<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/dunstanburghfeb18.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4852" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/dunstanburghfeb18-200x141.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="141" /></a>A long weekend in Northumbria in February doesn't sound particularly attractive but it was a great few days. We walked from Craster past <a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dunstanburgh-castle/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dunstanburgh Castle</a> and along the beach to Newton by the Sea in a strong easterly wind. We stopped on the way back at a local golf club for lunch and by the time we returned to the car we had covered nearly nine miles. A great day followed by a late dinner at <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g504037-d2168268-Reviews-The_White_Swan-Belford_Northumberland_England.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The White Swan</a> which had a surprisingly good menu and excellent, quality food well presented.
The following day we had an afternoon in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwick-upon-Tweed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Berwick upon Tweed</a>. Again the wind off the north sea was biting but walking the ramparts prepared us for a coffee in Costa and dinner at home - venison stroganoff with a log burner flickering in the background.

The cottage was on the Middleton Hall Estate where there are a number of holiday cottages some of which would make perfect romantic weeks away. We particularly liked the idea of the Boathouse or the Folly so we will revisit another time to experience one of them.

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<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/maryalnwickfeb18.jpg"><img class="alignright wp-image-4847 size-thumbnail" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/maryalnwickfeb18-150x200.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="200" /></a>On our final day we went to Alnwick and spent some time in the gardens. The combination of cold air and fountains is chilling so we spent some time in the cafe drinking hot chocolate and coffee looking out at the gardens.

After a wander around Alnwick it was a time for a visit to <a href="https://www.barterbooks.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Barter Books</a> and an inevitable afternoon tea.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/teacakealnwickfeb18.jpg">
<img class="alignleft wp-image-4846 size-thumbnail" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/teacakealnwickfeb18-150x200.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="200" /></a>Sitting in front of an open coal fire drinking Earl Grey tea eating carrot cake and <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1129665/selkirk-bannock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Selkirk Bannock cake</a> (recipe) was a treat not to be forgotten.
We left Northumbria with a sprinkling of snow. On the way down the A1 we used a book that Richard and Nicola had given to me to find places to eat off the main motorways. We finished up in a cafe in Knaresborough run by and for people with learning difficulties. The sandwiches weren't brilliant but it was a place full of happy people.