Rockface...

Can you see it?  :-))

Another leisurely breakfast of toast, porridge and coffee then a discussion about today's activity.  

We had planned to visit Hexham Abbey and the Sill (the UK's landscape discovery centre) today but since the weather forecast says temps will rise to 26 degrees here tomorrow, we thought that would be a better plan for tomorrow.  I am sure the Abbey will offer cool respite from the hot sun so instead we visited Cragside estate today.

We had planned to visit the house but like the majority of stately homes, only the ground floor was accessible to me.  In the end we had a lovely lunch at the Visitor's centre, a wander in the well stocked gift shop (where I purchased a hat in preparation for tomorrow's hot sun) then spent the rest of the day exploring the grounds. 

Given the nature of the site (it's VERY hilly) we explored by car using the Carriage Drive, a 6-mile, one-way, single-track road around the grounds. This scenic route gives access to the upper estate with additional car parking at various scenic points around the drive.

It's so beautiful.  If we'd realised there were so many lovely places to stop we would have bought our sandwiches and eaten them at one of the stopping points on the drive.  Oh well, we'll know better next time as I am sure we'll be back. 

The drive was full of beautiful trees, shrubs and wild flowers.  The rhoddies were past their best but still lovely.  A month earlier would have seen them in full bloom.  Quite a sight I imagine.  Some more photos of the rocks in extras.  

Got back to the hotel just before 4pm.  Had coffee and a cookie then I started reading a lovely book on watercolour painting I bought in the gift shop and D got his gym gear on and spent some time at the hotel's gym followed by a dip in the lovely spa pool.  

Another delicious meal in the hotel restaurant followed by a leisurely stroll in the grounds.  We followed the road to the Gardiner's Cottage and found the Millennium Maze the largest yew tree maze in England (and I think Europe ) planted by local schoolchildren in 1999.  It's a sight to behold. 

The sun was just setting as we headed back to the Hotel.  This week is going too fast!