Hello there. I am back! After a few days rest and holiday in County Durham, partly to celebrate Vanda's 40th birthday, I have returned to blogworld. It was an amazing few days. We stayed at a wonderful place - Walworth Castle, just outside Darlington. The countryside was beautiful but rugged, and we seemed to have a number of encounters with one animal or another. Bats at Durham Cathedral, Butterflies in Walworth Castle, Jersey Cows at the Ice Cream Farm, Deer at Raby Castle, and Robins on the House of a nearby village.
One of the highlights - apart from some amazing food - was visiting Raby Castle, just a few miles away from where we were staying. This was almost a fairy-tale castle with a unique history. Built in the fourteenth century. It was originally a manor house owned by King Canute. The name 'Raby' comes from an ancient Danish word - meaning settlement and boundary. Apart from the splendid dining and living rooms inside the Castle, the best part in my view, was the Baronial Hall, which added the Medieval mystique to our visit.
I had never been to County Durham before. It really is a wonderful part of England. Durham Cathedral is in the pantheon of British Cathedrals. Less pleasing was the mad way that Cars are directed. If you drive to the Cathedral, you have to pay £2 to leave by car in order to get out of the cobbled street town centre! Apart from a multi-story car park far away, there seemed to be no other parking, so its not easy to get about if you are infirm in any way. Darlington was a smaller town, but a really unique place to visit. Great shops and a superb market. There is also a remarkable Clock Tower in the Market Square - one of the best I have ever seen.
It was good to get away and forget about politics for a few days. Travelling to this part of England reminded me just how beautiful our great country is - and how many places there are to explore and uncover. Next holiday has to be a visit to Northumberland and a visit to Hadrian's Wall.
Hope you like the pictures.
By Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com
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