1996
Spring 1996
Mum and Dad came up to stay with me for a day or so before we set off up north for a bit of a holiday in Northumberland and Scotland. We
took a trip to the Goyt Valley to have a picnic. We had a bit of a problem with
one of the locals. The water
levels in the reservoirs were a little low.We drove from Wilmslow to Glaisdale, where we spent the night in a lovely B&B. From there we set off for Northumberland, passed AWarkworth Castle and had a picnic lunch on the beach at Beadnell Bay. We passed Bamburgh Castle en route to North Berwick, where we were staying. Our first trip out was to Tantallon Castle, which is a ruined mid-14th-century fortress, 5 miles from North Berwick. It was sold by the Marquis of Douglas in 1699 to Hew Dalrymple, Lord North Berwick and the ruin is today in the care of Historic Environment Scotland. It sits atop a promontory opposite the Bass Rock, looking out onto the Firth of Forth. The last medieval curtain wall castle to be constructed in Scotland, Tantallon comprises a single wall blocking off the headland, with the other three sides naturally protected by sea cliffs.
Next trip out was a day trip to Edinburgh. We did all the tourist spots. Princes Street and St Giles Cathedral plus Edinburgh Castle, from below and up close on foot. We also did an open top bus trip which took us passed The Palace of Holyroodhouse, the statue of Greyfriars Bobby, the Scott Monument and Arthur's Seat. We also went north into Fife, which included visiting Buckhaven on the coast and St. Andrews with the golf course at the bottom of the hill, and St. Andrews Cathedral at the top. We stayed a night in Kelso on the way home, and had a picnic near the River Tweed. Mum's first experience of cold takeaway pizza he following day.