October 2011

We are delighted to announce that The Old Vicarage Guesthouse was runner up in the Best B&B Category in this year's North East England Tourism Awards. We are very pleased to land this award, our first entry into this major annual competition. Entering was very much a learning experience as we seek to improve our offer to guests, and improve our performance. Thanks must go to all our staff and all our suppliers who have certainly contributed to our success. We were proud to represent Northumberland - the other two finalists were from Co. Durham. As active supporters of The North Northumberland Tourism Association (NNTA), we are also pleased to be an award winner from that organisation. We can recommend the experience and would encourage others to enter, especially from this end of the County.

August 2011

Parade to mark the opening of the Food Festival in Berwick - presentation of a Tweedmouth salmon

September is a great month to visit North Northumberland and The Borders. Berwick-Upon-Tweed is the perfect base from which to explore. Heritage Open Days are on from 8th-11th September. See www.heritageopendays.org.uk for details. Buildings not normally open to the public are revealed through guided walks.

Berwick's own Food Festival is on from the 10th-11th September in Berwick Barracks. It celebrates eating locally and seasonally, supporting small producers and enjoying food with family and friends. See www.slowfoodberwick.co.uk for more information.

Towards the end of the month there is the Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival. Based at the Maltings theatre and cinema and at various locations around the town walls, the programme offers a selection of new features, classic cinema, video installations and live events. With screenings, exhibitions and hands on workshops, this festival offers something for all the family. Contact www.berwickfilm-artsfest.com

June 2011

June is a great time to visit the Farne Islands - home to some 100,000 seabirds and seals. Open from April 1st to September 30th, several boat trips are available from Seahouses. These are very weather dependent, so it would be a good idea to contact Seahouses TIC for sailing information. This has to be one of the best wildlife experiences in the British Isles, the chance to get very close to breeding birds and seals, to get great photos of many different species. Check up on what is happening there by logging in to their blog:- http://farnephoto.blogspot.com/ . By the end of July, most of the birds will have dispersed - and the focus of attention switches to the seals. Amazing close-ups of some of the 3-4,000 Grey Seals are possible, the seal pups are always a great favourite with visitors. Visit Longstone island and find out about the Grace Darling story of heroism at sea. The Islands are owned by the National Trust who take responsibility for conserving the wildlife, so landings are restricted during the breeding season. A visit to The Farnes is a must as part of a holiday in North Northumberland. We are about half an hour away from Seahouses, and can help plan a visit to The Farnes, including picnic lunches.

May 2011

Paxton House is just 10 minutes away by car from The Old Vicarage Guesthouse here in Berwick-upon-Tweed. It is a lovely place to visit at just about any time of the year, but the summer music season is special. Their 2011 festival runs from the 15th July to the 24th July. For details check out their web-site http://www.musicatpaxton.co.uk
Pre-concert suppers are available and a stroll around the grounds is a must on a summer's afternoon. Plan a visit to Paxton, with a stay here at the Old Vic and take advantage of any special offers we may have - just ask for details. Demonstrations of salmon fishing and tagging are on-going through the summer, and the galleries showcase the work of artists and craftspeople from The Borders and North Northumberland. Wildlife lovers can enjoy the hides for excellent views of birds including nuthatches, woodpeckers and even red squirrels.

April 2011

Berwick-upon-Tweed is a great base from which to explore North Northumberland and The Borders. Visitors can easily spend a week here and want to come back for more. Starting with The Town itself, we have the Walk around The Elizabethan Town Walls; Berwick Barracks at Wallace Green; The Cromwellian Church at Wallace Green; The Main Guard at Palace Street; The Berwick Museum at Wallace green and The Town Hall with its own Jailhouse. A great way to get to grips with The Town's Heritage is to take advantage of the Guided Walks with Derek Sharman MBE. Starting from the Tourist Information Centre at Marygate, these walks are an experience not to be missed! Friendly, entertaining and informative about 700 years of our turbulent history. His "Town and Walls" Tours are at 10.00 a.m. and 11.45 a.m. Monday to Friday, Easter to October. There is also a Sunday afternoon "Hidden Berwick" Tour at 2 p.m. from May to September. Check all this out at www.explore-northumberland.co.uk

April 2011

Sunday the first of May sees the 402nd Riding of the Bounds in Berwick-Upon-Tweed. Traditionally local residents riding on horseback scour the Berwick boundaries to ensure the Scottish have not encroached onto English soil. In reality we hope they have arrived to fill our caravan parks, hotels and guesthouses for Easter! Events kick off from about 9.30 a.m. in the area of the Barracks. From there they parade to the Guildhall to get permission from the Town's Mayor to check the Town's boundaries are intact. The 15 mile ride has traditional stops along the way, eventually re-entering town about 3.30 p.m. It is a colourful and spectacular gathering worth seeing if you are in the area. Skilled riders can participate if they can hire a horse or bring their own with riders permits available from the Tourist Information centre :- 01289 301780. Spectating is of course free, as is the horse manure for your roses!!

March 2011

An unusual day out this month found Maurice and Ruth at a local farm in The Borders, in Berwickshire actually, with Chris and Denise Walton at Peelham Farm (www.peelham.co.uk). There was a gathering of folk from all over to take part in their "adopt a pig "scheme. Having chosen and named your piglet, you can follow its progress by visiting the farm on several weekends in the following months. Eventually the pig is butchered and you have all the products to take home. The advantage to the pig is that it leads a free range happy lifestyle compared to those reared in intensive units. The advantage to you is knowing exactly where your food came from and how it was produced organically. They even grow all their own crops to feed all their livestock, as well as the grass for their sheep and cattle. If I was a pig I think I would like to live at Peelham Farm!