Scotland & Northern England Highlights Day 11

Saturday, March 29th, 2025

Very early this morning we checked out of our hotel in Chester. Our hotel was the Mill Hotel & Spa which was once the Griffiths Corn Mill from 1830. It was located on the banks of the Shropshire Union Canal.

We said goodbye to Chester, England and our adventures were coming to an end.

We were headed to the Manchester Airport for the first of our two flights home. The airport was much bigger than we anticipated.

Our flight from Manchester, England would take us to Atlanta, Georgia. Our plane took off without a hitch.

The layover in Atlanta was long, even with going through Customs! Unfortunately we had a late flight into Columbus. Our luggage went on an earlier flight that we were hoping to get on but no such luck. When we arrived it was around midnight but we didn’t have to wait for our bags. They were sitting there waiting for us and we were thankful to get home!

Our trip was full of new experiences and some that were repeats. We enjoyed them all!

Our next adventure will take us to Portugal, a country we haven’t explored. Stay tuned….

Scotland & Northern England Highlights Day 10

Friday, March 28th, 2025

This morning we checked out of our hotel in Durham.

On our drive to Liverpool we saw a beautiful full rainbow.

On our drive we saw some Highland cows in England.

In the village of Brough, Cumbria, England we saw the medieval ruins of the Brough Castle. It was built on the site of a Roman fort, Verteris in the 12th century.

Much of the fields and farms that we passed were divided by stone walls. This began in England in the 12th century and continues today.

We arrived in Liverpool and it was such a beautiful day but very windy!

We got off the bus and headed to lunch where we had reservations at the Philarmonic Dining Rooms.

The Philharmonic Dining Rooms was called The Phil by the locals. It was a historic pub built between 1898 and 1900. It was famous for its mens toilets! Buddy Holly performed here as well as Paul McCartney (as seen on James Corden’s The Late Late Show).

Outside of the Philharmonic were two signs, one that allowed dogs and the other that mentioned the toilets in the mens room.

Once we ordered our food, we had to visit the restrooms to compare the men’s to the women’s. Women could check out the men’s room if it was vacant. The men’s room was definitely more elaborate than the women’s room.

The Philharmonic as we walked in for our reservation.

We ate lunch in the room where Paul McCartney did a surprise performance with James Corden from The Late Late Show. Here is a YouTube link to watch the surprised guests in the pub, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPmD9C2uab4.

After lunch we had time to visit the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. It was the largest Catholic cathedral in England. The architect that won an open competition was Frederick Gibbard. One of the requirements for the design competition was that every member in the cathedral could see the altar. Gibbard’s design was a cathedral in the round. Construction began in 1962 and it was completed in 1967.

The main focus was the white marble altar and the floor was also gray and white marble.

The white marble altar could be seen by all.

We saw the statue of Hugh Stowell Brown. He was a 19th century preacher and social activist in Liverpool. His statue was one of three Liverpool clergymen who received the honor of a statue.

The Wellington’s Column or it was also called the Waterloo Memorial was completed in 1863. It was a monument to the Duke of Wellington that celebrated his achievements. His most notable was the Battle of Waterloo.

In the photo below, the Art Deco building on the left was the George’s Dock Ventilation building. It was a ventilation shaft for the first Mersey tunnel and also had some offices. It was built in the 1930s.

George’s Dock Ventilation Building on the left and on the right was the Port of Liverpool Building

The building on the right of the above photo was the Port of Liverpool building that was completed in 1907. During WWII its eastern wing was damaged from a bomb hitting the building. It was restored after the war ended.

The Beatles bronze statue was located on Liverpool’s waterfront. It was sculpted by Andrew Edwards and placed in 2015. The statue was donated by the Cavern Club which was a famous music venue. The Cavern Club was also where the Beatles began!

The Beatles statue was the most popular selfie spot in Liverpool and it was very busy when we visited. Of course we took photos too!

Our next stop was the Royal Albert Dock for The Beatles Story!

