Day 4 (Thursday 29 June 2026): Time to Go Home!

We packed up and were out of the accommodation in good time before the 10am checkout time.

We travelled separately in the two cars as Catherine, Andrew and James (with Bowie) wanted to go pretty much straight home, while Elizabeth and Graeme wanted to stop at the Metro Centre in Gateshead and then in Durham.

But it didn't quite work out like that. The Barranger Clarks stopped for a refreshment/convenience break at Scotch Corner Services on the A1 while Elizabeth and Graeme did shop in the Metro Centre, but spent so long there that a stop in Durham as well would have been pushing it a bit.  Instead we promised ourselves that we would return and visit Durham another time as part of a short break in that area.

Of course, we were in this part of  the world a while ago. To see what we got up to then, go to - Atkins in Craster (2024)

Day 3 (Wednesday 27 May 2026): Flodden, Etal and Beadnall Bay

It was a cooler morning so more layers needed. Our first stop was the Flodden battlefield, the site of a battle between the Scots and the English in September 1513 in which the Scots were roundly defeated and in which King James IV of Scotland was killed.  14,000 men died here on that wet autumn day.  Bowie enjoyed a good run around on the site.

We were then ready for elevenses and stopped in the pretty village of Etal at the Lavender Tea Rooms which was clearly a popular watering whole. We realised there was a steam railway in the village and were lucky enough to arrive just in time to see it pull in - Heatherslaw Light Railway. We wandered back to the car through the grounds of the ruins of Etal Castle before moving on to our next stop - Beadnell Beach.  We enjoyed our walk on the sand whilst James played football and Bowie jumped about in the waves, chased after birds and the ball and with other dogs.

After the obligatory soft scoop ice cream it was back to the house to chill before going out for dinner at the White Swan.