English Counties

They took a chance did Mary and John. We’d met this lovely English couple in the Lake District last May when we both happened to be staying at the Royal Oak Inn. We were seated next to each other at breakfast and dinner (in the Royal Oak dining room seating is assigned), and got to swapping stories and sharing laughs. Before long we found ourselves in the habit of retiring to the front room with a post-dinner whiskey or cup of tea, to continue the fun.

We were sorry when Mary and John headed home a day or so before we moved on, but at breakfast the next morning we were absolutely delighted to find a little note inviting us to visit them in Northumberland. And so we did.

It’s a measure of the couple that, despite having met the chatty Aussies for only a few days, Mary and John not only invited us in but welcomed us with a warmth that made us feel instantly at home.

Northumberland

Mary and John live within striking distance of the city of Newcastle

The wonderful Emerson Chambers building (1903), now home to a Waterstones' bookshop

Newcastle's fabulous concert venue, The Sage Gateshead, beside the Tyne River

Known colloquially as The Caterpillar, the Sage has divided local opinion - we love it, especially on a grey day like this one

Even in the rain the Tyne riverside is a lovely walk

The Gateshead Millennium tilt bridge

Mary and John's home is in the tiny village of Bedlington, quite close to the coast

We relished the chance for a beach walk with the puppies, Rosie and Gracie

Gracie suggesting that it might, in fact, be John's turn to fetch the ball

Northumberland is England's northern-most county - it borders Scotland

This is a beautiful stretch of coastline

The ITV series, Vera, is filmed in these parts

We also visited the Wallington House estate

The 5,200 hectare property is now managed by the National Trust

The flowers were like magnets for these Peacock butterflies

John and Greg impressed here by suggesting to a man in the tea house that, as they'd run out of scones, he could perhaps bring some more down from the main house

Unfortunately the man was a visitor not a worker; he took it all pretty well though - in the end

Here's something that happens not infrequently as you're driving around Northumberland

View across the fields from Mary and John's home

Rosie, just checking she's not missing out on anything

We had a wonderful time with Mary and John, and really look forward to returning the favour when they come to visit us in Australia

Surrey

From one end to the other - as well as Northumberland in the far north, we headed to Surrey, south of London and not too far from the English Channel

Surrey's main centre, Guildford, is a lively city within commuting distance of London

In Guildford we found the busking poet, Eva Perrin Fontana - as if we hadn't liked this city enough already

We chose Guildford because on the map it was near a marked 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' - the map was right

Guildford is set on the River Wey; there are lots of excellent pubs located along the river

The White House Inn, on the river right at the entrance to town

Morning walk along the River Wey to a village a few kilometres away (and lunch in yet another excellent country pub)

Afternoon walk in Chantry Wood

The trail starts just a couple of hundred metres from the town centre

And soon opens up to views like this

 

 

Eventually you reach the Church of St Martha-on-the-Hill

Guildford was a great base for exploring the region - in the next county, Hampshire, this is Winchester Cathedral (there's an earworm for you)

We really enjoyed wandering around Winchester

 

Not least because we dined in Rick Stein's restaurant (though there was no sign of Rick himself!)

Back to Surrey and the little village of Shere

Not far from Dorking (we love the names of these English towns), Shere's reputation is of being a 'quintissential village'

 

The White Horse pub was originally a 15th century farmhouse, before it became known as a smuggler's pub

The stocks are still standing outside the window - maybe ready for any lads who get a bit too raucous on a Friday night?

Our little taste of English counties certainly whet our appetite for more - maybe to Oxfordshire next to check out the latest Midsomer Murder, or to Cornwall perhaps to catch up with Doc Martin? So many good options.