The Beatles Story was a museum that had authentic memorabilia and incorporated immersive experiences. If you were a Beatle fan then you were impressed with the displays. We had an audio guide that allowed us to move at our own pace. This experience gave us the complete history and rise of the Beatles. It was well worth the time. Click through the slideshow below to view some highlights from The Beatle Story!

When we left The Beatles Story, we drove down Penny Lane. Penny Lane lyrics were written by Paul McCartney. It was memories of his childhood neighborhood in Liverpool. Some of the people named in the lyrics were based on actual people that Paul remembered. If you don’t know the song please look it up and listen to it.

Our bus driver also took us past John Lennon’s childhood home. The current homeowners have a plaque on the front of the home and another sign on the side of the driveway entrance letting people know where his home was located. The plaque on the home said that John Lennon lived in this home from 1945-1963.

After a busy day in Liverpool we checked into our hotel in Chester, England.

Scotland & Northern England Highlights Day 9

Thursday, March 27th, 2025

This morning we checked out of our hotel in Edinburgh and we were heading to England. As we drove by Haddington, Scotland we saw such fertile land.

We passed by Eyemouth, Scotland. It was a fishing port along the North Sea and it was located about five miles from the English border.

By mid-morning we crossed the border from Scotland into England.

We had a quick stop at Berwick-upon-Tweed. It was the most northerly town in England and along the North Sea coast. The Royal Border Bridge was a railway line running between Edinburgh and London. The bridge was designed by Robert Stephenson and spanned the River Tweed. It had 28 semicircular arches and 13 of those arches spanned the river. The bridge used 8 million cubic feet of stone and 2 1/2 million bricks set in cement. It opened in 1850.

During WWII, the Royal Border Bridge was a vital target for German bombers. It was never successfully hit and it operated throughout the war. In the 1990s the bridge underwent a restoration project.

The Berwick Lighthouse was red and white at the end of the pier guarding the entrance to the River Tweed. It was built in 19th century and completed in 1826.

The lighthouse was very exposed with the North Sea gales. In 2020 it was repainted and repointed.

Down the coastline was Spittal Beach in the village of Spittal. It was a popular seaside resort due to its sandy beach.

Spittal got its name from a shortened form of “hospital”. That hospital was dedicated to St. Bartholomew and it was built here during the Middle Ages to care for lepers.

We passed by Holy Island also known as Lindisfarne was a tidal island known for its historical sites. The Lindisfarne Priory which was a former monastery and Lindisfarne Castle dated back to 1550. You could only reach the island by a causeway that only can be traversed following the tide schedule and the weather.

Bamburgh Castle looked over the Northumberland coastline and we stopped here for a visit and tour. The castle sat on a volcanic rocky plateau 150 feet above the coastline. Its remains dated back to the 12th century.

The Bamburgh Castle was home to a succession of kings from Henry VI to James I. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny beginning scenes were filmed outside of the castle. The castle doubled as a 1944 Nazi Germany location.

The Battery Terrace was located above the Battery Gate. It was designed to withstand attacks.

In 1894 William George Armstrong bought the castle. He was an inventor, industrialist, philanthropist and he transformed it into an archetypal castle. He added a unique collection of artwork, ceramics, and objects of art. The Castle was still owned by the Armstrong family. There were 14 rooms opened to the public.

Inside the castle, Dave sat in the Wessox throne that was created in Season 3 of The Last Kingdom which was a TV series. Some of the series was filmed at Bamburgh.

The Keep was a large square structure and the oldest surviving part of the castle. The walls were 11 feet thick to the front and 9 feet wide elsewhere.

The Courtroom was located within the Keep and originally was a Norman guardroom and now served as a portrait gallery.

At the base of the Keep was a Saxon well with a victorian cap.

The murder hole located in the castle was used to discourage or kill invaders from entering the castle.

The Cross Hall, located at the top of the King’s Hall had a tudor style fireplace and vast trapestries and the focus of the room was a copy of “The Card Players” by Theodoor Rombouts It was painted in 1630.

The King’s Hall was built on the site of the medieval Great Hall. The false hammer beam ceiling was made from teak wood that came from Thailand. It was the castle’s main social reception and banqueting hall.

