Hadrian's Wall

View from our window, Northumberland
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It was all change today!  We cleaned up the caravans, packed up our cars and headed off across country to the north east coast and Northumberland.

I was quite sad to be leaving the lakes but the weather has helped to make the parting much easier.  We left thick black clouds and drizzle as we headed up the M6 through purple hazed mountains until we reached Carlisle.  Then, taking a right turn we headed along a well trodden route; in the footsteps of the Roman army along Hadrian’s Wall.

I’m temporarily convinced that we’ve wondered into someone’s home by mistake.

Unfortunately the weather closed in completely as we drove, but just before it got too grim we visited the Roman Museum at Greenland.  Well Dad did anyway.  I thought “sod this” and headed up to the wall itself.  I had actually been here before on a great walking holiday.  It’s a quarry where much of the rock used to make the wall was sourced.  Last time I got totally disoriented in thick fog, to the point were I was totally convinced that everyone was going in the wrong direction.

This time there are no mistakes as the weather is still at least clear.  It was a steep trek up through and my legs started to cramp up almost immediately.  But I made it – thank heavens.  Unfortunately it was my first and last view of it today.  The weather was so awful we simply gave up and drove instead.

Eventually we made it to our final destination.  We were staying in a remote farm cottage with a spectacular view across the bay to Lindesfarne. When we arrive we find the front door is open, the radio is playing and a beautiful bunch of flowers and a homemade cake are sitting on the kitchen table.  I’m temporarily convinced that we’ve wondered into someone’s home by mistake.  But Mum finds a note and we put the kettle on (and eat the cake).  

It’s a very comfortable cottage and really quite large.  I suspect it is actually two housed knocked into one.  Our kitchen window looks out onto a field of cattle.  Every so often they come up to the window and stare at us.  A little later on and I realised that they were doing the same with the bathroom window – this was slightly more disconcerting.