Thursday, July 30, 2015

Beach Dreams



Doesn't this want to make you sink your toes into the sand...

Photo: camille styles

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Chillingham Castle, Northumberland

Deep in the borderlands of Northumberland is a beautiful castle.  It is famous for it's wild highland cattle, white and ferocious, with horns you wouldn't want to mess with.  It's also had its fair share of notoriety due to the allegedly abundant ghosts that walk its corridors.  Most Haunted, the tv series, visited here some years ago. The castle is the home of Sir Humphry Wakefield and his family.  Since 1246 the castle has been owned by the same bloodline with the Earls Grey building the sinister dungeons as well as the beautiful parklands and gardens.  The current owner, who lives in one wing, has carried out extensive restoration and it's definitely a work in progress.  The rooms that are open to the public include the Armoury, the Dungeons, Mediaeval Courtyard, Great Hall (which was built to entertain James VI of Scotland), Edward 1 Room (he stayed here with his cousins whilst on his way to capture William Wallace, of Brave Heart fame), King James I Room and the Plaque Room.  There is also a Chapel and a Museum.  The whole place is brimming with artefacts that have been found during the restoration process, and they are displayed randomly and abundantly, something to stare at on every surface. I had a great chat with one of the guides, who told me about his own ghostly encounters.  It's certainly not hard to believe they exist in those eerie rooms, with untold shadows that stalk you from corner to corner.  I didn't see any ghostly figures this time, but who knows who may have been watching me from a quiet corner...





 Excuse the quality of the photos, it was very dark inside, and pouring with rain outside!  Good photos it does not make.