We visited the Victorian Stables. It was built by Lord Armstrong. Now it was home to the Victorian Stables Bar and included a dog-friendly area.

We also visited the Library, with literature from the mid 17th and mid 18th centuries and the Faire Chamber that housed a collection of ceramics from the 18th and the early 19th century. The Armory had a collection of weapons displayed.

Views from the castle to the surrounding area.

View of the North Sea from the ground of the castle

Looking out at the North Sea we could see the Farne Islands, a National Nature Preserve. We could see a few of the 15-20 islands. Lighthouses have been built on many of the islands due to the danger to ships. Below were a couple of the islands we could see that had lighthouses.

When we left Bamburgh Castle we headed to Durham. Durham was located in Northeast England and was a hilly city and the Durham Cathedral dominated the skyline. Its name was derived from “Dunholme” or hill island due to its location and a bend on the River Wear.

The Durham Cathedral and the Durham Castle became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986. In 2008 the World Heritage site expanded its designation to include Durham University, Palace Green, University College, and Durham.

A few scenes from our walk in Durham.

The Durham Cathedral was founded in 995 AD by monks from Lindisfarne who were fleeing Viking raids. They brought their holy relics with them.

The Sanctuary Knocker or Sanctuary Ring currently on the north entrance door was placed there in 1981. The original was in the Durham Cathedral Museum and was from the 1100s.

The Sanctuary ring was used by a person who committed a great offense. That person would rap the ring and monks would give the person 37 days of sanctuary. The 37 days would be used by the accused person would need to decide whether to face trial or exile. This right to sanctuary was abolished in 1624.

Built in 1686 was a beautiful oak wood organ case. It was built by Bernard Schmidt or Father Smith as he was called. It was no longer in use.

The Cloister was a covered walkway with windows on one side that opened to a grassy area called the Cloister Garth. It was located south of the Nave and was built in the 12th century and remodeled in the early 15th century and this was what we saw today.

If you were a Harry Potter fan then you’d be interested in the scenes filmed at the Cathedral. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone movies filmed scenes in the Cloister.

The Cloister Garth was used in a wintery scene in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. It was whenHarry released his pet owl Hedwig. It was also used in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets when Ron’s “eat slugs” curse backfires.

In the Galilee Chapel was constructed in the 1100s when Durham Cathedral was a monestary. This was one of the few places a woman was allowed. Saint Bede the Venerable was known for his writing, scholarship, and historian. His most famous work was Ecclesiastical History of the English People. His resting place was here.

If you watched Avengers: Endgame movie the Galilee Chapel was one of the rooms in the Asgard Palace.

The Nave was the main room of the cathedral. Services were held here.

The Nave was also used in Avengers: Endgame movie. It was where Thor traveled back in time and visited Asgard.

The South Transept was by the entrance to the Cathedral Tower. It had a colorful medieval clock above a door that the choir used to enter.

The clock was constructed by Prior Castell in the late 15th or early 16th century. In 1845 they removed the clock. The Victorians thought is was too frivolous. In 1938 the clock was reconstructed by the Friends of Durham Cathedral.

The Quire was the heart of the cathedral. Daily worship took place here.

The Shrine of St. Cuthbert was up the stairs in the Chapel of Nine Altars. He was buried beneath a stone slab that bore his name. The Shrine was located behind The Quire.

The Chapel of the Nine Altars was located behind the Shrine of St. Cuthbert. Today there were three working altars dedicated to St. Margaret, St. Hild, and St. Aiden. It was built between 1242-1280 because they needed space for the number of pilgrims visiting St. Cuthbert’s Shrine.

The Pietà sculpture was in the Chapel of the Nine Altars. It was carved from a beech tree with brass details from 1974-1981 by sculptor Fenwick Lawson.

We checked into our hotel and walked back into town to eat at the Fat Hippo. It was located in the historic center of Durham.

The Fat Hippo was known for their burgers so we all tried one and it didn’t disappoint. The restaurant was in a grade II listed building. That meant the building had to be preserved and was recognized on England’s National Heritage List. We were seated on the second floor which had a little bit of a slope. The building was from the 17th century.