Skip to main content
Monthly Archives

May 2018

The Hadrian’s Wall Adventure (Part 4) – Warkworth Castle & Tynemouth Priory and Castle

By Adventures, Friends & Family, Happiness & Joy, Life, NatureNo Comments
Walkworth-Castle-Simon-and-I-May-18

Simon (right) and me (left) at a services stop for dinner.

This is the fourth part in my Hadrian’s Wall Adventure with my good friend Simon. You can read and see the photos from Part 1 here, Part 2 here and Part 3 here.

Yesterday Simon and I set out to do the last leg of our Hadrian’s Wall Adventure. It was my birthday. The day was gorgeous, sunny, around 19°C all day and not a cloud in the beautiful blue sky.

There aren’t many specific Hardrian’s Wall sites near the Newcastle end of where the wall would have been. So we decided to do Castles near Newcastle.

Our first castle was the magnificent impressive Warkworth Castle. Before you see the photos, first let me apologise for any fingerprint marks on them. The lens of my iPhone had fingerprint marks on, but I didn’t realise because of the bright sunshine.

Here is Essential Info and are some photos:

Essential Info:

  • A castle including remains and a keep with Duke room’s.
  • Highly recommended.
  • Admission Fee: Adult £7.50 with gift aid (£6.80 without). Free admission to English Heritage Members.
  • Opening times: View here.
  • Parking: Plenty in front of the Castle. However even English Heritage Members are required to pay (rather than the usual free parking with sticker in car). The shop does refund the cost of parking, but this was disappointing and we could seen no reason for this.
  • Toilets: Available in the carpark.
  • Has a very small gift shop. Free audible guides available.

Walkworth-Castle-May-18-0

Entrance to Walkworth Castle.

Walkworth-Castle-May-18-1

Outside of Walkworth Castle.

Walkworth-Castle-May-18-3

The most well preserved keep.

Walkworth-Castle-May-18-4

Remains of Walkworth Castle (1).

Walkworth-Castle-May-18-5

Remains of Walkworth Castle (2).

Walkworth-Castle-May-18-6

A selfie of Simon (right) and me (left).

Walkworth-Castle-May-18-7

An iron fireplace in the Duke’s rooms inside the keep.

Walkworth-Castle-May-18-9

The view from inside the Duke’s rooms.

Walkworth-Castle-May-18-10

A view from an archway (1).

Walkworth-Castle-May-18-11

A view from an archway (2).

Walkworth-Castle-May-18-12

One of the many tunnels to rooms in the remains.

mental-health-wisdom-banner

Our next stop was Tynemouth Priory and Castle. Here is Essential Info and are some photos:

Essential Info:

  • A priory, castle and World War 2 defence station.
  • Highly recommended.
  • Admission Fee: Adult £6.50 with gift aid (£5.90 without). Free admission to English Heritage Members.
  • Opening times: View here.
  • Parking: Follow signs for free parking.
  • Has a small gift shop.

Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-0

The view from the top of the hill near the entrance to Tynemouth (1).

Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-1

The view from the top of the hill near the entrance to Tynemouth (2).

Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-2

Tynemouth Priory and Castle remains (1).

Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-3

Tynemouth Priory and Castle remains (2).

Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-4

Tynemouth Priory and Castle remains (3).

Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-5

Stone coffins.

Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-6

Simon (right) and me (left) in the stone coffins. I couldn’t believe that we both fitted perfectly.

Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-7

Tynemouth Priory and Castle remains (4).

Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-8

A carving that looked similar to The Green Man on the entrance to the priory.

Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-9

Tynemouth Priory.

Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-10

Tynemouth Priory stained glass window (1).

Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-11

Tynemouth Priory stained glass window (2).

Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-12

Tynemouth Priory stained glass window (3).

Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-13

Tynemouth Priory stained glass window (4).

Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-13

Inside the Priory, photo of Priory door. Reminded me of the door to heaven.

Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-15

Tynemouth graveyard and World War 2 defence tower.

Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-16

Tynemouth World War 2 defence gun.

Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-17

Shells for the gun in bunker.

Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-18

Tynemouth Lighthouse.

We had a great time. Next year we are going to visit the fine city of Newcastle including Newcastle’s castle.

Blog soon,

Antony

Edit: 16/05/18 18:30 – Used GIMP to remove some of the finger prints in some of the above photos. If you click on the photos for full size, you will see the updated photos.

mental-health-wisdom-banner



I aim for posts on this blog to be informative, educational and entertaining. If you have found this post useful or enjoyable, please consider making a contribution by Paypal:


Share on Social Media:

Thirty Two Today – My Birthday Plans

By Friends & Family, Happiness & Joy, LifeNo Comments

Good morning everyone,

Today is my thirty second birthday. I’m not actually sat here writing this, it’s a scheduled post.

thirty-two-today-antony-simpson

I’m Thirty Two Today!

My birthday plans include a well-earned break from work for a week.

Today I’m off to Newcastle to see castles with Simon. In fact we are probably already on our way as this post is published. There are two English Heritage castles nearby that we want to see, along with Newcastle Castle.

Later in the week, mum and I are off to re-visit Harry Potter Studio Tour. You can see photos from when first visited the Harry Potter Studio Tour in 2014 here.

So expect to see blog posts about the above soon. In the meantime have an awesome week.

Write soon,

Antony

mental-health-wisdom-banner

Share on Social Media:

International Nurses Day – 5 Quotes About Nurses & Nursing

By Health, ThinkingNo Comments

Today is International Nurses Day. Nurses play a critical role in healthcare across the world. Here’s 5 inspirational quotes about what it means to be a Nurse and about Nursing:

5-quotes-about-nurses-and-nursing

Blog soon,

Antony

mental-health-wisdom-banner



I aim for posts on this blog to be informative, educational and entertaining. If you have found this post useful or enjoyable, please consider making a contribution by Paypal:


Share on Social Media:

Book Review: The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert

By Amazon, Books & Authors, ReviewsNo Comments
the-signature-of-all-things-elizabeth-gilbert-book-cover
View on Amazon.co.uk
The Signature of All Things is the magnificent novel by the delightful writer Elizabeth Gilbert.

The Signature of All Things is set over the lifetime of Alma Whittaker, a woman of means in the early eighteenth century, who is obsessed with the study of moss, unlucky in love, boggled by the altruism of her adopted sister and always on the search for answers in the natural world.

Alma’s journey is wonderful, fascinating and captivating. Alma’s journey and that of her father before her takes the reader around the globe transporting them to: London, Philidelphia, Tahiti, Peru, Tenerife, Hawaii and many places in-between.

Gilbert should be praised for her superb factual research within this novel and her ability to weave it subtly into her work of fiction.

Everything about The Signature of All Things is exquisite and exotic, yet bound together in familiarity by the experience of emotions that all human beings share.

Gilbert’s writing voice is engaging, warm and at times exciting. Gibert’s description brings the readers imagination fully to life. The reader can actually imagine being there alongside their new friend Alma.

The plot is intriguing, brilliantly plotted and has lots of very clever twists. The reader wont have read such cleverly plotted novel as The Signature of All Things in a number of years (I certainly hadn’t!). The expert unravelling of the plot and twists makes readers find it tough to put the book down.

Gilbert’s pacing is suitable for the plot and The Signature of All Things has 580 pages, so is slightly longer than the average novel.

The Signature of All Things is a priviliage to read, nothing less than exceptional and life enhancing.

The Signature of All Things is available to buy on Amazon and at all good book shops.

Blog soon,

Antony

mental-health-wisdom-banner



I aim for posts on this blog to be informative, educational and entertaining. If you have found this post useful or enjoyable, please consider making a contribution by Paypal:


Share on Social Media:
×