Terry Smith's Photo Walks

Date: 8th May 2008.

Route: A four and a half mile saunter along the beautiful Northumbrian coast from Craster to Low Newton by the Sea.

Parking: A linear walk with a car left in the car park at Craster and another at Low Newton by the Sea (both pay and display).

Map: Landranger 75, Berwick-upon-Tweed & surrounding area. - although a map isn't really a necessity on this walk.

Weather: Fine and generally warm, although some(-body called Tom) felt a bit chilly in the shade. A light sea-fret.

We turned right out of the car park at Craster. Walked for a few hundred yards to the harbour and turned
left in front of a row houses. Through a gate onto the coastal path and keep on walking until you reach
Low Newton by the Sea. That's basically all the directions that are required except.... If you look over to
your right and can't see the sea you've gone too far to the left. If you're up to your knees in salty water
you've gone too far to the right. Easy peasy.

This is a return to a favourite area and I've come here to meet up with a couple of my oldest friends. I think I'll re-phrase
that to - a couple of my friends who I've known for a very long time.

Say hello to my friends Pam and Tom as they stand in front of the gatehouse-keep of Dunstanburgh Castle.
They're here on a spring holiday from their home in Switzerland and hurrah they've brought some good
weather with them.

Now then I'd feel left out if I didn't get my photo taken with Pam as well, so here we are
together. See I'm happy now that I'm included.

The castle, once one of the largest in Northumberland, was completed in 1314 and enlarged in
1356. It is managed by The National Trust and is open to the public (admission fee applies)

Saddle (saddle shaped rock) or Greymare Rock which is a really interesting geological feature of folded limestone strata. Tom
who was a classmate of mine at school for several years remarked how our old geography teacher, Mr Eccleston, would have
been really excited to have seen it. Mr Eccleston used to become very excitable when he described these type of features to the
class. His arms flapping about wildly. His description of of a volcano erupting was especially spectacular and caused great hilarity
amongst the class. Tom saw him several years ago running a post office in Cleveland and says he was still very passionate about
geography.

We're next to the golf course here and it's wise to keep a look out for stray flying golf balls if there's any golfers in the vicinity.

A sepia tinted look back to the 14th century Lilburn tower which was used as a watchtower. Further along to the left is
Gull Crag, a 100 foot sea bird colony.

The font clips show some of the beers that have previously been on sale in the pub. I enjoy some of the
ingenious names the brewers come up with. Of this lot I particularly liked, "Beer Comes The Bride".

Also to my delight I see.....

...some 'Fentimans 'Ginger Beer'. It used to be so popular in the north east when I was growing up. Delivered to your door
in stone bottles, just like the one above. I'm sure my brothers Phil & Malcolm will remember them as our mother used to use
them as hot water bottles for us in the winter and put them in our beds. Happy days.

Outside 'The Ship Inn' where Pam & Tom treat me to a large and delicious fresh crab sandwich, tea and lashings of
Fentimans Ginger Beer....burp!! oops pardon me, but hey I really enjoyed that. Thanks.

Why is it Pam asked that we really enjoy crab sandwiches by the seaside but probably don't have them again until the next
time we visit the seaside again? She's right perhaps it's the sea air or sea views but they do seem to taste so much better as
the seaside. Fish and chips straight out of the paper wrapping eaten at the seaside are the same.

Walk over we head back to Craster................

A boat returning to harbour after a days fishing trip. It reminded me of a famous Northumbrian folk song "When the Boat
Comes In". Which is also the name of a classic t.v. series that was shown in the 1970's. It was set in the north east of England
between the two world wars. Read about the series here. The folk song was used as the theme tune to the series. You can hear
the original theme tune sung by Alex Glasgow and see some black and white footage of the British fishing fleet (remember we
used to have one!!) here. Finally, you can read the words of the song here, although unless you're a local you may need to enrol
on a 'Larn yersel Geordie' course :-)

That's all for this walk, we'd had a very enjoyable day out. Call back to see my next walk or........