I came across this odd landmark a few years ago doing geocaching. Having never seen or heard of one…read morein the UK before I found it rather intriguing. What it is, is a sulphur spring right beside the river tees. The smell of rotten eggs greats you as you approach down a small path but after about 5 minuets the smell no longer seems to be there however if you move away some distance and return it's back like a bad smell. Apparently it has some healing properties according to the Victorians who flocked to taste the waters. Having had a little taste my self it wasn't that inviting. The original fountain was replaced in 2000 but still looks the part (see images). If you are heading up teesdale via Barnard Castle then it's on the way. A small lay-by is provided to park in and then it's just a short 100m walk down a path.

This would once have been a beautiful building. Unfortunately, after Henry VIII disbanded monastic…read morecommunities in England, Wales and Scotland in the 1500s, all that remains is the gatehouse. This functioned as a vicarage to the local church and is now in the care of English Heritage and probably dates back to the 1100s. Definetly worth the walk, or the drive.

Legend has it that the Abbey on Inchcolm Island in the Forth, began when King Alexander I was…read moreshipwrecked in 1123, and took shelter in a hermit's hovel. After the hermit saved his life, the King decided to build a priory on the Island. In any case it was definitely a priory by the mid 13th century when in 1235 it became an Abbey and grew from there. Inchcolm Abbey is regarded as one of the best preserved medieval monastic building complexes. It really is impressive. To get here you need to get one of two ferry services from Queensferry (make you sure you choose the option to get off at the Island and don't just pay for the cruise) which takes about thirty minutes. Once there you are free to explore the Abbey (and the rest of the island). It really is a great trip, if you're anything like me and generally like ruined piles of stone. But in all seriousness so much of it is still intact, that you really get a feel for the place. Actually it can become a bit maze like with all its stairs and many floors. One particular nerve racking part involves a steep climb up some very small winding stairs. These monks really were midgets! In fact I'm quite surprised Historic Scotland still lets visitors climb these precarious heights, but I'm glad they do. From the top of the tower you get a fantastic view of the Island and across the Forth. It also makes a great family day out, especially with the cruise to boot. Kids love to run around the Island and if its a nice day it makes a perfect picnic venue.

Just because we live in Edinburgh doesn't mean we can't enjoy the city. The folks who run the city…read morecentre (Waverley Bridge) bus tours also run a boat to Inchcolm Abbey. Go for it - an absolutely brilliant and fascinating day out. Couple of tips, buy coffee on board, if you get off at Inchcolm (do, it's amazing) either take a picnic or have a meal before or after the cruise. They only have very expensive bottled drinks and biscuits and chocolate on the island. Take your camera, wear flat shoes and comfy clothes and go for a paddle if its warm. Look out for the seals, so cute. Fantastic day out for all ages.

This is a castle plus the gardens and deer park. You can pay to see the gardens only (not the…read morecastle opens later at 1pm and at the moment seems to just do guided tours). We were travelling back from a visit to the North East and so visited this on route. We just paid to see the gardens as we were too early for the Castle. The gardens are spectacular. There are hedges which seem like twisted, organic creatures. The plants are a delight. The castle is half surrounded by a flooded moat and you can walk round the castle and spy deer (there were lots of warnings not to touch them at this time of year). The castle is spectacular and the whole experience was well worth the diversion.There is a cafe in the old stables as well as the obligatory gift shop. Personally, I didn't think they made enough of the link to the gardens-there could have been a market shop selling plants and produce from the gardens. They do sell venison but it is frozen until they "start killing" (it was put like this to me) next month. By which time I assume the fridges will be stocked with venison to buy. Well worth a visit.

What a great castle, what ever the weather. I pass the place several times a week & never ceases to…read moreamaze me. It so nice to see large herds of deer roaming in it's vast grounds. Often seen is both long horned cattle & red shaggy highland cattle. Not seen from the road but in the picture is a large lake/moat. It's not regularly open so check before visiting. At Xmas they have a Market with Santa & you are able to buy Xmas trees from the Raby estate. Other events are held here such as vintage car shows & orchid shows. Well worth a visit even just to see it's majesty from the outside.

