28 December 2007 - Blyth South Beach, Northumberland.

Today on a dull and showery afternoon we went to Blyth South Beach for a walk to Seaton Sluice.

The dull weather wasn't stopping people getting out and as usual there were many dog walkers and the dogs were having a great time swimming in the surf, chasing balls and other toys thrown for them.

Below are three views along the beach, the first two looking south to Seaton Sluice and the third is a view back to Blyth, where lights were starting to come on including the lighthouse at the end of the East Pier.

25 December 2007 - Hauxley Beach, Northumberland.

Our usual afternoon beach walk on Xmas Day was curtailed a bit today due to high tide, so we walked along the dunes footpath from Druridge Bay to Hauxley. Some of the beach there was still not covered by the tide so we can still say we spent Xmas on the beach!

Below is a view to Hauxley with Coquet Island in the background. The second view from the beach again includes Coquet Island where a zoomed-in look reveals huge solar panels installed on the island.

23 December 2007 - Amble, Northumberland.

This afternoon we visited Amble Harbour, where the Sunday Market on the quayside was starting to pack up for the day.

The full fishing fleet seemed to be tied up for the day and one of the boats had made a snowman for his mast, as seen in the second photo below.

There were a few yachts out at sea and one of them is seen in the bottom photo approaching Amble Lighthouse on it's return to the River Coquet.

17 December 2007 - Morpeth, Northumberland.

This evening we went to Morpeth to take some night views around the town centre and the River Wansbeck from the main bridges.

Below are two views of the river, the first looking to Telford Bridge, decorated with Xmas lights and the second is a view from Telford Bridge looking upstream to the footbridge.

15 December 2007 - Blyth Beach, Northumberland.

Today, back in Northumberland, we went for a walk along the beach at Blyth. It was a very cold day and frost was still on the ground, even on the beach by the dunes. There were still plenty of people about though, walking and enjoying other beach activities.

In the photo below two men were fishing while their dog played in the sand and behind a kite boarder was making the most of the light wind. In the distance you can see the frost on the dunes.

Offshore, a cargo ship was waiting for the tide to rise so it could enter the River Blyth, while plenty of people were fishing from the pier, seen in the second photo.

13 December 2007 - Eildon Hills, Scottish Borders.

Today we walked up the highest of the Eildon Hills near Melrose (seen in the photo from Scott's View yesterday - see below).

We walked from Melrose along St. Cuthbert's Way, turning off that path between the two main hills to the steep path up to the top. The views from this walk are superb, across and along the River Tweed Valley to Melrose and Galashiels on the way up and a tremendous 360 degree panorama at the (very windy) top.

Below is a view along the valley to Galashiels from about halfway up followed by the same view from the top. The third view looks east over the lower of the two main hills which has an ancient fort and finally a view of the trig point.

12 December 2007 - Dryburgh Abbey, Scottish Borders.

Today we visited Dryburgh Abbey, one of the four great Abbeys that lie close to each other in the Scottish Borders. All are in ruins after being repeatedly attacked and destroyed by English Armies.

When we arrived we were the only visitors and the Abbey was very peaceful and secluded. A perfect time to explore the ruins. Some important people rest here, including Sir Walter Scott, the famous Scottish Novelist Poet and Field-Marshall Haig, commander of British troops in the Great War.

Afterwards we visited the nearby Statue of Scottish Hero William Wallace which overlooks the River Tweed. This is a massive statue and has a very powerful atmosphere about it, given it's isolated location. We then moved on to the nearby Scott's View, favourite view of Sir Walter Scott that overlooks the River Tweed and the Eildon Hills beside Melrose.

Below is a view from one of the upper levels of the Abbey, over the Dormitory, Moat and to the River Tweed, which is just visible in the left side of the photo. The next photo is the William Wallace Statue followed by a view from the path leading to it and finally a photo from Scott's View.

© Copyright - All photos on this website are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced on any website or in print without prior permission. To use any photo please use the enquiry form at les-bell.com

© Copyright - All photos on this website are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced on any website or in print without prior permission.

To use any photo please use the enquiry form at les-bell.com