After we had the usual safety checks like making sure the overhead lockers were closed, toilet door locked and habitation door set to manual it was time for take off, sorry time to go. It was a lovely morning for a drive up the M77 then the M8, around the Edinburgh bypass and finally onto the A1.

We had decided to stop at Berwick-upon-Tweed for lunch and to stretch our legs with a walk around the town walls. The town itself is really nice if a little run down, it has a small market selling fresh fruit and veg, 5 apples for a £1, what’s not to like? We started our walk at the small harbour then headed towards the shore making our way back past the golf course and Berwick Barracks.

Heading south on the A1 it was only another 10 miles to our destination at Beal. The site is within a working farm with space for 14 vans/caravans and 12 tents. The pitches are a bit on the small site, our van is a lwb fiat and just got all 4 weeks on, just. There is also very little space to either side should you want to put up and awning. At a cost of £25 night we were maybe expecting a bit more, only two showers and two toilets and no washing machine or tumble drier with a notice saying the toilets and showers were for the main use of the tents!!

The main reason for staying here was how close it is to Holy Island were we headed the next day. The tide was in our favour at 10.30am and we made our way across the causeway in convoy with about 8 other cars.

Once parked we made our way out to Lindisfarne Castle, there is a lot of work taking place around the Castle and to be honest it looks like they are plastering the outside walls, the side inland was finished and really doesn’t look in keeping with the rest of it.

It was blowing a gale so we thought it best to take shelter and have some coffee and cake.  Next on the list was to go and see the Priory, we couldn’t get into the grounds as “no dogs allowed” but what we did do was walk though the pub to get a picture where we found a group of students from Durham University on a “dig” They had found the remains of a Viking settlement which pre dates the Priory by 400 years.

The rain started to come on so we went back to the van and after a quick look at the map decided a short drive down the coast to Bamburgh to see the castle was in order. What a lovely place with a free car park right in front of the castle. A short stroll into the village we found the Grace Darling museum and just across the road is the church were she is laid to rest.

Just had time for a cone before it was time to leave and head back to the Barn. We thought it a good idea to support the local business and we had dinner in the Bothy Bar, all local produce and plenty of it. We will certainly be back to this part of the country, just not sure if it will be this site.