(Links to all parts of the series are at the end of this post.)
June 10, Monday
Today is the last day in the northeast of England. We came here on the 6th, Thursday.
Today, we went to Linhope Spout Waterfall, Chatton, and Wooler.
A threat of rain was a worry when we started from Newcastle around 9 a.m. But luckily, the clouds stayed away.
The trip to Linhope Spout was like a continuation of yesterday's visit to Lindisfarne. We were awash in the soothing influence of serene natural beauty.
ROLLING HILLS
Linhope is a small village in Northumberland in northeast England. It's about 50 miles / 80 km north of Newcastle, and it took us around one hour of drive to reach there.
It is in Breamish Valley, one of the valleys of Cheviots or Cheviot Hills, which is an elevated mountainous plateau along the Scottish border.
The drive through the narrow country roads treated us to some breathtaking views of the rolling hills.
The valley is also known for its clear night skies, making it ideal for stargazing. It's said that the place has the clearest night skies in England!
Other than the rolling hills, what took our breath away were the lush green fields and quaint cottages.
LINHOPE ESTATE
The 14,000-acre area encompasses a wide range of wildlife habitats, including heather moorland, native woodland, upland hay meadows, the River Breamish and its tributaries.
There are also many archaeological features, including several hillforts.
The place is home to animals like Blackface sheep, birds like Red grouse and Curlews, insects like Emperor moths, reptiles like Common lizards, and plants like Bilberries, Sphagnum moss, and Cross-leaved heath.
THE WALK
Vehicles have to be parked around 1.5 miles / 2.4 km ahead of the waterfall.
It was a moderately easy hike. The trail meanders through serene woodlands and open moorland, offering captivating views of the surrounding hills. The path is well-marked and maintained.
As we made our walk along the trail, we occasionally heard the sound of birds chirping and the rustling of leaves in the cool breeze. The ascent was also made enjoyable by the panoramic views.
We also saw a number of Blackface sheep.
The waterfall cascades down from a height of approximately 18 metres / 60 feet, falling into a pool 6 feet / 2 metres wide and 16 feet / 5 metres deep.
The waterfall itself is not anything extraordinary. But what lends itself to some great charm is the peaceful and beautiful surroundings. It's also a perfect place for a picnic.
We spent about an hour there soaking in the ambience and having refreshments.
CHATTON
From there, we came to the village of Chatton, about 15 miles / 25 km northeast of Linhope, to meet one of Henry's friends.
We went around the neighbourhood. We saw the Chatton Gallery (below), which has a range of contemporary landscape and wildlife paintings and sculptures. The gallery is owned and run by landscape artist Robert Turnbull, who is widely recognised for his Northumbrian landscape painting.
We also saw the Chatton Village Hall (below). It was originally the school for the village until its closure in 2008. The committee and trustees took over the building as a community resource in 2010.
TANKERVILLE ARMS
All four of us went for dinner at Tankerville Arms at Wooler, which is about 5 miles / 8 km from Chatton.
Tankerville Arms has a rich history behind it.
It was built in the 1700s by the first Earl of Tankerville, Charles Bennet, to accommodate guests when their home, Chillingham Castle, was full.
In 1827, it became the local excise office, and in 1847, it was converted into a posting house, which was a building where horses were kept and could be rented or changed. Horse carriages were used to ferry people and deliver mail.
It was turned into a cottage in 1847 when a rail line was opened.
It survived a major fire in 1863. Apparently, the fire engine took 13 hours to arrive!
In 1914, Virginia Woolf stayed at the Tankerville for a month for recuperation.
It was a long but thoroughly enjoyable day.
We got back home by 10 p.m.
Finally, it's curtains for our five-day vacation in the northeast of England -- a culturally rich and historically significant region characterised by its vibrant cities, peaceful villages, picturesque landscapes, and a strong sense of local identity.
(To be continued)
Here are the links to all parts of the series:
02 -Dockwray Square, Tynemouth
04 - Howick Hall Gardens & Arboretum
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteLet me first say, I got a surprise to find that there was yet another post that slipped beneath my radar! I've been back and read it and now this one and revelled in your descriptions of places that are so familiar to me! You certainly didn't let time just slip you by!!!
