We went to Bamburgh for seven days in a rented house with friends and planned to visit both the Farne Islands and Holy Island. To break our journey we stopped at Rainton in North Yorkshire and there I visited RAF Leeming for the first time.
Day 1: Thursday 8th May 2025: Bedale, North Yorkshire
Our drive to North Yorkshire was uneventful and we had a couple of hours to wait before the Bay Horse Inn opened.
We carried on up the A1 to Bedale and after walking up and down the main street we went into the local Costa.
RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire
As we left the Costa I could see a Typhoon making lots of noise at it made passes over RAF Leeming.
A quick check of Google maps and we headed to the viewing area at the side of the runway. Sadly the Typhoon had left but we did catch a Hawk T2 doing a pass and then coming into land.
Bay Horse country Inn, Rainton, North Yorkshire
To break our journey to Bamburgh we again stayed at the Bay Horse Inn in Rainton. This is where we had stayed when we had been on a photo workshop based in Bamburgh just after the Covid lockdowns. After 5pm we were able to get into our room. Our evening meal was excellent as before.
And we stayed in the same room as in 2021, Room 4.
Day 2: 9th May 2025: RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire
After a huge breakfast we went back to the viewing area at RAF Leeming.
We watched a training aircraft while we waited for the jets that we could hear across the tarmac.
We watched a singleton, then a pair of Hawk T2s take off in front of us.
Friday 9th May 2025: Bamburgh, Northumberland
We stopped at Washington services for our rest stop. The Greggs caravan outside served (inexpensive) coffee and cakes. We sat and enjoyed the fine weather before setting off back onto the A1.
The traffic built up as we passed the cities but all in all we had a very easy drive to Bamburgh. The drive was so easy that we were far too early to get into the rented house. After parking we had a a conversation with the owner of the two properties who explained the parking arrangements especially not driving through the arch and disturbing the other houses’ occupants. As the cleaners were just starting on our property we decided to walk into Bamburgh itself.
Avoiding the busy pubs we went to one of the small restaurants and had sandwiches in the seating area at the back.
Croquet was in full swing on the large grassy area in front of the castle.
Day 3: Saturday 10th May 2025: Bamburgh, Northumberland
After our driving the day before we all decided that this Saturday would be a rest day.
After breakfast we walked towards the dunes that were between our road and the sea. From the car park we walked along a path towards the castle looking for some where to get over the dunes. We found another path along the base of the dunes and walked away from the castle, eventually following a path up the dune. From the top we descended a scree of sand down to the beach.
The walk along the beach gave us great views of Bamburgh Castle. Where we were walking the beach was deserted. It was only as we came to the beach path from Bamburgh itself did we pass more people on the beach.
As it was Saturday, Front street was now full of people. At the top of the main street we stopped for a drink and rest outside of the Victoria Hotel. This was the hotel where we had stayed for the workshop in 2021.
We then took our friends to the graveyard of St Aidans church so we all could visit the memorial of Grace Darling.
After our evening meal we watched this heron patiently waiting at the water’s edge of the pond that was at the back of the rented house.
Day 4: Sunday 11th May 2025: Seahouses, Northumberland
Our first place to visit by car was Seahouses just down the coast from Bamburgh. We wanted to double check on parking and visit the Co-Op supermarket.
Despite being a Sunday we did find plenty of places to park. The Main Street had lots of open shops for us to explore. I found a shop that sold local beers and especially alcohol free ones. The Co-Op provided us with fresh food that we had been unable to bring North
For lunch we went to Hook for fish and chips. This was very full and we were lucky to get a table after only a short wait. Then we went to check to see where we would be boarding the boat for our visit to Farne Islands in the morning. At the end of the harbour wall under the lighthouse was this wonderful street art.
Bamburgh, Northumberland
Back at the house I explored the garden to have a closer look at the pond.
Next day we returned to Seahouses to catch a boat to the Farne Islands.
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