Day 1-2 Northumberland - Fast Castle, St Abbs

Yep another post without any babies! Yesterday I travelled up from Leicester to Northumberland. I set my alarm for 4.45am and woke up around 1am! Mmmm that is too early so tried to go back to sleep and then found myself awake again at 3.20am! Oh dear - my mind was buzzing and eventually I fell asleep and was finally woken by my alarm. Then began the long journey north - the first stage to Wetherby seemed never ending. I'm sure God has stretched the A1. Eventually I passed Wetherby service station and managed to make Leeming Bar services for breakfast. Revitalised with tea and pancakes I continued north. Next stop was Alnwick but not before negotiating endless stretches of road restrictions. Now understand why Mr P avoids this part of the A1 for going through the Tyne tunnel. Strong coffee at Barter Books. a mooch around the town which involved a visit to Alnwick Wool Shop. Then I stocked up on groceries and then headed north for the last stage of the journey.  Oh it was soo good to be back home and to see the cottage again.

Feeling sooo exhausted I decided that a walk was not in order and instead headed out to The Old Dairy in Ford.

It is situated in such an amazing setting. In fact they provide this very high bench for people to take tea and admire the view. Not sure how you get your pots of tea up the ladders?

As I take this picture I can hear the cry of very young lambs and so I decide to be nosy and have a peep in the barn. I was not disappointed - there were some cute lambs to be seen.

Trouble is the fields are filled with many sheep and their lambs. I think I could do a daily blog with just cute lambs!

Along with many lambs are masses of daffodils.

Well I tried to do some crafting and stay up but by 9pm the only place for me was bed and there I stayed till I woke up at 6.30am. Oh boy did I need that sleep. Today I am still feeling as if I need not to be racing around and so I opted for a visit to the ruins of Fast Castle in Scotland. Now this walk perturbed me as it involves descending and you know what that means - yes it's all up hill coming back! Not the way round I like. But it was well worth the visit. I have to be honest and say I took about 140 pictures today, so choosing a few will be difficult!

Greeted with this sign - looks as if the farmer has had some problems, doesn't bare thinking of too much.

The castle doesn't look much more than a few rocks from this angle.

There used to be a drawbridge but some years ago this concrete bridge was created.

It doesn't look as bad as it was but that step up was quite high and with a steep drop to ones right makes you hesitate. But have not walked all this way downhill to be defeated by a stone step!

Few views of what is left of the castle.

The coastal views were wonderful.

After I walked back up the hill, got all hot and sweaty I head into St Abbs - one of my favourite spots. The harbour always makes me feel as if I am in Cornwall.

Even though I have been here numerous times I love the way I can still find new things to take a picture of.

As I ate my packed lunch I watched a fishing boat moor.

No I didn't sketch it but messed around with my camera settings. Then I walked around to see what they had caught.

There were more boxes and I asked the fishermen how long it had taken to collect the crustaceans - four days! They deserve their money.

Back home for some crochet and relaxation. Tomorrow Mr P joins me and I will have more treasures to share with you all.