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Scottish Outlander

A Lifestyle Blog from Lindsay McWilliams

17 June, 2015

Camping at Budle Bay, Bamburgh, Northumberland

17 June, 2015

We had researched campsites within striking distance, downloaded the BBC weather app, packed the car with our camping gear and despite the dreary weather we were determined to make the first May bank holiday weekend our inaugural camping trip of the season (I’m a bit behind on our camping posts!). On the Saturday morning we checked the weather for our list of destinations and decided to head East where it was driest.

As we drove towards Northumberland the skies brightened and the sun came out! Our first stop was Beadnell Bay where the kite surfers were out in force. We had a walk on the beach but the skies were looking a little threatening so we jumped back in the car and went in search of somewhere to pitch our tent.

Kit Surfing, Beadnell Bay, Northumberland

Determined to find a nice campsite next to the beach we drove up the coast checking our map and following every campsite sign we came upon. One of those signs was for The Barn at Beal. I’d heard about The Barn at Beal before (I’m pretty sure one of my best friends used to deliver ice cream there) but I had never been so we decided to check it out. We had lunch in the cafe which has beautiful big windows so you can see out over the causeway to Lindisfarne. John opted for soup while I had a baguette and we shared some chips which were lovely. The food was nice but a little pricey for what it was and we were too hungry to wait and snap any photos! The camping area at The Barn at Beal had a great view but it was exposed to the elements so we decided to head back to the campsite near Bamburgh that we visited last September. The camping area at Meadowhead’s Waren Caravan and Camping Park is sheltered and there is a clubhouse to keep you dry if the weather takes a turn for the worse, which it was forecast to do the very next day!

Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland

Fortunately the weather held while we put our tent up and we were able to sit outside and enjoy a bottle of prosecco while enviously watching a group of teenagers play Swingball (we’ve added it to our to purchase list!).

Camping at Budle Bay

The next day we weren’t so lucky. As expected the heavens opened so we headed to Alnwick in search of somewhere to keep dry and buy a warmer sleeping bag.. Soaked through and hungry we ordered a pot of tea at The Plough and browsed the lunch menu. I don’t think I have ever been to The Plough despite living in Alnwick for many years and I was really surprised by the modern decor and plush furniture. I ordered the tempura salmon which was presented as fish and chips in a little crate which I loved although it was a little tricky to eat out of! John had a roast which he says was one of the best Sunday lunches he’d ever had!

Lunch at The Plough, Alnwick

On our way back to the campsite the weather started to improve and by the time we arrived the sun was shining and the sandy beach was beckoning. From the campsite its a five minute walk to Budle Bay, a sheltered nature reserve just around the corner from Bamburgh and next to the hamlet of Waren Mill. Budle Bay is a bird sanctuary with huge mudflats that can be seen at low tide and beautiful wide white sandy beaches. We walked to the point where if you look South you can see the lighthouse at Bamburgh and to the North you have a stunning view of Lindisfarne. You could easily walk along the beach to Bamburgh if you had the time and we definitely intend to do that one day! On our way we explored the remnants of a WW2 bunker, climbed on a dilapidated pier and got a little bit wind swept!

Budle Bay, Northumberland

Budle Bay

After dinner we decided to do explore the campsite as despite it being our second visit we didn’t know how big Meadowhead’s Waren Caravan and Camping Park was or what else it had to offer. The clubhouse has a restaurant which we’ve eaten in a couple of times, it’s nothing special but the food is good and the bar is a comfy place to spend a couple of hours when it’s cold or wet outside. It also has a shop, games room and outside there’s a splash pool for the kids to enjoy in the summer and a playground with a zip wire! As we wondered around the park we got a better idea of it’s scale. The touring section is separate from the main park so we didn’t really have a concept of just how sprawling it is! There are hundreds of static caravans, lodges and even wigwams. We found a woodland trail and play area nestled among the caravans and set above them we discovered a picnic area with stunning views across the bay. Noticing the sun was starting to set we popped back to the tent to grab a bottle of wine then settled down on one of the picnic benches to watch the sun go down over Holy Island.

Picnic Area, Meadowhead's Waren Caravan and Camping Park

Sunset Over Holy Island, Northumberland

Sunset Over Holy Island, Northumberland

After a better nights sleep thanks to our new sleeping bag and a few extra layers it was time to pack up. The sun was shining so another trip to the beach was in order before we headed home.

Beadnell Bay Beach, Northumberland

Beadnell Bay, Northumberland

We had a wonderful long weekend and it just goes to show that sometimes camping is worth the risk of bad weather!

Posted by Lindsay McWilliams 8 Comments
Filed Under: Adventures, England, North East Tagged: Bamburgh, Camping, Holy Island, Lindisfarne, North East England, Northumberland

3 October, 2014

Holy Island at Dusk

3 October, 2014

Holy Island or Lindisfarne is a tidal island just off the Northumberland coast. Eager to see as much as possible on our camping trip we checked the tide times and headed up the coast and across the causeway.

Holiday makers are consistently caught out by the tide on their way to Lindisfarne. They drive onto the causeway when it looks safe, the tide comes in rapidly and they have to be rescued by helicopter or make use of the refuge which sits on stilts halfway across the road. Even if the causeway looks dry if it’s passed the safe crossing times you best stay put, find a nice B&B or head to the pub. We were fortunate as the tide was almost fully out when we arrived at around 5.30pm and the safe crossing time extended till late in the evening.

Lindisfarne boasts stunning white sandy beaches, a beautiful 16th century castle and a priory which was home to the Lindisfarne Gospels and the site of various Viking attacks. I have very fond memories of Lindisfarne from when I lived in the area, particularly my 16th birthday which was spent flying a stunt kite with good friends and family on a quiet side of the island. Lindisfarne had changed quite a bit since I last visited. The visitor car park has been moved out of the town to keep the streets quiet and, I suspect, the locals happy. We found a spot in the vast car park and wondered into the village, heading towards the harbour where you get a beautiful view of Lindisfarne Castle.

Lindisfarne Castle

Lindisfarne Castle

One of the most interesting things about the harbour is the upturned boats which have been converted into sheds and boat houses. These sheds often feature in the foreground of photographers images of the castle and I have taken the same photo so many times but this time I managed to resist! We also found an exhibition about the wildlife on Lindisfarne and watched swallows swoop into a pond from behind the glass of the exhibition centre. I wish I had taken some photos or a video as it was such a lovely thing to see.

Holy Island Boat Shed

Rope and Anchor

As the sun was going down we meandered around the villages pretty streets and towards the Priory. We peered through the gates at the historical building but decided not to return for a visit as the ticket price of over £5 per adult seemed a little high.

Lindisfarne Priory

Lindisfarne Priory

Sunset Over Northumberland

We sneaked a couple of photos before heading back to the car and then to our camp site on the mainland.

Posted by Lindsay McWilliams 6 Comments
Filed Under: Adventures, England, North East Tagged: Holy Island, Lindisfarne, North East, North East England

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Lindsay McWilliams
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Hello, I'm Lindsay! I'm a 27 year old Scottish outlander living in the beautiful county of Cumbria and recording my adventures in Scotland, England and beyond. Click here if you'd like to know more.

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