NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE – Whereivvor ye gan ye’re sure te find a Geordie
Bicester u3a holiday to Newcastle 16 to 22 June 2024.
The big day arrived on Sunday 16th June: when it was ‘all aboard’ the coach for another Summer adventure ‘oop North’. This was my second trip with the group and expectations were high, after the successful tour last year to The Lakes.
Having picked up all the participants we pointed in the general direction of Banbury and got underway. From my vantage point of a window seat, it appeared that we were bound in the direction of the A1M North and this duly turned out to be the route we took. The weather was overcast but it did little to dampen spirits: or the busy conversation.
Our first stop was at Belton House and Estate near Grantham in Lincolnshire, giving us ample time to visit the property and refresh ourselves with lunch. The property is now in the hands of the National Trust, and I took the opportunity to wander the gardens, taking photos, then spent a little time in the house, which I must say was interesting. After a suitable break for catching our breath, it was off again and our destination of Newcastle. (Photo: MW)
We were staying in the Caledonian Hotel in Jesmond, a leafy suburb of the city; frequented by many students as it provides them with pleasant ‘digs’. The hotel is large and with most facilities provides a good base to explore the region. It was here I shared a table with new friends Jeffery and Patricia. After a good dinner, I made the opportunity to explore some of the local area, in the sunshine to better get my bearings. (Photo: MW)
Monday dawned overcast, but with the Sun occasionally peeping through, appeared a promising day. After breakfast, we all boarded the coach, and our driver Paul made good progress towards the North coast and our first stop at Bamburgh Castle. During the last half hour of the journey I noticed that in the hedgerows the Ash trees had been decimated by die-back. A very sad state of affairs indeed!
We arrived in the castle car park and, not so long after, it tipped down with rain. Luckily it stopped after a short interval, and I made a recce of the village, photographing the castle, including from the beach. Here were sand dunes and looking seawards, the Farne Islands not too far offshore. Time vanished quickly, and our coach was waiting to take us further up the coast to Lindisfarne, a.k.a. Holy Island: where St. Aidan taught Christianity.
The tide was out, and we drove across the causeway to the village and our first view of the castle high on the only hill on the island: a leisurely walk and a stiff climb brought us to the entrance. After many moneyed owners and modernised by renowned architect Edwin Lutyens the castle is now owned by the National Trust (NT). Our first day out completed, and we returned to the hotel. (Photos: MW)
Tuesday dawned fair, and today we were off to visit the Beamish Living Museum. Spread over more than a hundred acres, the museum recreates life from the period at the turn of the twentieth century until the mid-1950s and 60s. There are trams and double-decker buses to ride on, a village Primary School to visit, a railway station and colliery to explore: so much to do that we stayed until mid-afternoon enjoying ‘being part of the past’.
There was a Fish and Chips shop from the 1950s. It was easy to find it next to the school: blue smoke was emanating from the chimney. Though they accepted credit cards and contactless payments, the product was packed in newspaper, as in the good old days when we were much younger! And the scrumps were free. (Text: TomyD, photo TaniaD)
Public transport in Beamish from the middle of the last century. (photo: MikeW)
These were the days when trams had a conductor... (Photo: TaniaD)
On the return journey to the hotel, a stop was made to visit The Angel of the North, designed by Sir Antony Gormley: another wonderful day. (Photo: DJ)
On Wednesday we visited Cragside, the former home of the Armaments and Engineering tycoon William Armstrong. His skills in engineering meant this was the first house in Britain to be lit by hydro-powered electricity. Set on the side of a steep hill in the middle of a forest that he had planted: the rooms are opulently furnished and floors originally reached by an early hydraulic lift. Many modern contrivances of the Victorian era are incorporated in the building, and it served to display the family wealth in collections of objects d’art. Sitting by the lake I reflected on the peace Armstrong sought by building his house here. (Photo: MW)
And on Thursday: a free day to explore at leisure. I went with several ladies to visit Durham. Of course, it had to be the magnificent cathedral, a place I had always wanted to visit: but a steep climb to reach it. Amalgamated Junior School choirs were singing magnificently when we arrived, and the food on offer in the Refectory was good value. I slipped away to photograph the cathedral from the opposite bank of the river Wear. The journey there and return was excellent value on the train: £3 each way for our party. Having achieved my sightseeing target, at last, I felt quite elated. (Photos: MW)
Returning from Durham we made a brief tour of the Quays in Newcastle city, with an obligatory stop for photos and a quick pint, then on the bus back to the hotel. (Photo: MW)
Sadly, my swollen foot meant I could not visit Alnwick Castle on Friday, so over to our Chairman David Jones for a roundup: Friday took us to Alnwick Castle, home of the Percy family: Ralph being the 12th Duke of Northumberland. The property has featured in Harry Potter films, in Downton Abbey and many others. The State Rooms are particularly impressive with wonderful decorations and furnishing. (Photo: DavidJ)
On entering the gardens you are greeted with a superb view of the Grand Cascade and, if you wait, a display by the fountains. Next to the Cascade is the Poison Garden (guided tour only, so we can’t take cuttings?). The guide was extremely well informed and gave me many useful suggestions! The Formal Garden was very colourful with many interesting plants. The Rose Garden had more roses than I have ever seen before.
As a Harry Potter venue, broomstick training is available. The photograph shows one of our members several feet above the ground. (Photo: Duana)
Mike Wyatt
On Saturday we started our long way home. We stopped in at Nostell Priory, another NT property that once belonged to the Winn family. DavidJ took some beautiful pictures but for some of us it was a castle too much.
And by 6:00 pm we had safely reached Bicester. The sun was out. We were tired but happy.
A fantastic holiday, one of the best, many thanks to Audrey for organising it!
Tomy Duby