Old People Eating

We spent the morning walking along a truly beautiful Northumberland coast, to the east of Bamburgh.  Wide stretches of clean, soft sand and mudflats with a wide variety of shore and sea birds. This sharpened the appetite and we found The Craster Arms in the seaside village of Beadnell. Two pork belly with mashed potatoes, crackling and seasonal vegetables, followed by one bread and butter pudding with custard and one Cointreau Irish coffee. And a bowl of water for the dog we had borrowed so that we could talk to strangers.

Today included a trip to Lindisfarne, aka Holy Island, and a walk through the priory and out to the castle. It's a great place to visit with plenty of bird life and some seals just off the coast. The weather was mostly kind, especially when it mattered and helped to develop a good appetite for the evening meal previously booked at the Apple Inn in Lucker. This is an attractive but sizeable gastro pub just threw minutes on foot from our holiday accommodation. No starters, although these were very appealing (I would have chosen the twice cooked cheese soufflé), so straight into the main courses. Two lamb shanks with autumn fruits, one lemon sole and a feather blade of beef. Followed by one sticky toffee pudding, one three-scoop portion of ice cream and two signature white chocolate and apple mousse desserts. These last choices were served looking like Granny Smith apples, but we're so much more. All well-cooked and presented with a Northern English welcome.

After stopping on the beautiful Cocklawburn beach to clear the cobwebs we arrived in Berwick upon Tweed and went to find a coffee shop. A local suggested North Edge Coffee where the beans are roasted on-site.  It is an industrial-chic type of place with an eclectic collection of artefacts and furniture, and exposed brick and pipework. The coffee was really good and the gluten free carrot cake, Biscoff slices and cheese scone all well-proportioned, fresh and tasty. Recommended.