Alnwick

Duchess of Northumberland, Alnwick Gardens, Northumberland
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There was an unexpected bonus today when I spotted a hare running around in the field behind our cottage, amongst the cattle and sheep.

The weather was very good today, so we head off en masse to Alnwick to visit the gardens. These beautiful grounds have been lovingly created by the Duchess of Northumberland. As we start off in the rose garden we are greeted by a very familiar woman. It takes a few seconds for the penny to drop; "Hang on, wasn't that the Duchess?"  Dad doesn’t have a clue and keeps butting in as a journalist tries to interview her. Oh the shame! Still we take our chance and manage to lose him in the bamboo labyrinth, I’m sure her grace will be quietly pleased.

It takes a few seconds for the penny to drop; "Hang on, wasn't that the Duchess?"

The Treehouse, Alnwick Gardens, Northumberland
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Unfortunately Mum insists we retrieve him before we carry on up to the walled garden and back down to the water garden. Mum enjoys this, but isn’t too keen on me getting soaking wet. Rather like the parents who have wrapped their toddlers up in coat, waterproof trousers and wellies on a warm sunny day.

Next stop is just down the road at a secondhand bookshop called Barter Books. I’ve been raving about it for years and Mum loves it too. Unfortunately it’s too warm for the fires to be lit but we still spend an hour or so exploring it. We all come away with something. Mine is Peter Kay’s autobiography, which is later removed from me in case I injur myself laughing too much!

The Grand Cascade, Alnwick Gardens, Northumberland
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We round off the day by driving down the coast past Banburgh to Seahouses, to find out about catching a boat to Inner Farne tomorrow afternoon. Just like I was on my first visit, Mum is really taken with the eider ducks sitting on the beach. We are impressed by the sparrow who’s collecting their eider down to build the most comfortable nest in the world.