanhydrock and Hardwick Hall. Ancient forest, try Ashridge. This is next to Ivinghoe Beacon and one of the oldest windmills in the UK at Ivinghoe. You could also visit Tring Museum (part of the National History Museum)
If you`re ever in Cornwall, try the Scilly isles - beautiful!
Glad you enjoyed Holy Island, was there myself on Saturday, sat exactly where you did in Pilgrims Coffee! Would also recommend a trip to Scottish Borders, Melrose, with lots of nice shops and cafes, Scotts View, great bookshop and deli in St Boswells, great Scottish Tapestry in Galashiels.. plenty more besides..
Melrose is gorgeous but am biased as I live there.
Oh wow, i was there a few weeks ago. Did you not go inside Bamburgh Castle? It's the site of Bebbanburg Castle of Uhtred's time in the Last Kingdom. It was not stone in his day, but that's where it was and they have some outfits on display from the show in there. Well worth a visit. Also, the priory you visited on holy island was the first place the Vikings first invaded. Just standing in the prescence of that place and taking it all in, trying to visualise what would have happened, is amazing. We heard a retelling of it at Bamburgh Castle, and even though it was in site, they had little idea what was going on when it happened.
For those who’ve ever watched Vikings, Holy Island and Bamburgh were depicted on series 1 (in fact Holy Island was where they captured Athelstan!) the series was filmed in Ireland but green screened to look like Northumberland sadly😢
That was such a rubbish programme in terms of historical accuracy. Its didn't look anything like that area.
One of my favourite places along with the Lake District, I am only a couple of hours from both and of been many times!
I would highly recommend the Isle of Arran as a destination to visit. Very beautiful scenery. Not that far a journey from Glasgow (train + ferry).
A popular national trust site not far from me in Knutsford is Tatton Park. They also do flower shows and vintage car shows each year. Less than 10 miles from there is Dunham Massey, another big stately home with a deer park. Very nice at Christmas
Thanks for the suggestion!
Belton House is an amazing national trust to visit and they welcome dogs too 😊🐕
Pilgrims coffee is great. They had an alan wicker board game last time I was fhere. We stayed at the main b and b and it was great. Also I drove over the causeway at night in March. A whole different experience....
Fabulous! I just wish the video had been longer! You wanna be careful if you mix various shots of mead with other alcohol. If you mix a lot it will blow your socks off! My friends and I visited The Old Palace at Hatfield, Hertfordshire many years ago and attended a Medieval Banquet. The Old Palace was a former Tudor home of King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth 1. My friend mixed too many drinks and fell down the stairs and into the giant fireplace! It was so funny at the time! However the banquets themselves are great fun, where you have a King and Queen at the head of the enormous table, with Court Jesters dancing across the top of the table! You should try it!! 😂🥰
One of my favourite places. Your just ahead of us we arrive on Thursday, in the Scottish highlands at the moment
The highlands are wonderful too! Hope you had a great time.
I live on the coast about 70 miles south of Bamburgh and I always tell people that if you want to see the best of the north it's great as a base to set out from. You can go south and do days in Whitby, Castle Howard, Scarborough, York (and more), or west to Durham, Raby Castle, the Lake District or the Dales or go north to Northumbria and all the fabulous castles and houses, or if you set out early early enough, Scotland. We've even been to Glasgow for the day. I know I'm biased but I'd rather revisit the beautiful places in the north rather than go to London any day.
Definitely join the National Trust! Awesome places are Tintagel and St Michael's Mount in Cornwall. Your membership also covers National Trust for Scotland too!
Come to Cambridge and we'll happily take you to Wimpole Hall and Anglesey Abbey!
We are having beautiful weather at the moment, see it doesn’t always rain ☔️ in the U.K. 😘
It doesn't. We've experienced some much different weather on this trip.
As someone who has half the family from Northumberland (most of them still there) and being now based out of Morpeth, you can't beat it. (Except for Yorkshire, which is my home area)
God's own country lad! Yorkshire Yorkshire Yorkshire Yorkshire Yorkshire Yorkshire 😂
Love it.
Just outside outside of York. Minsterman 👍
Duridge Bay is a fantastic beach in Northumberland. You could also go to Cresswell, a neighbouring seafront village, there’s a great little ice cream shop called Cresswell Ices. Incredible beach
(the Blue Cloud flavour ice cream is the best in my opinion)
You'll love Kippers, a breakfast staple for many but the one item not found on a train dining/buffet car breakfast menu today, I wonder why?
Last time we were there my friend and I both bought a bottle of mead at the place you filmed at. Sadly, my friend dropped hers at home and it smashed, but mine was lovely!
Join English Heritage. Visit Framlingham Castle in Suffolk x
Love you guys 🫶🏼 and suggested visiting Northumberland coast line ❤buzzing you’s have come back up! Heritage membership gets you into Cragside House etc Hope you nipped into Craster for some smoked kippers 👍🏻 My nephew is actually the priest in Bamborough, Lucker and Belford. Fr Paul Knox …… (Sorry I got that excited 👏🏻 I should have watched the vid before commenting 🤦🏽🤣😂🫶🏼
Bamburgh castle is also in the Last Kingdom, throughout the show its shown as it was many centuries ago then right at the end they show it in the modern day.
Utred son of Utred approves of this.
We need to watch that.
@@TheMagicGeekdom it's an amazing show which follows a half saxon half Viking man try to win back his birthright whilst King Alfred the Great tries to unite all the kingdoms and create his dream one single kingdom...... England.