Different Types of Castles

Belsay Castle is a medieval castle built between 1439 and 1460 as the home of the Middleton family. In 1614, Thomas Middleton built a new manor, connecting it with the castle tower. The castle was abandoned at the beginning of the 19th century, when Sir Charles Monk, the new owner of the castle, built Belsay Hall, which was more modern. During construction, he was inspired by the architecture of the temples of Ancient Greece.
Near the castle of Belsay and the Belsay Hall manor was laid out a magnificent garden. Belsi Castle is well-preserved — the massive four-tier structure is topped with four watchtowers, and inside it there is a large hall, a kitchen, and six small rooms. Visitors can explore this medieval castle and contemplate the stunning view from the top of the tower.

The first church on this site was built in the 7th century, when Saint Etheldrera (630-679), being the queen of Northumbria, granted these lands to Archbishop of York Wilfrid (634-709). Wilfried founded a Benedictine abbey here, the buildings of which were almost entirely built of ancient Roman ruins. In 875, during the Danish invasion of England, Hexham was ravaged, and the abbey was almost completely burned. For a long time, the church buildings were in ruins, until at the beginning of the 11th century it was decided to restore the abbey.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the stained-glass windows of the temple, which can be seen today, were created by the artist Henry Thomas Bosset. In 1996, a chapel for solitary prayers, consecrated in the name of St. Wilfrid, was added to the church building.

Be sure to order good crabs here, pizza and sardines. In this restaurant, you will be served a good ice cream, tiramisu and cheesecake. Of the drinks here is to try a good coffee. From the guests' point of view, the staff here is attentive. This restaurant offers dishes at attractive prices.
Open Hours: Wednesday-Saturday: 10:30-14:00, 18:00-21:00 Sunday, Monday, Tuesday: closed

Almost two thousand years ago, the Romans built the fort of Vindolanda in the north of modern England. Being one of the smallest, but at the same time and one of the most powerful, the fort was part of the fortification walls of Hadrian’s Wall, which defended Roman Britain from barbaric raids. Now, Vindolanda is one of the most famous Roman monuments in Europe. Due to the unique natural conditions (swampy soil) organic materials are well-preserved here: leather, fabrics, wood.
Recently, archaeologists discovered a kind of “time capsule” in Vindolanda: they unearthed a part of a moat filled with rubbish, among which were scraps of leather, ceramics, skeletons of dogs and cats, as well as shoes. A total of 421 copies were found: babies' shoes, shoes for children and teenagers, shoes for adults (both men and women), bath slippers, home and street shoes.
Booking an arrival window is strongly recommended. These are two-hour windows which give you flexibility on your anticipated arrival time.

Aydon Castle is a fortified manor built by Robert de Reymes, a wealthy merchant from Suffolk, in 1296. This is a two-story house with a living room, dining room and kitchen on the top floor. However, the location of this manor made it vulnerable to the raids of the Scots, so in 1305 Reims received a license to strengthen it and build loopholes. He also added battlements along the perimeter, turning his mansion into a real castle.
In the following centuries, the castle owners changed frequently. In the middle of the 16th century, the castle was reconstructed, and later transformed into a farm. The building continued to be used as a farm until 1966. Then the castle passed under the care of the state, and was restored, adopting its original medieval appearance.
The castle is usually closed on Monday and Tuesday. Before planning your visit, please check the opening times on the official website.

Take a walk around these woods. There are really well-maintained pathways and lovely views of the trees and the hills. You might even have a chance to see a deer. Proper walking shoes are recommended.

This restaurant is worth tasting Italian cuisine. Take good shrimp, bacon and seafood pizza. