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Castles

Barnard Castle and the Bowes Museum

February 7, 2012

Last weekend we paid an unscheduled visit to Barnard Castle. Our normal pattern when driving over the A66 between Cumbria and County Durham has been to fly past at 60 to 70 miles per hour on the way to or from somewhere or other. This time, however, a glance at the fuel gauge said quite [...]

Some Places to Visit in the Lake District

October 28, 2011

[Updated from a 2008 post]In addition to the lakes themselves there is a wide variety of things to do in the Lake District. There are places to visit ranging from the literary connections of Dove Cottage at Grasmere (home of the poet William Wordsworth) to the practicalities (although also with artistic potential) of the pencil [...]

Pendragon Castle in the Sunshine

October 18, 2011

As I said in a previous post about the Mallerstang Valley it can be a wild place. Last time I was there the pictures were of gloom: This past weekend, however, I saw it in a different light.

Pendragon Castle, Mallerstang, Cumbria

July 7, 2011

Of all the castles inherited by Lady Anne Clifford, Countess of Pembroke, in the 17th century Pendragon Castle must have been in the wildest and most remote-feeling location of them all. The Mallerstang valley in Cumbria, between the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks, and just to the south of the North Pennines AONB [...]

Brougham Castle, Penrith, Cumbria

June 30, 2011

Recently I uploaded a post about Brough Castle, one of several in the Eden Valley area belonging to Lady Anne Clifford in the 17th century. Yesterday I snatched this quick shot of another of the long-ago residences of this remarkable lady, Brougham Castle, just outside Penrith and beautifully situated beside the River Eamont, the river [...]

Brough Castle in the Eden Valley, Cumbria

June 22, 2011

Brough Castle is passed by thousands of motorists every day as they plough past on the A66 between Cumbria and County Durham at whatever maximum speed the traffic will allow, hurrying towards or on the way down the Pennine slopes from Stainmore. Those using the Kirkby Stephen road pass even closer to the castle’s nine [...]

World Sheepdog Trials in Cumbria

June 14, 2011

In September Cumbria welcomes the World Sheepdog Trials to the parkland at Lowther Castle, near Penrith, Cumbria. More than 200 dogs and their handlers from over 20 nations will compete. Many thousands of spectators are expected at this prestigious event and its associated Food & Country Festival. A parade through Penrith is planned for Wednesday, [...]

“I thought there were more castles”

February 20, 2011

A few minutes ago I was bragging to myself about how many North of England castles I had mentioned here on the blog. However, I must now confess that many of these have been more intention than action. I must improve my ways. Last week I did mention Durham Castle in passing, but didn’t say [...]

Kendal Castle

February 19, 2011

Last Wednesday I spent much of the afternoon walking around Kendal capturing views of the town. The intention is to produce a series of blog posts amounting to a photo-walk around the town centre, but for the time being here is one shot of Kendal Castle. Centuries ago this was one of the homes of [...]

Lowther Castle – Restoration on a Massive Scale

January 26, 2011

When, many years ago, I first saw Lowther Castle I was quite taken aback. Driving near Askham, south of Penrith, on the Eastern side of the English Lake District, suddenly this amazing building appeared on the horizon. Decades after its substantial destruction and exposure to the elements the massive skeleton stands impressive still. Over the [...]

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