Saturday's Sojourn...

Cumbria, UK



Today I used a site called Dart on Map, its a really fun way to find out about places I would never have thought of before and this one looks lovely!!  The dart landed on a little town in the UK called Cleator Moor.  Per Wikipedia "Cleator Moor is a small town and civil parish in the English county of Cumbria and within the boundaries of the traditional county of Cumberland."  The town has a large population of Irish who immigrated there during the potato famine looking for work, it is now known as "little Ireland" to the locals. 

I found this great historic place to stay called The Crown, which started life in March 1857, when the Whitehaven Hematite Iron Company, sold a parcel of building ground to a Nathaniel Leveason after many sales, land transfers and name changes the building is still there today offering folks a welcoming place to stay and rejuvenate.  The hotel offers En-suite bathrooms, FREE Wi-fi broadband, Satellite TV, Tea/coffee making facilities, Hairdryer, Radio alarm clock, sewing kit and shoe shine cloth.  There is a pool, exercise area and spa on the property also.  Dogs are allowed with arrangements made ahead of arrival.  Besides the classic rooms, The Crown also offers Suites and a cottage which has its own kitchen area.  If you don't feel like cooking The Conservatory restaurant is open for Breakfast, Lunch and dinner and overlooks the beautifully landscaped gardens.  Right now the hotel is offering a couple of specials, first, is the Summer Sizzler 3 for 2 break, £79 per person per night get the 3rd Night BB free, the other is the Spa Special which includes accommodations, a dinner in the Conservatory Restaurant, a full breakfast, a 1 1/2 hour mini treatment during your stay and full use of the leisure facilities all for £79 per person per night with a two night minimum.

Next up, a little bit of sightseeing.  Hadrian's Wall is pretty fascinating and something they advise taking the day to visit.  So what is it? Hadrian's Wall is the remains of Britain’s greatest ancient monument, ancient earthworks, Roman roads, castles, Abbeys, and farms that you can walk along.  Truly one of those types of places that gives you a real perspective of history.  The actual wall was built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, who visited the region in 122 CE and runs 73 miles, a true engineering feat in its day. 

I love train rides so this is a ride I would definitely want to take on my visit.  The Settle-Carlisle Railway will take you on the 72 mile route from Settle to Carlisle takes you on a journey through the magnificent Yorkshire Dales, over the 24 arches of the Ribblehead Viaduct before plunging in to the longest tunnel on the line at Blea Moor. Emerging onto the side of Dentdale, the line leaves the Dales at Garsdale and makes it way through the gentle, lush rolling hills of the Eden Valley, with rural villages and market towns before arriving at the great border city of Carlisle.  While there you can try you luck at the Carlisle Racecourse.

What is the English Countryside with out castles and Abbeys?  North of The Crown Hotel you have a nice selection to visit; Chillingham Castle - said to be one of the most haunted places in England,  Belsay Castle -  a trip to Belsay is one of the best value family days out in north-east England. Alnwick Castle - Recently the castle has been used as film sets for Harry Potter, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves and Black Adder.  Hexham Abby - There has been a church on this site over for 1300 years since Queen Etheldreda made a grant of lands to Wilfrid, Bishop of York c.674.  Bamburgh Castle - This medieval fortress is thought by many to be the original site of Sir Lancelot's castle, Joyous Garde.  Warkworth Castle -  Once the home to 'Harry Hotspur', hero of many Border ballads and the bane of Scots raiders.  Aydon Castle - Almost completely intact, it is one of the finest and most unaltered examples of a 13th century English manor house.  Dunstanburgh Castle - The focus of fierce fighting during the Wars of the Roses, it was twice besieged and captured by Yorkist forces, but subsequently fell into decay. Chillingham Castle - A visit to the castles Torture Chamber is not for the faint hearted. It displays interesting and gruesome implements of punishment, including a stretching rack, cages, a bed of nails, nailed barrel and spiked chair.  Berwick-upon-Tweed Castle - Berwick Castle is a mid 12th century stone keep and courtyard fortress built along the river Tweed, founded by King David I.  Prudhoe Castle - Surviving two sieges during the 1170s , Prudhoe was the only Northumberland castle to resist the Scots.

I hope you all have a great weekend!  Want to see more information on a place?  Let me know and I will try to feature it on a Saturday Sojourn.

C.Q.