Capernwray Hall, stately home and residence of the Founder…read moreof Toarch Bearer Community, Major Ian Thomas. After World War II where he served as an army officer in Germany with the British Army of The Rhine, he dedicated his life and his fortune, mainly his residence and whole property, the Lord Lieutenant of the county of Lancaster home Capernwray Hall, to serve as the central unit to all his enormous religious activities, founding lots of bible school places and establishing regional and local sections of his Toarch Bearer Fellowship all over the world. Here it all began, in 1946, when he set out to buy the castle and to converte it into what it is now, the heart of his sacred movement.

We visited September 2024, on a Last Kingdom pilgrimage from London to Bamburgh. Whitby was a must…read moresee for us, having been established by the Abbess Hild, who was portrayed in TLK. Even though liberties were taken with her timeline in the show it made sense to add Whitby Abbey a stop on our tour. The Abbey is a typical medieval Norman structure, one of many torn down by the **** Henry VIII when he had enough of Catholics. The state of ruin though adds to the mystique of the place. Its magnificent unmistakable shape seen for miles around atop the cliffs of Whitby, looking over the mouth of River Esk. We were lucky with the weather, a cool but clear sunny day. I can imagine it gets pretty cold and blustery up here, so pack accordingly, just in case. Its a fair bit of walking too, much of it up hill, even from the adjacent parking lot. So leave plenty of time if you are a slow huff-and-puff walker like me. If you're feeling fit then theres the 199 steps up from the town below. There is a great museum that covers a great deal of history of the area and the Abbey. Of course all the Bram Stoker and Dracula associations are noted and observed. As are lots of the other literary dignitaries linked to this place. Theres a very nice gift shop too with a good array of nick nacks and local fare. One thing miss from the North East is the mead. We got hooked on mead on our trip and they have a good selection in the Abbey shop. While you are there St Marys Church is just across the way (see my other review of that). Its a must see. While we were there, the ticket machine at the parking lot was not working, so we went without paying for a ticket. We didnt get towed or anything, I don't know how much they patrol the lot. Other than that the lot is pretty huge, loads of open spots. We were there later in the day midweek after schools were back, and there were only a few people visiting. I cant imagine the Abbey on a busy Saturday, the solitude added to the isolated ambience so I'm glad for that. Overall a must see, wherever you are from or heading to, make a point of getting up here at least once in your life.

Whitby Abbey is probably the most impressive Abbey we've visited yet. Sitting high above charming…read moreWhitby. The location and the Abbey have a long and interesting history. Some facts: Communities have lived on this headland for over 3,000 years and it has long been an important holy place and seat of power. In AD 657 Abbess Hild founded a monastery for men and women at Whitby, on land given by King Oswiu. It was Whitby's first monastic site. The Benedictine monk Reinfrid established a new community on the site in 1078. The Benedictine monastery was suppressed by Henry VIII in 1539 and its ruins are the ones we see on Whitby headland today. And Bram Stoker set part of Dracula here. The ruins are nothing short of breathtaking. The architecture, the countless details. You can spend a whole day here is still find more things to explore. And to imagine how the Abbey must have been when it was still in one piece. It's already an impressive sight now. But back then it must have been incredible. You can walk on the grounds and inside the Abbey freely. Dogs are also allowed on the site. There's lots of room and space for all visitors. Never felt crowded. If you arrive from the carpark on Abbey Lane then you will get some spectacular views of the Abbey from the little pond. The whole site is also wheelchair friendly, it's all pretty flat and easy to get around. EH members enter free of charge. A fantastic visit. And make sure to visit Whitby itself. It's probably packed as usual, but worth a visit.

