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<p class="has-drop-cap">After all the closures during the last 18 months we decided to get away for a few days. We spent a couple of days in Durham before heading up to Alnwick in Northumberland.</p>
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<p>We started our trip staying at the Honest Lawyer outside Durham. The afternoon soon passed as we wandered the side streets of the city. We were lucky enough for the weather to stay dry until about 4pm when there was thunder and lightning and the skies opened.</p>
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<p class="has-drop-cap">The next day we visited the Beamish Museum. So much to see and once again the weather stayed kind to us. We walked the site from just after 11am until it closed at 5pm. Here's a photo of "Julia" in front of one of the 1930's shops.</p>
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<p>There are new additions coming with a 1950's town being built and a new farm under construction.</p>
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<p class="has-drop-cap">Our main reason for travelling north was to see the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.11arches.com/kynren" target="_blank">Kynren spectacular</a>. It is difficult to explain how wonderful this event is but there is so much going on in the arena it is almost impossible to take it all in. It depicts 2,000 years of British history starting with the arrival of Christianity and the Romans then touching all the main events in history with an emphasis on the North East.</p>
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<p>If you've never seen this I would highly recommend it.</p>
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<p class="has-drop-cap">The following morning we headed over to Bishop Auckland. The interesting architecture and large pedestrian areas gave it a continental feel. We had coffee in a delightful café before heading north towards Alnwick. </p>
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<p class="has-drop-cap">I've never diverted off the A1 to see <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_of_the_North" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Angel of the North</a> close up. "Julia" and I were keen to get up close and personal to it so we parked up and spent some time wandering around this incredible sculpture by Antony Gormley.</p>
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<p>I was keen to take a photo with forced perspective and "Julia" was happy to oblige.</p>
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<p>The wings of the statue seem awkward to me however I'm sure this is more about my need to have balance in most things.</p>
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<p class="has-drop-cap">As always the traffic on the A1 was very busy not helped by several miles of road works. We arrived in Alnwick in time for afternoon tea at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.barterbooks.co.uk/" target="_blank">Barter Books</a>. I remember enjoying a slice of Selkirk Bannock here many years ago but sadly this is no longer available. Instead we had toasted tea cakes.</p>
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<p>We were staying on the very edge of Alnwick in a bed only venue called <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.thebondgate.co.uk/" target="_blank">Bondgate Boutique</a>. We struggled to find somewhere to eat but after a couple of failed attempts we got a table at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g504032-d8371941-Reviews-Mumbai_Flavours-Alnwick_Northumberland_England.html" target="_blank">Mumbai Flavours</a> and I broke the habit by eating a curry on Sunday evening. It was very good food and not crowded.</p>
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<p>The following morning we headed off to Lindisfarne. The queue to get onto the island was surprising but we were there only an hour after the causeway had opened.</p>
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<p class="has-drop-cap">On the way back to Alnwick we detoured into Craster and walked to Dunstanburgh Castle. It is only a 3 mile walk, there and back but after such a busy day it was enough for us both.</p>
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<p class="has-drop-cap">Craster harbour is a lovely spot and we couldn't resist a shadow photo of "Julia" and myself.</p>
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<p>Thankfully we had managed to book a table at the <a href="http://www.theploughalnwick.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Plough Hotel</a>, next door to where we were staying.</p>
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<p>The following morning, after breakfast at Barter Books we walked down to Alnwick Gardens for our timed entry booking. "Julia" hadn't been before so I was able to act as guide around the gardens. Apart from the magnificent fountains the walled garden is my favourite area simply because it is something I could aspire to in my own garden.</p>
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<p class="has-drop-cap">The morning went very quickly and before we knew it, it was time to head back to Lincolnshire. We left with more places to visit next time...</p>
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