{"id":527,"date":"2014-04-29T12:18:26","date_gmt":"2014-04-29T12:18:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/budlebaycroft.co.uk\/?page_id=527"},"modified":"2024-03-26T18:01:22","modified_gmt":"2024-03-26T18:01:22","slug":"castles","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/budlebaycroft.co.uk\/?page_id=527","title":{"rendered":"Castles, Coast and Conquests"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]Northumberland has more castles<\/a> than any other county in England. Many stand guard along our\u00a0dramatic coastline and are very easily accessible from Budle Bay Croft.\u00a0Don\u2019t forget to ask us if we can get you discounts when visiting them!<\/p>\n

Lindisfarne Castle<\/a> – a short drive from Budle Bay Croft across the\u00a0causeway and you will see Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island. This\u00a0started as a small fort built during the reign of Henry VIII but has seen\u00a0no bloodshed. The present castle was restored in 1902 as a house by Sir\u00a0Edwards Lutyens and is now owned by the National Trust. Be sure to check the Holy Island Safe Crossing Times!<\/a><\/p>\n

Bamburgh Castle \u2013 wander from Budle Bay Croft along the England Coast Path or across the crags to\u00a0Bamburgh and you can\u2019t fail to notice the majestic castle dominating\u00a0the local sky-scape. Bamburgh Castle<\/a> has sat proudly on top of a basalt outcrop for more than 2000\u00a0years and is one of the largest inhabited castles in the United\u00a0Kingdom. A visit to the castle is a must for historians young and old.\u00a0From the medieval history through the Lord Armstrong\u2019s incredible\u00a0inventions, the castle is awash with exhibits and facts, easily\u00a0understood by listening to the audio tour guide. Also, by visiting the\u00a0castle, you will be in good company. Since 1927, the castle has\u00a0welcomed many a film crew and star,<\/a> including Elizabeth Taylor, Peter\u00a0O\u2019Toole, Kate Blanchett, Ralph Fiennes, Vanessa Redgrave, Sophia\u00a0Loren, Charlton Heston and most recently in February 2014, 12 Years\u00a0a Slave actor Michael Fassbender, who filmed for a new big screen\u00a0Macbeth production (along with its of locals as extras!). Over and\u00a0above starring on the silver screen, Bamburgh Castle\u2019s archaeological\u00a0and historical discoveries have featured in recent TV series, including\u00a0How the Celts Saved Britain, Coast, Meet the Ancestors, World’s End and the Time\u00a0Team.<\/p>\n

Dunstanburgh Castle<\/a> is now a ruin, but was initially constructed in\u00a01313 on a magnificent scale. It was built when hostilities between Earl Thomas of Lancaster and King Edward II were at their greatest. The Earl’s rebellion was defeated and before he could reach Dunstanburgh, he was executed in 1322. It then belonged to John of Gaunt, who strengthened the castle against the Scots by converting the twin towered gatehouse into a keep. \u00a0It was later twice besieged and captured by yorkist forces throughout\u00a0the fierce fighting during the War of the Roses. Subsequently it fell into decay. \u00a0It is on a lovely, if sometimes bracing walk across the cliff tops\u00a0between Embelton and Craster.<\/p>\n

