Nice places to stop off at.....

[NewcastleFalcon]

Floors Castle-the bits you don't have to pay for

Only recently realised this with the nod from our eldest. We had previously used the Terrace Cafe which you can enjoy without the entrance fee to the gardens or the Castle, and you can sit outside in the walled garden.

https://www.floorscastle.com/visit/shop ... race-cafe/

But you can also do the Woodland Walk/ Riverside Walk and enjoy the Castle Courtyard Cafe. Just excellent all round!

A little gallery of Falcon Originals

Neil

[myglaren]

That looks a nice place and not too far away.

[Gibbo2286]

On the Castles subject this might interest some, the castle's worth a visit even if you're not interested in the Land Rover experience.
https://experience.landrover.co.uk/east ... rview.html

https://eastnorcastle.com/

[NewcastleFalcon]

Find yourself a lake, some evening sunlight and a Swan. This sort of thing

Neil

[myglaren]

^Was that today?
We had some sun but also rain and hail.

[NewcastleFalcon]

^Was that today?
We had some sun but also rain and hail.

Yes, as were today's the pics from me in other threads. Cold at start, plenty of sun and fluffy white clouds, and some brooding dark skies, but never had the windscreen wipers on at any time this afternoon or evening. We must have dodged the rain. The MG on the makers name in close up had rain on it, but there must have been a shower before we turned up and I took the picture.

Neil

[CitroJim]

That's superb Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Bit more agitated water down at Cresswell today!

[CitroJim]

Bit more agitated water down at Cresswell today!

Happy memories of that beach

And the café nearby

[NewcastleFalcon]

Anywhere, get up and see the sunrise I've even seen it rise above Milton Keynes on the National Express overnight bus from Newcastle to London

Not one of my sunrise photos, but what a reward for getting out and about and seeking out the sunrise. Professional photographer who puts up some of his stuff on the Newbiggin Dolphin Watch Facebook page. Dolphins have gone a bit quiet but the site has filled up recently with stunning pics of the Northern Lights (er getting a bit tired of them to be honest) and the big moons of late against background of coastal castles and lighthouses.

This pic did stop me in my tracks with a genuine "that's stunning". I like a pic of a swan, but what an outstanding composition. Don't want to nick the work so its an onerous but worthwhile click of the link to view.

Jim Scott Photography..Embleton Bay Northumberland-Newbiggin Dolphin Watch Facebook Group

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Came cross an old Friend today, and astounded the very pleasant young lady owner, who had sought out the vehicle via a facebook group on the Renault Estafette, with my random bit of knowledge about the van.

Back in 2017 while attending a big classic car event held at Thirlestane Castle in Lauder, I photographed this Blue Estafette at the Flat Cat Gallery and Coffee Shop at Lauder, a regular stop off place when we are up in Scotland.

Lauder July 2017 Flat Cat Gallery and Coffee Shop	Old Hartley September 2024 in lovely cream and black livery Little Brew Coffee Van
	St Mary's Lighthouse Whitley Bay from Old Hartley Car Park

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

That's a place I really want to visit... I may get my wish one day as a friend plans to move to Berwick... I'll miss her but will have good reason to visit the area!

Berwick today was particularly interesting, Lovely incoming tide with repeating white breakers down at Spital, the town bathed in the light of the fading sun as was the Royal Border Bridge, and an added bonus who knew, not the locals but a couple of Ring Necked Parakeets flying around and perching on the bridge in amongst the Jackdaws. Seen them in Gosforth, but never as far north as Berwick.

Spital Beach	Berwick from Spital Beach
Royal Border Bridge in the Fading Sun	Out of focus Ring-Necked Parakeet

Neil

[CitroJim]

Superb stuff Neil Parakeets! I wonder if they're now beginning to colonise parts of the UK now? If so, I applaud their decision to do so in Northumberland

[NewcastleFalcon]

Superb stuff Neil Parakeets! I wonder if they're now beginning to colonise parts of the UK now? If so, I applaud their decision to do so in Northumberland

British Trust For Ornithology reckon there are over 12,000 breeding pairs in the UK. Expanding across Britain, definitely in Newcastle, and also Edinburgh and Glasgow. Probably hitch a ride on the trains! Saves all that flying business.

https://www.bto.org/understanding-birds ... red%20neck

The Ring-necked Parakeet was accepted onto the British List in 1983. It has long been a popular cage-bird and the British breeding population, estimated at around 12,000 pairs (as at 2022), is the result of birds escaping from captivity over a long period of time. The birds breeding here in Britain constitute the most northerly breeding parrots in the world.

Some interesting theories about the origins (from wiki)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feral_par ... ets%20that
Parakeets that escaped from the branch of Ealing Studios used for the filming of The African Queen (Isleworth Studios) in 1951
Parakeets that escaped from damaged aviaries during the Great Storm of 1987
A pair of parakeets released by Jimi Hendrix in Carnaby Street, London, in the 1960s
A number of parakeets that reportedly escaped from a pet shop in Sunbury-on-Thames in 1970[5]

Most ornithologists believe that the original birds likely escaped from aviaries before 1971.

Neil

[CitroJim]

Interesting stuff Neil Thanks!