Castles

Hello Wild Rose,
Dunstanburgh, yes, one of my very favourite too. The tale connected to the castle varies in telling but basically involves a knight, Sir Guy the Seeker. He hears crying but cannot get into the castle. A wizard helps him to get in. He finds a lady who is captive in the castle and determines to save her. He has the choice of using a sword or a horn. He blows the horn and finds himself outside the castle. He has been trying to find his way back in ever since. Sometimes he can be heard crying as he searches for a way in. Very, very sad, but still a beautiful place.

Dunstanburgh does strange things to folk. I recall a few years ago going out through the gap in the wall where the postern used to be and sitting on the grass that leads to the rocks that drop down to the sea. I saw a hole in the ground beside me. It did not look man made and it did not look like a rabbit hole. I thought I really should explore it but then sat on the grass for a while looking at the scenery and then came away without even putting my hand in the hole. I cannot imagine now how that came about - but that is Dunstanburgh.

Thank you very much for sharing your visit and impressions. I think I might well be tempted to add another castle before too long. I hope other folk will too.

Thanks Nova, I knew there would be someone who new the tale. A very sad tale indeed.

I shall return again at dunstanburgh with a picnic I think and spend more time there contemplating the tale.

Thank you also for putting the newsletter letter together. I will look forward to seeing the publication. The summer would suit me as I am a very slow reader.

It seems that the website has been a grand success. Thank you to all who brought this idea to fruition. I always look forward to seeing the latest post.
Thank you all.

Wild rose

I offer another of England's northeastern castles, Warkworth. The castle itself is, of course, worth a visit and so is the hermitage made out of the rock beside the river not far away, but it is the walk between the two that can be magical.

For those in the south of England, there is Dover castle. Whilst the crowds it attracts can obscure the underlying atmosphere and contacts, it is possible to have the place to oneself as there are two properties that can be rented for short breaks. Dover castle has been an important place, deeply seated in the protection of this island for many, many centuries. Whilst it is the last few that seem to be stressed in the exhibitions in the place, in the quiet of a winter evening the focus of the place as a British/English bastion of very long standing comes through strongly. I apologise if that reads a little like an English Heritage advert but I believe that, despite its daytime life of crowds and ice cream, there are moments when the heart of the place can still shine through - when it is given the chance.