Postcard from Alnmouth and Alnwick

Tuesday August 27th
Northumberland

On the first full day of our mini break my mum and I woke to lovely sunshine.

After a lovely breakfast we went to check out our local beach at Walkworth.

Then on to Alnmouth.

The river Aln with Church Hill

Set on the mouth of the River Aln.

The Ferryman's hut in Alnmouth is a shrine to the ferrymen who use to row passengers across the estuary of the river.

Measuring just 9 foot by 7 foot it is believed to be the smallest museum in Britain.

We walked up to the village.

We didn't stop for tea....as tempting as it was!

I did stop to fuss a local cat....

But we had somewhere else to go......

Alnwick Castle Gardens.

It was very busy.....it was very warm too!

First a walk around the rose garden.

I know bright sunshine is not the best weather to take photos of plants but I couldn't resist!

We found quite a few of these cup and saucers dotted around the garden.....I never did find out what they were for!

Then we walked around the Serpent Garden. 

A maze of gardens with different water features.

Children had come in their swimming costumes and shorts to play in the water features (although there was a sign saying it was dangerous to do so!)

Then we walked up and through the gates of the Ornamental garden

.

A beautiful walled garden with a modern twist.

Back out of the ornamental garden and we are at the top of the Grand Cascade.

Through the Cherry Orchard.

Passed the pond.

and on to the Poison Garden. Home to a rogues' gallery of deadly inhabitants such as strychnine, ricin and hemlock.

Magic mushrooms, opium poppies and cannabis also lurk behind the locked gates. The Duchess of Northumberland has to get Home Office approval to grow them in the garden.

The  garden is under lock and key and many of the plants are in cages.

We went into the garden in a small group with a guide.

We found out lots of interesting facts from our guide.

and when we came out of the Poison Garden we saw this!

A Vintage Afternoon Tea Tent, well it would be rude not to!

Oh it was lovely!

Then it was a short walk back to the exit, passed a lovely flower border.

Alnwick Castle was used as Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films (2001 and 2002) and it also featured in Elizabeth (1998) and Robin Hood Prince of Thieves in (1991)

The Tree House at Alnwick

On the way back to the B&B we stopped off briefly at Craster

But then we were getting hungry....yes even after that afternoon tea!

Sorry my posts and my blog reading are a bit sparse....so, so busy now we are back at school.