Picking up where I left off on my last post as I had met Janet to be her guest for a few days. Janet drove us to visit Alnwick Castle and Garden and it was just spectacular! We really enjoyed the day spent there and the weather was perfect. Visitor maps were provided and the gift bag was from the gift shop where I picked up a couple of souvenirs. 🙂
The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland do reside in part of the very large castle. I will be sharing photos taken outdoors and photos were not allowed to be taken inside of the castle. I can understand that decision and will say that it was all very wonderful inside of the Castle. ❤
The water garden was so impressive and this photo shows a cascading water display area that is constructed on a noticeable grade up the hillside but also, the water displays came forth in unexpected and delightful patterns. The next few photos try to capture some of this water wonder. 🙂
Finn came along with us on the tour and was very impressed with the water garden. 😉
It was a lovely, beautiful day. 🙂
There is something very calming about the sound of water flowing and it is so soothing to hear and to see. 🙂
You could feel the mist in the air and the air smelled fresh and clean. Walking through the water garden was a delight to the senses and I could easily see myself happily repeating my walk daily if it were possible. ❤
It was wonderful to take time and experience the water garden.
It is important to allow ourselves to be refreshed and renewed. ❤
I really enjoyed the varied art forms designed to be in the water garden. 🙂
Janet fits well within this water display without getting wet! We also made our way through a bamboo maze which was a lot of fun to do.
This garden area is devoted solely to the poisonous plants. It is located beyond the locked gate and you can see the skull and crossbones plainly attached to the gates and thus ensuring we all “beware”. If you look at the hillside beyond, you can see the cherry trees in bloom. What a contrast!
This is the door to the hut where the tour guide resided. She was very knowledgeable about the plants and she emphasized the dire and often fatal consequences of encountering the plants in an unadvisable manner…..
Janet and I walked among the cherry trees which was much more friendly to see than the very interesting but macabre poison plants.
On a brighter note, you can see in the distance the fantastic Treehouse Restaurant. Janet made reservations and we had the best time there having lunch. 🙂
Walking up to the restaurant, Finn stopped to enjoy the beautiful scenery. 🙂
Finn is wearing a wonderful outfit made by the talented Sarah Williams and his black leather boots were made by Jean Jensen. 🙂
Lunch was a generous plate of fish and chips with tarter sauce and mushy peas. It was delicious and the atmosphere inside was pleasingly rustic. You felt like you were inside a treehouse. Even the chairs were made of thick wood boards aligned in an unfinished and asymmetrical configuration and they were surprisingly comfortable. It felt like you were in another world entirely…..magical. It was truly a wonderful experience. 🙂
Janet and I made our way to the imposing Alnwick Castle. The aged trees seemed to guide us toward the amazing Castle which was so very massive and solid and so firmly planted on the landscape. The word that came to me immediately was “Grand”. ❤
Photo of the lovely surrounding grounds.
So beautiful and so grand. I remember my excitement as we approached the Castle. 🙂
A closer view of the Castle walls.
Just inside the walls, you can see a tent in the distance where archery activities are offered to children. 🙂
More views of the Castle.
Janet capturing the grandness of the Castle. We went inside and made our way through the interior touring areas. We visited a gift shop and we saw many displays of historical significance and it was fascinating though a lot of time would be needed to fully participate and absorb the richness of Alnwick Castle. 🙂
Finn found an aged, stone friend tucked away in a corner. 🙂
I think Finn was a bit overwhelmed at how “larger than life” everything was at the Castle. 😉
A view of the grounds taken from the top of the wall. Janet and I saw peacocks in the distance and it was a very peaceful and serene view.
As we left, we noticed these gray colored birds just beyond the edge of the daffodils. The man seen on the left side of the photo was watching and following these interesting birds.
I hope you enjoyed this post, Part 2 of “Heaven in England” and thank you for visiting. It was a very, very lovely and unforgettable day spent with Janet at Alynwick Castle and Garden. I was blessed to be able to visit and I would love to return one day. ❤ xxx
Sasha Shangri-La 
How wonderful to have visited Alnwick Castle, We went there years ago but they have built their beautiful gardens since then. What great water features you saw and dear Finn made sure to enjoy his visit.
