Newcastle-on-Tyne

We've had a wonderful few days up in Newcastle visiting our daughter and future son-in-law. I thought you might like to see a few photos of some of the places we visited.

On Friday we took a walk down by the River Tyne, along Quayside.

This is the Sage Gateshead conference/concert centre with the Royal Navy Reserves training centre in the foreground.

This is the view looking down the river, showing four of the bridges across the Tyne.

Looking the other way is the Gateshead Millennium Bridge which was built in 2001 and cost £22 million

 This is Blacksmith’s Needle, a 7.6m high conical steel sculpture with a maritime theme, represented by mermaids, shells, bells and sea creatures.

This is Swirle Pavillion, which takes its name from a hidden stream which flows into the Tyne at this point

In the centre of the city is Earl Grey's Monument.

and the Chinese Gate

We had lunch in China Town, which is much smaller than the China Towns in either Manchester or Liverpool and then in the afternoon we spent a while looking round Grainger Market, which is huge and full of wonderful green grocers, butchers and fishmongers as well as clothes and other stalls. It must be wonderful to have this as your local market, unfortunately I was so busy browsing and shopping I forgot to take any photos.

On Saturday we went out to the coast, calling at Warkworth Castle on the way.

This is the view of the town of Amble, taken from one of the arrow-slit windows in the castle

and this is Coquet Island, which is a bird sanctuary

After an excellent pub lunch in Warkworth village we went to the beach at Alnmouth. This is just how I like my beaches, practically deserted, a bit windy but with perfect sand and some sunshine too.

This was the sign hanging outside the Schooner Inn at Alnmouth. I don't think I'll be staying there any time soon!

On the way home today, we stopped off at the Angel of the North sculpture which looks down on the A1.
It was very busy as a coach-load of Japanese tourists had just arrived before us and I had problems getting a clear shot without being crowded out by them.

Even though we'd had such a good time, it was lovely to get back home to the boat. We have a device installed whereby we "phone home" and a remote control switches on the central heating so by the time we got in it was toasty and warm.