As suggested below it's just a ruin but worth a look around the outside at least. As it's part of…read morethe English heritage sites you are admitted with a discount. There isn't any parking but plenty in and around the town. The castle itself is just off the Market place. If you walk down the hill past the entrance you can get a good perspective of this once mighty fortress & some good views of the river Tees & medieval bridge that is still used today. There are some nice walks on the other side of the river in either direction with foot bridges not more the half a mile to return you back to the castle. Probably not the best looking castle in SW Durham but it is up against Raby, Witton, Walworth, Brancpeth, Auckland & Durham itself. Worth a visit though if you are in Barnard Castle for day out.

Not much left of this place but still a good place to see, We looked outside and did not pay to…read morelook inside as its not worth it as not much of it left and you can see all you need to see outside. Its a hill you have to walk up to get to it but it is worth it, a nice piece of history

Whitby is divided in two by the river and there had to be some way to cross. This was the swing…read morebridge which opened for shipping. There is now an additional road bridge. The main street of the old East side of Whitby is Church Street, which has cottages to one side and the river to the other. At the swing bridge it becomes a cobbled pedestrian street with houses and shops on both sides. Off of Church Street are many small snickets with intriguing names such as Saltpanwell Steps which house pretty fisherman's cottages. The swing bridge which joins the two communities East and West of the river Esk together, has been the scene of rivalry in the earlier part of this century, where gangs of youths would contest the bridge with t`other side o` watter dogs . The original bridge was first mentioned in 1351 and used to lie to the South of the present one, roughly aligned with Baxtergate. Centuries ago, houses on wooden piles overhung the river above and below the bridge. A block of early 18th century buildings on the south side was demolished in 1975. The present swing bridge was built in 1909 and is electrically operated. The bridge opens on the hour and half hour on request on VHF channel 11 and is manned for two hours either side of high water. While on duty the bridge operatives maintain a listening watch on VHF channels 11 and 16. The first opening will be as soon as practical two hours before high water and the final opening will be 10 minutes prior to two hours after high water. The bridge spans 75ft and each section can be operated independently swinging horizontally. Whitby is a working port, and opposite the amusements you can see the fishing boats bring in their catches and watch the fishermen attend to their nets.

We always love watching this bridge open…read more The bridge spans the river and it divides the town in two, I always think of the Church Street side of the river as the old town this is the streets that are conjured up with the image of Dracula, this side of the town is looked over by the Abbey and Church. The other side of the town is the typical seaside town with amusements and beach side shops. The bridge is a wonderful piece of engineering and is always busy. In the summer the paths are always full and you can find yourself forced into the road, as the cars are always crossing this can be scary, and it is always best to carry small children if possible and in the crush they can become scared.

- [x] Walmgate Bar (cat trail)     - [x] Fishergate Bar…read more    - [x] Fishergate Postern Tower     - [x] Clifford tower - [x] Skeldergate bridge - [x] Baile Hill     - [x] Victoria Bar     - [x] Micklegate Bar (Tansy beetle mural nearby) - [x] Lendal bridge, Lendal tower, Barker Tower (judi dench walk nearby)   - [x] Multangular Tower in museum gardens where you'll find st Mary's abbey and the hospitium) - [x] Bootham bar - [x] Robin Hood tower - [x] Monk bar (5 mins to minster) - [x] Layerthorpe bridge (15 mins to minster) - [x] The red tower

This was one of our favorite activities in York! An absolute MUST if you're visiting. These old…read morecity walls surround most of the city and run about 2 miles long. It is free to go on the walk and there are guides throughout the city that will keep you on track. We did it in about an hour and a half (with a stop in to a cute coffee shop along the wall!). It is a great way to see the city + get some exercise after eating all of the incredible English pub food! There are multiple, narrow staircases and it definitely is not fit for a stroller so we carried our baby in his wearable carrier! This worked out really well. We would absolutely do this again on another visit - the scenery is gorgeous and it was a really cool experience with activations along the way.