The tree house restaurant sounds wonderful and the food looks filling. 🙂
You certainly got around to see some great sights while here and I’m looking forward to hearing more about your adventures in England :)xxx
Thank you Dee. It was wonderful and I would love to go again one day. I had the fish and chips because it was on my list of food to eat while in England. The menu had a lot of offerings that I am sure were tasty and there was something for everyone’s taste. 🙂
There will be one more post before covering the SCW. 🙂 xxx
We visited Alnwick Castle a few years ago but not the gardens or the tree house restaurant – on my wishlist to visit to return as your photos remind me that I’ve been wanting to visit again. My elder daughter tried out the Archery in the children’s activities, my younger girl was too little at the time to do archery.
You didn’t see any children flying around on broomsticks did you? Maybe Finn spotted them and didn’t say. Several scenes from the first Harry Potter movie were filmed at Alnwick Castle including the flying lesson.
Thank you DollMum for reminding me about the broomsticks. The Harry Potter presence was apparently less than what Janet had seen when she was there before. Though there were a lot of HP items in the gift shop. I did not see broomsticks but it is listed as a daily activity.
Inside the Castle there was a lovely display of costumes from the series Downton Abbey which was filmed there. Also, there were formal tours which were well attended but we toured at our own pace. They listed laser clay shooting along with the archery. 🙂 xxx
Lovely photos of a beautiful place – so pleased you enjoyed it x
Thank you Tricia! 🙂 xxx
Wow! Wow and Wow again. What a wonderful and most interesting Castle. Seeing and visiting places like this from the past makes me even prouder to be BRITISH! (I hadn’t really realised that Downton Abbey was filmed there…even more impressed…{ have to admit that I’m not a Harry Potter fan so that didn’t add any extra value for me!})
Adored those water gardens (though they wouldn’t have completely taken any curl that I might have put in my hair if, as you mentioned, there was a mist floating in the air!)
The Tree House Restaurant looked fabulous and I enjoyed your description of its dining chars. Yes, Fish and chips is a well known and loved English meal but I can assure you from the looks of those in the photo, those were not our ordinary machine cut and fried chips like you get from our standard Fish and Chip shops! if I’m not mistaken those are hand cut long potato wedges that would have been fried in a special oil or fat.
Finn’s VS outfit was perfect for his visit to England. He certainly looked every bit the English gent that he is.as he toured this example of Medieval Britain. I’m sure that he thoroughly enjoyed himself there like you seemed to have done.
Hi Kendal and yes, it was a most wonderful visit and so special to see a real Castle which has only been in books and photos for my eyes until now. The gardens were very special and my hair curls a lot when in misty places so I looked like a curly top girl. It was a very family friendly place to visit. 🙂
Finn was very happy the entire time we were in England. He had such fun and he wants to go back one day! His outfit was perfect for traveling and Sarah really knows how to make such attractive and well fitting outfits not only for the girls but for the boys too!
Thank you for writing Kendal. I always love to read your comments. ❤ xxx
What a wonderful place to visit Ginger, how lovely that you were able to experience a real lEnglish castle whilst in the UK, we sure do have an abundance of history, and us Brits are very proud of our history! The fish and chips look good but what did you make of mushy peas? An aquired taste me thinks…..one I have yet to acquire but my husband loves them.
Young Finn looks handsome in his VS gear, the perfect outfit for such a visit, I’m sure his dapper gear got him a lot of admiring looks from other visitors 😉
I’m so glad that you enjoyed your time there 🙂
Big hugs Sharon xxx
Thank you Sharon. Yes it was amazing to see and though, since I was a little gir I have seen photos, movies, and television shows depicting many different castles, I was not prepared for how I would feel being there in person and taking it all in. It was grand! 🙂
I like mushy peas too. They went well with the fish. I loved eating at the Treehouse. It is a special place.
Finn probably drew a lot of attention especially around the water garden where a lot of people were sitting outdoors to eat or just have tea on a beautiful day. There were children playing too and a momma duck with her ducklings looking for treats among the tables. All very wonderful. ❤ xxx
Thank you again for this lovely trip down memory lane. I have just had a good giggle as I have remembered how our guide in the poison garden kept mentioning about leaves not to put in a salad and how we decided not to accept her invitation to dinner if it was offered!