Berwick-upon-Tweed www.berwickonline.org.uk stands at the estuary of the River Tweed and was at one time the richest port in England thanks to its exports of grain and salmon. It is now three miles from the Scottish border but was for centuries fought over by the Scots and the English and only achieved a more peaceful existence upon the Union of the Crowns of Scotland and England in1604.
The town retains the impressive ramparts and walls built to keep it safe. These, together with the Barracks (the first purpose-designed barracks to be built in this country) are in the care of English Heritage. A walk round the walls takes about 45 minutes and is a relaxing way to end the day, providing wonderful views of the coast and river, and over the roofs of the town.
The Barracks contains the town museum, a military museum and an art gallery. Berwick has its own Playhouse cinema and The Maltings Art Centre which shows films and has a full programme of plays, music, and dance throughout the year.
North Northumberland and the Borders www.secretkingdom.com provide for a wide variety of interests. The area is famous for it beautiful sandy beaches and its romantic castles. Lindisfarne Island, six miles to the south of Berwick, with its castle and abbey is a place of pilgrimage to many. There are a number of stately homes within a short drive, including Manderston House which starred in the ‘Edwardian Country House’ programme on television recently, and on the doorstep, Paxton House which provides a classical music festival in July. Within an easy drive to the south there is Belsay Hall with its quarry garden, and Hadrians Wall. To the north is the intriguing Thirlestane Castle, cliff-top hugging Tantallon and the award winning Seabird Centre at North Berwick
Berwick
has a leisure centre providing a swimming pool and gym. There is horse riding
at nearby Haggerston and at Borewell Farm, www.potadoodledo.com,
within walking distance of Seaview there is fly-fishing, quad-biking and
a number of well signed walks designed to show off the coast and countryside.
The farm also has an interactive arts centre and a very good café
and farm shop.
There are a number of golf courses in the area including The Magdalene Fields
Golf club in Berwick which is open to visitors. Nearby, St Abbs Head www.stabbs.com/diving
and Eyemouth are the heart of the local diving community. Boat trips are
available from Seahouses to the Farne Islands to view the seabirds. At Conundrum
Farm there is a farm trail and a pool for fly-fishing. The farm also has
an excellent farm shop and café. The Sustrans route no 1 coastal
cycle track www.sustrans.org.uk
runs within 150 metres of Seaview Cottage and we can provide storage for bicycles.
For those who enjoy gardens, the Borders region has some gems including the newly opened and opulent Alnwick Garden, www.alnwickgarden.com the superb botanic gardens in Edinburgh, the walled garden, plant centre, and cafe at Floors Castle. Why not visit the hidden but beautiful gardens at Howick Hall www.howickgarden.org.uk with its Earl Grey tea-rooms set in part of the old house serving genuinely locally prepared meals, or the intriguing Gertrude Jekyll garden at Lindisfarne Castle. All are within an easy drive. There are the pretty Teviot Water Gardens where there is another café serving delicious food and smoked salmon from the local smokery and the specialist Edrom Nurseries at Coldingham. Berwick itself has a very good garden centre with a family friendly café which serves delicious cakes.
For foodies there are a number of excellent local outlets including three farm shops within a ten minute drive, there are Craster kippers, wonderful sea-food from Swallows in Seahouses www.swallowfish.co.uk , local cheese and ice cream from Doddington Dairy at Wooler and some great butchers’ shops selling local meats, sausages and pies etc. Berwick has a farmers market on the last Sunday of every month and there are others locally.
And when you have sight- seen, eaten, and exercised to your hearts content, you can get further inspiration from Barter Books www.barterbooks.co.uk at Alnwick. This is probably the largest second-hand bookshop in Britain and worth a visit if only to enjoy its atmospheric setting in Alnwick’s old railway station with its reading room, open fires and comfortable sofas.
If you would like any further information, please get in touch.
