A new year, a new beginning on the East Coast of Scotland. Travelling up, my sister, Judith, kindly bought me a first-class rail ticket, making use of an expiring credit. The receptionist at the King Cross VIP lounge eyes my […]
Day 222: Marshall Meadows Bay to St Abbs Read More »
The sun rises over Bamburgh Castle to balance our last encounter in the rain. Stag Rock sits below the lighthouse at Blackrocks Point. Local legend states that a stag jumped into the sea to escape hunters. A small group of
Days 220 & 221: Bamburgh to Marshall Meadows Bay Read More »
The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is accessible for seven hours before the North Sea tide surrounds it. Constrained by bus and tide times, I’ve only five hours to cross, explore the island and return to the mainland. The causeway is
Day 219: Lindisfarne Read More »
Sitting in bed with a cuppa, the rain hammers against the window. There’s a yellow weather warning and I’m definitely not 100%, so I’m cutting today’s walk early at Bamburgh. The Beadnell Lime Kilns offer temporary shelter. Built in 1798,
Day 218: Embleton to Bamburgh Read More »
I woke up in the early hours, sheets soaked with sweat. Am I coming down with something or just the hot curry last night? Regardless, I’m back in Amble before dawn, the weather a little less hostile than yesterday. The
Day 217: Amble to Embleton Read More »
Previous day Before returning to Northumberland, there’s one final gap to fill, the eight miles from Seaham to Sunderland. The train platform at Middlesborough is thronged with Christmas parties heading for Newcastle. There are more antlers here than I saw
Day 216: Newbiggin-by-the-Sea to Amble Read More »
Due to the strike by Northern Trains, my day begins with a 90-minute two-bus journey from Scarborough to Sandsend, so I’m the first person outside Greggs waiting for the door to open. Despite three years of pre-dawn breakfasts, I’ve only
Day 215: Sandsend to Saltburn-by-the-Sea Read More »
The trains are cancelled beyond Edinburgh due to adverse weather conditions — heavy rain and strong winds are forecast all day. Travelling up from home, it’s already 1 pm when I arrive at Filey, so there’s no chance of making
Day 214: Filey to Scarborough Read More »
Low tide reveals the causeway to the charming St Mary’s Lighthouse (1898). The expanse of dunes at Seaton Sluice, where I ran up and down as a child, is watched over by two replica naval guns at Blyth Battery. A
Day 213: Whitley Bay to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea Read More »
Crossing the River Wear, Shadows In Another Light is framed against a gorgeous blue sky. It’s constructed from the parts of a crane that stood in the same location. There are several sculptures to enjoy on the path to the
Day 212: Sunderland to Whitley Bay Read More »