The Geordie Tourist.

Watergate is a green flag winning forest park. It includes woodlands, wetlands, wildflower meadows and various routes. It connects with Washingwell Woods and Bucks Hill. It's based in the Lobley Hill area.

You enter and go along a little path before you are greeted with a massive lake complete with lots of ducks and swans. I fed them and they came right onto the water bank which obviously made me act like a squealing child. The swans were magnificent, I fed one from my hand and it pecked at my palm, which was something new.

As we walked further around the lake the ducks followed us which was hilarious. I felt like Dr. Dolittle or something. I love how there were loads of little bridges about, random bits of stream trickling away.

It was such a beautiful day, just looking out onto the water was perfect.

It’s rare that I get to go to Saltwell Park without a hyper dog pulling me along. So when the opportunity presented itself I pretty much ran there, nuts in hand (for the squirrels) and dragged my pal Nic along for a bit of park fun.

I actually got to go into Saltwell Towers for once too. We went and got a cuppa and cake. I went for a hot chocolate and the generous slice of carrot cake that I had was so tasty. The views from inside the café were great too. It was weird looking at the park from the inside instead of the other way round. We may have had a slight problem trying to leave when the place was shutting (lots of locked doors) but we got out eventually, with slightly red faces.

We went to feed the ducks. The lake looked amazing. The sky was so blue and the reflections from it onto the surface of the water was something else. Parts of it were frozen too, all of the ducks and swans were huddled together on one side.

We went for the classic afternoon tea. There was an option for sparkling or cocktail too. I wouldn't have minded trying the cocktail one, but I'm working later so no good.

We had:

English breakfast tea

Roasted veg/ cress and mayo/ cucumber and cream cheese/ tomato and pesto sandwiches

Scones with cream and jam

Lemon sponge cake with lemon icing and white chocolate topping

Banoffee cheesecake shot

Chocolate and orange macaroon

Chocolate brownie

I liked the sandwiches, the tomato and pesto was delicious and something I've never tried before. The roast veg was great too. I found the cress one slightly odd. It had a green sauce on it, but I couldn't for the life of me tell you what it was. I wish we had of been told by the server what we were actually eating. Half of the time it was a guessing game. It all tasted great though so I guess I can't complain too much.

We got three scones each. Never have I been anywhere and gotten three. They weren't massive which was great. We all opted for plain and they were nice and crumbly. I loved that you got given little pots of strawberry and raspberry jam. I never really have raspberry, but I preferred it to the strawberry. We managed a couple and took the rest home in a goody bag. (Which always seems to happen.)

The lemon cake was soft and creamy and the banoffee cheesecake just went beyond my expectations. It tasted amazing. I loved how the biscuit was loose on the top, the little spoon you got to eat it with. How it was nice and creamy, how sweet the toffee tasted. (So good.)

As you can imagine, I wandered off and took pictures of various tree formations and little ponds we saw on the way.

I go through periods of looking for different things. Last spring/summer it was all about the butterflies. At the moment, I like seeing what trees look like against the sky as a backdrop. What the leaves look like and what shapes they make. (maybe I'm weird) closeups of flowers are good too.

I had a voucher for afternoon tea for two at Seaham Hall. So I decided to treat my mam. There’s no one else I really afternoon tea with, it’s kind of our chance for a little bonding session, and we always have a laugh. I’m such a big fan of the whole ritual of it, add a very posh location into the mix and I’ll all but cry with excitement.

As soon as we pulled up I could see just how amazing the place looked. There’s lots of well-maintained lawns and trees and outside of the entrance is a modern style water feature.

There was lots of glass and mirrors mixed in with a light dusting of exposed brick work. Heavy plush curtains surrounding the massive windows overlooking the grounds. Crushed velvet styled booths and tartan cushions. Dark coloured walls and floors with the hint of metal from the side tables. It was just done well. You know when you go somewhere, and it just works. You know some top notch designer has worked their magic and it just looks effortless, well that.

Everything tasted great, the presentation was immaculate and the staff were very friendly and attentive. The girl that served us kept checking if we were alright and offered us drinks throughout. They really put us at ease and allowed us to have a great afternoon. 

It’s no secret that I’m a bit of a Beamish fan. That’s the beauty of a yearly pass though, plus my pooch Poppy likes a little wander, looking at times gone by. (Or that’s what I tell myself.) I’ve been on so many occasions and have probably seen every inch of the place, yet whenever I visit there’s always something different. Plus it was a somewhat sunny day, so why not?

We decided to go back up to Home Farm and have a little wander around. The place was deserted, with it being during the week, so we could just go at our own pace and I could take as many photos as my phone would allow.

The Farm is set in the 1940’s, there’s a farm house, gardens and cottages and animals galore. It’s the animals that I was most interested in, I’m not going to lie. There were so many poultry running about in the paths. At one point three of them were walking in a line in front of us. Loads of them were gathered in a barn clucking away. It’s crazy how they were just let loose to roam free.

There were cows and sheep in the stables, which I didn’t like to focus too much on. It’s is a working farm though, so that’s just part of the job.  Instead I concentrated more on the geese at the ponds or the doves hanging out of openings in the old walls.

   

At the moment it's open five days a week - closed on Mondays and Fridays.

Which is your favourite part of Beamish?