Northumberland Coast
A night at Barn at Beal and Bamburgh Castle to visit A Christmas Through Time
We booked a lovely spot at the Barn at Beal for Friday night, with plans to visit the Bamburgh Castle on Saturday morning. We made a reservation for a specific spot, which made arriving in the dark less of an issue, and we headed straight into the restaurant for dinner. Although they were very short-staffed that evening, which resulted in a limited menu, they were accommodating for the kids and kindly offered half portions of fish and chips. Steve and I both decided to order the Pan Fried Supreme of Chicken, which we’d both highly recommend, followed by a Northumbrian Doddington's cheeseboard for dessert! There were four other tables sitting the same time as us, and there was only one person working in the front of house, but she managed exceptionally well. As a result, we never had to wait for anything, and the atmosphere was lovely and peaceful (even with our kids playing Snap at the table).
With the temperatures dropping, we had thoughtfully packed both our cosy sherpa blankets, a heater and my new electric throw. The kids absolutely loved it and happily snuggled up in the warmth before heading up into the roof to settle in for the night. I will definitely make sure to take it along on our winter trips, and I might even consider a second one!
Even though drizzle was forecast for the day ahead, we were pleasantly surprised to wake up to some unexpected sunshine and stunning views out to Holy Island. We took advantage of the lovely weather by sitting with the door open, and Steve cooked bacon and sausage sandwiches. The campsite pitches are generously spaced apart and each one has beautiful views. Additionally, the ladies' facilities feature a modern, warm shower block, which has huge cubicles and hairdryers!
We are quite efficient at getting everything sorted and managed to leave the site at 9:30 to head into Bamburgh. Once we arrived, we parked our vehicle above the dunes and walked along the beach towards the castle. Being one of the first families on the beach that morning, the kids truly loved the sense of freedom and adventure! We made a promise to walk back along the beach in the afternoon, just to ensure they remained dry enough to enjoy a visit to the castle!
We have an annual pass for Bamburgh Castle, and admission includes the Christmas installation ‘A Christmas Through Time’. This is a magical journey by Charlotte Lloyd Webber, and takes you on a winter wonderland walk through the 14 State Rooms decorated in Christmases past, present and future. Our favourite was the Viking sails below the Northern Lights. It is worth reading the leaflet as you enter each room to understand the story behind the installation.
The installation ends with a modern take on future Christmases, and as we concluded our visit, we headed through the gift shop towards the exit. This shop always has lovely, locally made gifts, and has been extended along the corridors, offering a large selection of beautiful Christmas decorations, many of which we had spotted as we walked around the castle. I couldn’t resist leaving without purchasing a beautifully embroidered Viking boat decoration for the tree! It’s almost time!
Before leaving, we made our way to the tearoom for lunch. There is a good selection of items on the menu, and Steve decided to order a jacket potato, while I opted for the sweet potato and butternut squash soup accompanied by a cheese scone. The kids were more than happy with their lunchboxes, which also included a drink. We headed around the castle and along the beach towards the van.
When we reached the beach, we noticed that a few other visitors were pointing enthusiastically and walking quickly towards the water. It wasn't long before we spotted a large pod of dolphins swimming only a few metres from where the waves were breaking. The kids were filled with pure excitement, and we all ran down together to take a closer look. It was a perfect end to our short trip before driving home!