As an aside, if at all you are interested in murder mysteries for reading /listening, I can heartily recommend the DCI Ryan series by LJ Ross for intrigue and entertainment, but most of all for the evocative settings all around Northumbria! YAM xx
Hi Yamini - Thank you. We made sure that we made full use of the daylight hours and saw as many places as possible. Our friend Henry was a great help. It was a long-pending visit. And we were happy that we finally made it, and learned a lot about northeast of England which otherwise I would not have.I used to read a lot of murder mysteries. Your suggestion is now a good excuse to revisit the genre. Thanks for sending me the link. - Pradeep.
DeleteSeconded!
DeleteBeautiful. Thanks for sharing these excellent photos.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteYou sure went to a lot of places. How fun!
ReplyDeleteYes. It was quite an enjoyable trip!
DeleteWhat a lovely spot.
ReplyDeleteYes, quite a scenic and beautiful spot.
DeleteYou've seen far more of the north east than I have. The waterfall looks like a channel was dug into the rocks and not a natural waterfall. The scenery is certainly very beautiful and I love the green that I see in England, rather different to Australia's natural green.
ReplyDeleteHi Andrew - It was quite an enjoyable trip. I saw a lot and learnt a lot. Yes, there are so many waterfalls that are far more magnificent than this. Kerala, my native state, is also quite green. But it's the unique landscape that I liked in the UK.
DeleteThis looks amazing. Despite this being on of my favourite areas in the UK I have never visited the area where you walked.
ReplyDeleteHi CherryPie - Thank you. It's definitely a nice place for a good walk and a picnic. You must go there sometime. During the six-day trip, we saw a number of places and learned a lot about the local history and traditions. There are many more places I want to see. Maybe some other time. - Pradeep
DeleteThe highlight of this post is the walk to the waterfall through a rural area amid verdant fields and unspoilt countryside. The nearly four-mile walk on the rugged path is obviously for the young and fit and not for seniors unless some kind of transport like a cart or buggy is available. It requires some daring to get down to the bottom of the waterfall! The photographs of the low hills, the blue sky, and the green fields give us the feeling of a visit to the place. Thank you
ReplyDeleteYes, it is a walk, but not as strenuous as one might think. That entire track is deliberately kept free of motor vehicles to protect the natural environment.
DeleteRegarding going to the base of the waterfall, it wasn't so deep, though we did have to step over the rocks carefully.
I seem to have missed a few of your posts. This has been happening with other blogs, too.
ReplyDeleteIt's so interesting to see a place through another person's eyes. I had to smile at the Tankerville Arms originally being built as overflow accommodation for guests. Not many would have land and money enough to do that!
Thanks for reading my posts and for the comments.
DeleteMany of my regular readers have told me that they have been missing some posts. We have to blame it on Blogger! One suggestion is maybe try the email subscription. Generally, it is quite reliable.
Living in my humble rural area, I think the waterfall looks amazing. Thanks so much for sharing your travels. Best wishes to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteHi Darla - Thank you :-)
DeleteWell, I like even the tiniest water feature, including one in a bucket. ~giggle~ So thanks again and blessings, my dear.
DeleteSome of my paternal ancestors came from Northern England. A village called Weatheral Village, part of Cumbria.
ReplyDeleteNice to know that you have a filial link to northern England.
DeleteI am thoroughly enjoying this. And that waterfall is extraordinary to me. Then again, I have a tiny water feature in a bucket that makes me happy. lol Be well!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great walking and hiking trip. new to your blog, will keep coming for more travel posts.
ReplyDeleteHi Pradeep - it is certainly a very attractive part of the world. I hadn't seen the waterfall before - so thanks for showing it ... delightful. Lovely that you met up with one of Henry's friends and were able to all have dinner together - Henry's done you proud. Did you get to Chillingham Castle? I wrote about their cattle, when I wrote about Rare Breeds. I never went when I was up in the North East. How very nice to be able to see the Gallery ... I'm enjoying these posts, when I eventually get here!
ReplyDelete- cheers Hilary
Enjoyed Nature's captivating Art Work. Beautiful pics and apt write-up.
ReplyDeleteI’m enjoying going backwards through your posts, Pradeep. This one is lovely! I used to live in Woodford Green, not far from Wanstead so I know the park well. I also know London, but not the north-east of England. It looks so beautiful. I love the villages and the scenery. Thank you for sharing them with us.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Val, for the comments. This was one of the most exciting tours we had. Saw a number of places and learned a lot as well. A couple or two more posts are remaining. I haven't been getting the time to clean up the draft notes I had made during the tour.
DeleteHmm, I just wrote a reply, but I don’t see it. Maybe you’ e put on comment moderation?
ReplyDelete