You're in for a beast of post today! Very photo heavy. I did and saw much in the course of just 3 days, that by the time I was back at the office I felt like I'd been on holiday for at least 2 weeks. But lets just jump right into it.
Saturday morning I arrived in King's Cross at 7.30am as my train would depart at 8.30am. Although it was half an hour earlier then when I went to Edinburgh back in August, there were so much more people around! oO Anyway, had my breakfast just like I did last time I was about to leave for the North. Rather then waiting patiently for the train to be announced, I ventured out in the station to buy some lunch to eat on the train and to visit Platform 9 3/4, because unlike last time, it was actually open now! Don't worry, I didn't buy anything ;) 8.30am arrived and I was all settled in ready for the 4h30min train ride North. I watch a movie (I forgot which one!), did some reading, eat my lunch,...
At 1.30pm we finally arrived in the capital of Scotland. As it was too early to check in to my hotel I do what I usually do: go to the Royal Mile. As the fringe was over, it was a lot quieter on the high street, but there were still a few street musician around. After listening for a bit, I was getting a bit peckish so I made my way to the Starbuck with the splendid view. Sat at the exact same table as I did last time, enjoyed the view and the time travel back in Voyager, 3rd book in the Outlander series that I'm currently reading. After my tea and delicious muffin I made my way to the guesthouse to finally drop off my stuff. Just like last time I travelled super light: my North Face backpack with clothes and pair of extra shoes, a little handbag for the essentials and then a foldable bag to put in my scarf, jacket and food when bought. Honestly, people who pack an entire suitecase for just 3 days, I don't get it...
Around 4.30pm I left my room to explore the city abit. In the past, when I stayed in Edinburgh, it was usually South of Old Town. Now I was staying West of New Town, super close to Haymarket station, so a completely different part of town! Time to get exploring! I heard a bit of the place in Edinburgh called Dean Village and I had seen some beautiful pictures of the area so I needed to go and see it for myself. Once I found it, it was hard to believe I was actually still in a city...
After wandering around for a bit, I made my way back to Princes Street to find something to eat. Yes, I had eaten a muffin not too long ago and yes I was hungry again already. What can I say? Healthy appetite or do I have parasite living in my tummy? One way or the other, Byron burger was delicious and I ended my first day back in Edinburgh with an hour of listening to two street musicians whilst contemplating if I could ever call this city my home. It certainly feels like it, but could I actually live here?
Then, Sunday morning. I had booked myself a 1 day tour with Rabbie's, or Rabbie's Trailers Burners to go to Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, England. The tour left at 9.30am, so not too early. Our guide would be Gillian, who turned out to be a hilarous tourguide who would take us off the beaten track. Rabbie's tag line proofs to be actually true :)
Whilst making our way out of the city, Gillian told us about grave robbers, the World's End and Little France, the Romans and how they were responsible for the roads going straight over the hills rather than around which resulted the people in the back (including me) to be tosted around. Thank god for seatbelts!
First stop on the tour was Kelso, a little village in the Borders with a very old cathedral, or what is left of the cathedral anyway. When Protestantisme made its way through the country a lot of the cathedrals, chruchs, anything to do with Christianity would be destroyed, including the grand cathedral.
We had about 30min to marvel over the grandour of the cathedral and have a little look around Kelso. Although I had my coffee in the morning, I was actually craving a tea. Unlike London where the shops are open every day, it was a bit of search to find a bakery or coffee shop that was open on a Sunday. Sure enough I found something. Tea was £1, which is the correct price in my opinion, and then I sat on a bench on the town square with my face in the sun for a bit.
I would have stayed longer if I wasn't part of a group on a mini bus, so when the time came, I headed back to the mini van to be driven towards England.
Arriving at the border, rather then just driving us over the bridge that acted as a cross over from Scotland to England, Gillian dropped us off so we could walk from Scotland to England. Really cool idea Gillian! I can actually say now that I've walked from Scotland to England.