Alnwick Castle<\/a> is the home to the\u00a0Duke and Duchess of Northumberland and has been the ancestral\u00a0home of the Percy\u2019s since 1309. It was originally a medieval motte\u00a0and bailey but replaced in the 12th century by stone and has\u00a0seen many reinforcements and modifications still ongoing now,\u00a0with the construction of the famous Alnwick Garden<\/a>. One of the Percy ancestors was Sir Henry Percy – nickname\u00a0Harry \u201cHotspur\u201d<\/a>\u00a0– “heeatspore” who was known as one of the most valiant knights of his day. He was given his name by the Scot’s because he was a fearless leader, always first in, last out during enemy fights, and it was perceived that his spurs were always on fire as he led his men into battle. He led\u00a0successive rebellions against Henry IV, and was slain in the Battle of\u00a0Shrewsbury in 1403.\u00a0 He was long associated with the Tottenham area\u00a0of London and the Premier League football team Tottenham Hotspur\u00a0was named after him. Harry’s name was taken by a the world famous Tottenham Hotspur and since the 1921\u00a0FA Cup\u00a0final the Tottenham Hotspur crest has featured a\u00a0cockerel.\u00a0Harry Hotspur\u00a0wore riding\u00a0spurs\u00a0and his\u00a0fighting cocks\u00a0were fitted with spurs which can be seen today in the crests. Alnwick Castle is also associated with another\u00a0famous Harry, Harry Potter, as it was used in some of the films as part\u00a0of the Hogwarts school. Today, there is something for everyone at\u00a0Alnwick Castle \u2013 from a tour of the inhabited home that recently saw\u00a0a wedding of the Duke and Duchess\u2019 daughter attended by heirs to\u00a0the throne Princes William and Harry \u2013 to the knights games, dragon\u00a0slaying, dressing up, broomstick flying, archery and Potter spells\u00a0and potions making! It was even used for filming Downton Abbey. A visit to the castle can easily be combined with a trip to The Alnwick Garden.<\/a>\u00a0Marvel at the scale of the Grand Cascade, and take in the spectacular half-hourly displays – you can even catch the water in the buckets of the ride on tractors. Get lost in the maze.\u00a0Wind your way through the Serpent Garden’s sinuous topiary to find the water features hidden in its coils – and get wet – get very wet.\u00a0Discover the riotous colours and delicate scents of the Rose Garden, with over 3000 David Austin Roses.\u00a0Explore what lies beyond the locked gates of the Poison Garden\u2026Get your hands dirty in the Roots and Shoots Garden and learn about the growing techniques in use while\u00a0taking a peek at the\u00a0beehives. Gaze in awe at the\u00a0Cherry Orchard – over 300 Tai Haku cherry trees underplanted with 50,000 Purple Sensation Alliums. Wander the beautiful\u00a0Woodland Walk – and see if you can spot any of the resident red squirrels.\u00a0Explore the Oriental Garden – home to one of the country’s largest collections of European plants in striking geometric beds. Take a break at\u00a0The Pavilion – it gives a beautiful panorama of The Garden and is home to the Pavilion Caf\u00e9.\u00a0Explore the wobbly rope bridges and treetop walkways of one of the world’s largest wooden tree houses.\u00a0If you want to eat at the wonderful Treehouse<\/a>,\u00a0you need to book – 01665 511350.\u00a0Remember to take a change of clothes though \u2013 the children will\u00a0get wet in the garden! For a day to never forget, why not combine a trip to both the castle and the gardens with a visit to Lilidorei<\/a>?\u00a0There are 9 invisible clans who live at Lilidorei and they spend 11 months of the year preparing for the biggest event in the Lilidorei calendar \u2013 Christmas! Some clans are good, some are troublesome but they all worship two things \u2013 Christmas and their beloved leader, Lord Elfwin.
\nLord Elfwin rules the village from high up in his tower at the very top of Elfwin Drin, which also happens to be the World’s largest play structure! From the large, locked gates to the strange sounds and noises, your imagination is all that you need when you visit Lilidorei. Peer through the windows of the clan houses, listen to the immersive sounds and interact with the team of secret keepers throughout the village to create your own story about Lilidorei, the inhabitants and what goes on when the village closes for the night.<\/p>\n

Warkworth Castle<\/a> was thought to have been built c 1070 by the de\u00a0Merlays or by Henry, son of David I of Scotland who was created Earl of\u00a0Northumberland in 1139. Now a ruin, it is owned by English Heritage and well worth a visit.\u00a0See\u00a0how the powerful Percy family lived in the Duke’s Rooms, and take a trip down river to the Hermitage. The magnificent cross-shaped keep was home to ‘Harry Hotspur’, immortalised as a rebel lord by Shakespeare, and bane of Scottish raiders.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]\r\n\t

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