Oop North!!

I am 'Oop North' staying with friends and today was our annual trip to Cragside,  the place that we visit every year.  They took quite a battering during the winter storms, but it didn't affect the places we love to see.

First stop is the Bird Hide set in the middle of pine woods  and as we walked in there was a ripple of excitement because this little chap was on the ground feeding!!  The first time that I have seen one and it was much smaller than its grey squirrel cousin.  They are an endangered species so it was exciting to see it.  

A red squirrel

Cragside through the trees

After a walk round Nellie's Moss (the name of the lake) we went for a cup of tea and home via Alnwick Castle which stood as Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films.

Nellie's Moss - the lake

Alnwick Castle

Lovely Northumberland!!