6 Mar 2013
Planning the Next Castle Hunt
I've been busy planning my summer tour (I'll be off at the end of May and travel for two weeks) for this year which took me a few days of figuring out what to see, setting up an itinerary according to where public transport will get me, checking B&Bs and all that fun stuff that goes into organising a tour.
So you wonder where it'll take me?
Tynemouth Castle, near Newcastle
That one should give you a hint: it's the east coast of northern England and Scotland mostly. I'm going to turn a bit south from Newcastle first, to Scarborough to explore the castle there, then take tours around to Richmond Castle, Ripon Abbey, maybe Rievaulx as well, Whitby (provided that's no longer fenced in), the Roman remains at Aldborough, and the Yorkshire Moors. The next stop will be north of Newcastle, in Alnmouth, from where I intend to add the castles of Alnwick, Warkworth and Bamburgh to my list, and maybe revisit a Border abbey as well (I had been to the Borders in 1998).
Craigmillar Castle, near Edinburgh
The next stop will bring me into Scotland: Stonehaven and Dunottar Castle. I had that one on my To See-list for ages. And then I'll take a long swing north and visit the Orkneys. Kirkwall Cathedral, Skara Brae, Unstan Cairn, Maes Howe, Ring of Brodgar, maybe Birsay .... there's a good list of what to see. And it will be the time of the year for the simmer dim, the white nights of the Orkneys. The way back will lead via Inverness where I plan to revist Urquhart Castle (another one from 1998) and tour Black Isle.
Coast near Newcastle, seen from the Amsterdam ferry
Any of my readers (including the LJ syndication feed; I read comments there) who know those areas are welcome to suggest further interesting, though maybe less well known, places; I'll gladly try to fit them into the schedule if I can reach them by public transport or a reasonable taxi fare.
Now I only need to find out to which gods to sacrifice to get good weather. *grin*
¶ March 06, 2013
I've been busy planning my summer tour (I'll be off at the end of May and travel for two weeks) for this year which took me a few days of figuring out what to see, setting up an itinerary according to where public transport will get me, checking B&Bs and all that fun stuff that goes into organising a tour.
So you wonder where it'll take me?
That one should give you a hint: it's the east coast of northern England and Scotland mostly. I'm going to turn a bit south from Newcastle first, to Scarborough to explore the castle there, then take tours around to Richmond Castle, Ripon Abbey, maybe Rievaulx as well, Whitby (provided that's no longer fenced in), the Roman remains at Aldborough, and the Yorkshire Moors. The next stop will be north of Newcastle, in Alnmouth, from where I intend to add the castles of Alnwick, Warkworth and Bamburgh to my list, and maybe revisit a Border abbey as well (I had been to the Borders in 1998).
The next stop will bring me into Scotland: Stonehaven and Dunottar Castle. I had that one on my To See-list for ages. And then I'll take a long swing north and visit the Orkneys. Kirkwall Cathedral, Skara Brae, Unstan Cairn, Maes Howe, Ring of Brodgar, maybe Birsay .... there's a good list of what to see. And it will be the time of the year for the simmer dim, the white nights of the Orkneys. The way back will lead via Inverness where I plan to revist Urquhart Castle (another one from 1998) and tour Black Isle.
Any of my readers (including the LJ syndication feed; I read comments there) who know those areas are welcome to suggest further interesting, though maybe less well known, places; I'll gladly try to fit them into the schedule if I can reach them by public transport or a reasonable taxi fare.
Now I only need to find out to which gods to sacrifice to get good weather. *grin*
¶ March 06, 2013
Comments:
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Gabrielle, good luck with your planning and with the tour! I'm planning to visit Alnwick castle one day to see where exactly William I of Scotland was captured in the course of the Great Revolt of 1173-74 (I hope Jordan Fantosme's Chronicle will help me with this :-))
The photos are remarkable, as usual :-)
The photos are remarkable, as usual :-)
Wow, that sounds like a fantastic itinerary! I hope you have a wonderful time, and (as Constance says) I shall look forward to the pictures.
Can't advise you on the weather gods, alas. But you've picked one of the more likely times of the year for dry weather at least; late May has a higher probability than usual for easterly winds over the UK, which tend to be on the cold side, but dry. Good luck!
Can't advise you on the weather gods, alas. But you've picked one of the more likely times of the year for dry weather at least; late May has a higher probability than usual for easterly winds over the UK, which tend to be on the cold side, but dry. Good luck!
How exciting! I wish I was going on a castle tour! I've never explored the castles in the North. I would love to visit Scarborough castle - looking forward to your reports and pictures.
Kasia, I'll try to take some specially scenic photos of Alnwick Castle for you.
Carla, so far I've been lucky with late May / early June dates for visiting the UK, let's hope that luck holds. BTW, do you have any suggestions for Roman stuff in the areas I visit?
Carla, so far I've been lucky with late May / early June dates for visiting the UK, let's hope that luck holds. BTW, do you have any suggestions for Roman stuff in the areas I visit?
Anerje,
I saw a photo of Scarborough Castle on a blog a few days prior to planning my tour and I totally blame the Yorkshire part on that one. :-D
I saw a photo of Scarborough Castle on a blog a few days prior to planning my tour and I totally blame the Yorkshire part on that one. :-D
The St Vigeans Sculptured Stones Museum! A bit later than Ælius Rufus's Picts but no less fascinating!
# posted by 
: March 11, 2013
: March 11, 2013
Gabriele, just to let you know that you now have a blog award ;-) edwardthesecond.blogspot.com/2013/03/liebster-blog-award.html
Thank you, Kathryn.
Carla, I've been there in 2009. I need to post about it - heh, I need to post about so many places I've seen, and instead, I collect new ones. ;-)
Carla, I've been there in 2009. I need to post about it - heh, I need to post about so many places I've seen, and instead, I collect new ones. ;-)
Orkney...I'm jealous. I'd definitely recommend going to Birsay if you can, as quite aside from the history it's a lovely location. But I'd be inclined to say that about most places in Orkney. :) Enjoy your trip!
I know you've already been nominated at least once, by the way, but I've awarded you the Liebster Blog Award - I've never commented here before, but have enjoyed reading your posts.
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I know you've already been nominated at least once, by the way, but I've awarded you the Liebster Blog Award - I've never commented here before, but have enjoyed reading your posts.
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