Good Friday took us up to Northumberland via High Force in Yorkshire for an Easter weekend of walking, biking and boating (out to see the seals).
First stop on Friday was High Force waterfall and what a spectacular sight that was. I'd never seen it before and it practically took my breath away when we turned the corner and there it was at the end of the river. Spectacular.
After this is it was back to the car to head further North to Alnwick where we were booked into a lovely B & B and then on Saturday we headed a little west over to Kielder Water & Forest park with the bikes. The route round the park, taking in the Castle and other scenes was approx 27 miles so that would do us nicely.
The lady in the gift shop said when we arrived that it was quite hilly in places and she wasnt wrong. The park certainly did hold a few surprises of the hilly kind but we coped quite well with them.
The first part of the path on the anti clockwise route took us round the East coast of the resevoir and followed an attractive path littered with trees and other curious things. One of these was the Janus chairs where Chris went for a quick nap.....zzzzzzzzzzzzz. In reality they werent the most comfy of chairs at all.
Another curio we found was this big wooden head in the forest, quirky but very cool.
Further round we were lucky enough to spot an Osprey and what we think is a Sparrowhawk and the Osprey had just caught a fish. I wish I'd been closer and gotten a better pic but this is the best we can do an we watched it for ages climbing on the thermals higher and higher.
Further round the landscape opened up a bit as we headed towards the castle.
And after a quick bite to eat in the Castle cafe we were off on our travels again round the park. It was hard work but such good fun.
A great day out and a beautiful park and we were lucky enough to spot an Osprey, Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard earlier in the day that we didn't get a pic of.
