Boulmer. Pronounced Boomer. Thats where I am right now. It’s on the east coast, just south of Seahouses & Craster and plenty north of Newcastle. We’re here for a week.
So why Northumberland, apart from the obvious (it’s beautiful!)?
I’ve been through and down the coast of Northumbria a few times due to my old job, but just once with Jane (a quick stop-off in Seahouses on our way back from a weekend in Edinburgh). The Caravan & Motorhome Club were a client, ans one of the reasons for my travel. I received their magazine and one such cover photo looked like it was shot in the Bahamas. It was this coastline. We’ve wanted to come here since.
But that’s not the only reason. There are a couple more reasons, both with a similar theme.
Our doggo, Toby is nearly 11 years old (the equivalent 77 in human terms). He’s getting a bit nobbly bobbly, to the point where we’ve just had two lumps biopsied (if that’s a word).
It’s also Mums 80th birthday in October and it’s been over 9 years since she mum had a holiday. She’s getting a bit wobbly bobbly, insomuch as her trapped nerve or vertebrae issue means her head has a little shake when she looks directly forward.
Time moves on. More than ever over the last 6 years (3 being part of running a tech business, 3 realising nothing lasts forever, so “make hay while the sun shines”). So much has changed and I so much more want to make sure I enjoy life in the present moment.
So we booked this cottage ages ago as a surprise ’present’ to Mum as part of her birthday. Booked through Cottages.com (although it’s now not listed) it’s turned out to be one of the nicest cottages we’ve ever stayed in! But I’ll come back to that.
We set off in the California (campervan) from Cheadle Hulme at just before 10am this morning and headed up to my mums in Shevington, north of Wigan, where we loaded up the final luggage haul and the high value items. These being 3 pies and 3 sausage rolls from Baldys Pies (check them out, they are multi-award winning).
After stowing the pies in the pre-chilled camper fridge we set off up the M6 heading to Once Brewed, a small hamlet just off the A69, and very close to the Sycamore Gap site. It seen on the map there is a Twice Brewed Observatory and Planetarium, so wanted to check that out.
On arrival, it turned out that:
- The sign on arrival to the hamlet now says it’s ’Twice Brewed’, not Once Brewed
- There’s a decent pub on the same site called the Twice Brewed Inn, serving decent food and beer
- And who’d ever have thought it, but there’s also a brewery and tap room on site!
We did go to the Observatory, sadly not dog friendly, but the cafe was. Three leek & potato soups, with white buttered bread and a cheesy scone (ignore the ‘e’) downed and I nipped in and bought a selection of beers and the obligatory matching glassware.
A panic buy of a £1 pay & display ticket (not very well signed, imho) and we set off for the next part of the journey, to NT Craggside House & Gardens for a recce of a planned visit.