Northumberland and Scotland Road Trip September 2023
Earlier in the year we cancelled our cruise which we selected as it was due to visit the Faroe Islands as well as Iceland and Norway. P&O cancelled the planned visit to the Faroe Islands so we accordingly cancelled our cruise with them.
Instead we decided to stay in Britain. There are lots and lots of great places to see and people to meet.
Wendy planned our wonderful road trip to go to places we both wanted to see, at a more relaxed pace than some previous trips. We are both somewhat older.
Many many years ago, we did another road trip around Scotland through Visit Scotland if memory serves. Many years ago Visit Scotland used to have a voucher scheme to pre buy hotel accommodation for selected hotels, and then you just phoned ahead from the previous hotel as you made your way around Scotland. In fact, often it was the previous hotelier that made the arrangements for you. We generally just stayed one night then, sometimes two. The best part of the tourist bit was during the day, either with the scenery or places to visit. Then the hotel. Perhaps I should write up the trip, I am sure I still have all the paperwork and photos.
This time is was a total change. Not just without a voucher scheme by Visit Scotland, but the whole premise. This time it was still multi-centre but with extended stays at each. Stay a few days. Get to know the place and the people just a little. Rest between long drives, see the things we want to, with time to wander. Add something else to see or visit.
The other change was to move away from hotels, where the hotel is part of the destination, towards motels and B&B. The selected motels were Premier Inns, hoping they don't mind being referred to as motels.
It was a pleasant change. It worked well.
Itinerary
| Start date | End date | Place | Stayed at | Highlights | Distance | Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16/9/2023 | 16/9/2023 | Travel from home to Lincoln | Journey break and lunch at Aylett Nurseries, North Orbital Rd, St Albans AL2 1DH | 172 miles | M25, A414, Hatfield, A1, A46 | |
| 16/9/2023 | 18/9/2023 | Lincoln | Family home | |||
| 18/9/2023 | 18/9/2023 | Travel from Lincoln to Alnwick, Northumberland | Journey break and lunch at Yolk Farm, Minskip Road, Minskip, York YO51 9HY (Near Harrogate) | 189 miles | A57, A1 - A1(M) | |
| 18/9/2023 | 22/9/2023 | Alnwick, Northumberland | Premier Inn Premier Inn Alnwick hotel, Willowburn Industrial Estate, South Rd, Alnwick NE66 2PF |
Barter Books, Lions Bookshop, Grannies Tea Shop, Cragside, Alnwick Castle, Alnwick | ||
| 22/9/2023 | 22/9/2023 | Travel from Alnwick to Falkirk, Scotland | Journey break and lunch at Dalkeith Country Park, Dalkeith EH22 1ST | 119 miles | A1, The City of Edinburgh Bypass/A720, M9, A9 | |
| 22/9/2023 | 26/9/2023 | Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Central Lowlands of Scotland | Premier Inn Premier Inn Falkirk Central hotel, Main St, Camelon, Falkirk FK1 4DS |
Falkirk Wheel, Kelpies, Callendar House, Antonine Wall. | ||
| 26/9/2023 | 26/9/2023 | Travel from Falkirk to Lochearnhead, Perthshire, Scotland |
The Steamship Sir Walter Scott, Trossachs Pier, Loch Katrine The Lodge Forest Visitor Centre, Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, and Red Squirrels |
75 miles | A9, M9, A84, A873, (road blocked ahead) A81, A84, and A821. Then A821 and A84. | |
| 26/9/2023 | 29/9/2023 | Lochearnhead, Perthshire, Scotland in the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park | Mansewood Country House | Glencoe, Oban, Storm Agnes, Drummond Castle Gardens, Crieff Visitor Centre with Christmas Shop and Caithness Glass, Crieff | ||
| 29/9/23 | 29/9/2023 | Travel from Lochearnhead to Harrogate, Yorkshire |
Journey break and lunch at, Tescos at Falkirk to refuel and pick up a meal deal for later, at M6 Southwaite services. Journey break and tea and cake at Mainsgill Farm Shop, Mainsgill Farm, Richmond, Yorkshire, DL11 7PN |
243 miles | A84 to M9. M74, A74(M) and M6 to A66. A1(M), A61. | |
| 29/9/2023 | 30/9/2023 | Harrogate, Yorkshire | Springdale Guest House | Betty's Tea Rooms | ||
Lincoln
Not a lot to write about our stay in Lincoln, other than to say it was very pleasant. The visit was partially as a stop and rest period on the way North, but primarily as a catch up with Wendy's brother and his partner. They have moved into the family home since birth and all the formalities have now been completed, so time for a celebration.
Alnwick
Alnwick
The visit to Alnwick was prompted in part by an item on the TV about Barter Books, who set up shop in a disused railway station, and had a miniature train running around above the books. Alnwick Castle was also a draw.
A friend told use about Cragside House when we bumped into here in a local supermarket before we commenced our journey.
Barter Books
...
Cragside House
...
Alnwick Castle
...
Falkirk
Falkirk
Lochearnhead
Lochearnhead
Harrogate
Harrogate
