Monthly Archives: October 2022

Castles, caves and coast

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A half term week in Northumberland with Scotland-dwelling family. Based in the amazing Old Vicarage in Beadnell.

Part 1: Sunny exploring

Who can find the biggest leaf?
The driveway and outbuildings of the Old Vicarage
Trying out baby’s bike seat
Garden wandering
Beadnell Bay
Windy digging
Construction under the tutelage of a historian
The finished castle
Running for lunch (Grannie and Grandad following more sedately)
Whooshing along the sand
Nearly at Seahouses
With a very windy forecast, we headed inland to St Cuthbert’s Cave, in a forest in the foothills of the Cheviots
Nice grassy path through the gorse
The forest was only marginally less windy
But the rocks provided some shelter
Arty pinecones
Contemplating a jump
Squeeze!
Not to be left out of the jumping
Running down the hill
Arty grassy

Part 2: Castles by bike

Partway across the causeway to Holy Island
Rain on Bamburgh Castle
Lindisfarne Castle
A lunchtime game of peekaboo
Which greatly amused Claire
Sunny bench and boats
Heading for the castle (but not without mummy)
Pier-ing in the sea
Poles marking the pilgrims’ path
We cycled to Dunstanburgh Castle, but had to walk the last bit
Had a chilly picnic under the ruins
Jo and Jess bonding over old long drop toilets
Identifying chimneys
Arty turret
Framed
Well well well
Nice view
Nice window seat
Geology x exploring
Holey rock!
Smiley rock

Part 3: Damp autumnal wanderings

Unbeleafably big
Exciting waves. Nearly got my feet wet
Jump!
Looking for sea glass
Exploring the only west-facing harbour on the east coast
Excavations begin
In case we forget
Car on driveway of the sand house
Treasures
Wizard in the labyrinth at Cragside
Big bedrock labyrinth path
Story telling chair
Found the middle of the labyrinth while trying to get out. Needed a lunch stop before trying again.
Finally escaped
Running down the track
Autumn trees
Peaceful lakes
Path to the playground
Matching the foliage
Arty orange leaves
Cragside house through the mist
Rock garden arch
Iron bridge and more autumn below the house

CATSE Reunion

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Ten years after our exploratory expedition in Kyrgyzstan, the team decided to meet up. Despite the many additional trip members of all ages, the adventurous spirit continued.

Camping (in what must be the polar opposite to a remote valley in Kyrgyzstan)
Wander up a quiet, but not unexplored Beacon Fell
Summit achieved
down to the tarn
Wild swimming
nearly swimming
Walking back
Ice cream before rowing
Row…
…row….
…row your boat
Stone throwing!
More exploring around the campsite
Tarn Hows
Exploring as usual
Bridge troll hunting

Sandsend

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A long weekend on the Yorkshire coast, getting our beach fix for the summer. (We’re a bit late posting this after going on too many holidays and taking a month to recover…)

Boggle Hole
Following a horse
Digging
Grandpa enjoying the terrace
Jess enjoying the doorstep
Post fish and chips wall wander
Evening at the beach
Shore View
Whitby steps up…
…and down again
Lifeboats and pirate ships (not shown)
Beach and breakwater
Warm paddling
Some of us walked through the waves most of the way from Whitby to Sandsend
Arty starfish
Cycling on the Cinder Track from Hawsker to Ravenscar
Jess demonstrating that she’s more than ready for a pedal bike
More evening beach wandering
Long (mostly) clifftop run to Runswick Bay
Highly recommended
The run home again – 20 km in total
Can I take Smudge for a walk?