By Ferry to Newcastle

The most comfortable way to get to Scotland is to take the Amsterdam / Newcastle ferry, and I've crossed into the harbour of Newcastle several times - always with the camera ready. Arriving or leaving Newcastle give you some interesting vistas.

Sunrise on the ferry
After all, the Romans did it that way too, sometimes, because Newcastle was a major harbour already during their time.

Morning at sea
Another aspect I love when traveling by train, bus or ferry is that you get a better feel for the distances than traveling by plane, and it's a great way to see a country. Ok, I know the route from my hometown to Amsterdam by now, but the part through the Kasseler Berge, the Taunus and the montains between Frankfurt and Cologne is always beautiful.

Lighthouse of North Shields / Newcastle
On the way back, the weather was more 'British', with an overcast sky and the occasional downpour, but it made for some pretty atmospheric photos. I particularly loved the ruins of the castle and Tynemouth Abbey.

North Shields, up the Tyne river to the harbour
The remains of the priory, with a WW2 flak batteries to the right. The strategically important headland at the entrance to the Tyne river has been settled since the Iron Age. It later was occupied by a Norman castle of which some remains are left, and on the other side lies the Roman fort Arbeia.

Tynemouth Priory and WW2 fortifications
The sky had been cloudy in the afternoon, but when the ferry left Newcastle, some sunrays broke through and sparkled on the water like a farewell.

Sunrays over Tynemouth Lighthouse
Another pretty sunset. The light is a bit softer on the North Sea - at least it felt that way to me -, not so brilliant as some sunsets at the west coast.

Sunset on the North Sea
The sea was calm on the way back, but during the journey to Newcastle there had been a storm that made even the big ferry roll a bit. I don't mind that, though.