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| England is left, Scotland on the right |
Turned out that Robert Burns, the famous poet who's house I've visited back in June when I was in Alloway (link to that blog post is here) walked over this bridge in 1787. So basically, I've walked in the footsteps op Robert Burns.
Once we were all on the bus, we headed to the main attraction of the day: Alnwick Castle. My main motivations were Downton Abbey and Harry Potter. This castle was used as Hogwarts in the first Harry Potter film: the Philosopher's Stone and as Brancaster Castle in the season finale of Downton Abbey season 5 and season 6.
The state rooms were absolutely stunning. The family actually lives there and family pictures are to be seen everywhere. This meant that I wasn't aloud to take any photographs myself. *snif* But if watch the season final 5 of Downton Abbey you get a glimps of the interior ;) Also, in the small liberary scenes, try to notice the paravant in the distants. It is there to hide the massive flatscreen television that doesn't really fit in th 1925 vibe ;) There was actually a display of costumes worn by the Downton cast which was pretty cool for the Downton fan in my :)
After visiting the state rooms it was time to find all the exterior film locations and boy did I found a lot :) Here are just a handful.
The final hour was spent in the gardens. I wish I had had a bit more time there as it was just stunning.
I nearly skipped the oriental garden, but so glad I didn't! As I was looking around I saw this rose that looked very familiar... If it does look familiar to you too, then you know your Disney Classic's pretty well ;)
When I saw this, it confirmed my initial idea. And when I found out that the rose's name is actually Deep Secret, I only found it very approriate.
From the Oriental garden, which was at the very back of the garden, I made my way back toward the beginning of the garden. That is when I stumbled on these. Rows upon rows. Such a marvelous idea! People can just go and sit there, enjoy the quietness, shielded from the rest of the garden and the world for that matter and just relax. I sat in one of them for only a few minutes, as I had to be back at the bus on time!
After Alnwick castle we made a little stop at Bamburgh castle. Not to visit the castle, but to enjoy the view over the North see. In the distance you could actually see the Holy Island! The island where the vikings first landed back in the fist century and robed the monks who lived there from all their valuables. One of the reasons why I've started watching the series Vikings ;)
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| Some locals |
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| Bamburgh castle |
Our stop before the last one was in Berwick upon Tweed. A place the train always passes through when going to Edinburgh or London. I actually saw a seal!
And then the final stop was at the borders between Northumberland, England and Scotland. Picture time!
By 7pm, Gillian dropped us off back in Edinburgh. Time to eat! But first, snap a picture of Carlton Hill bathing in a sunset.
And after dinner, a picture of Edinburgh Caslte by night.
On Monday I was determined to find locations used in the Outlander series, more specifially Voyager. But I soon came to the conclusion that eventhough that big events such as the battle of Culloden actually happened, Diana Gabaldon made up quite a few locations such as Craig Na Dun and Lallybroch. No difference in Edinburgh. Although the World's End pub actually does exist, even to this day. It would be pretty cool to actually see the wall that lays underneath the pub :)
After that it was late afternoon and time to get a cream tea :) I sat in a little tea shop, hoping to write last week's post, but an older lady sat at my table and we started chatting. As you do. So I had to go elswhere to write and upload last week's post. Starbucks on the High street it was. Starbuck again. They just have the best views in the city... I sat in that Starbucks until it was time to make my way to train station. As per usual I arrived way too early, so headed back up towards Princes street to sit in the sunset with view on the sir Walter Scott memorial. I wasn't ready to just sit for 30min in a train station. I wanted to get as much Edinburgh out of the wait was possible.
I arrived home quite late on Monday and Tuesday morning I had to be back at the office. From there is the usual week. Going home, watch Viking, read Voyager, etc etc. Waiting for the weekend to come.
And that is it for this week's update! Apologies for the long post, but there were just too many pictures I wanted to show :)
Thanks for reading!
xo - Sara
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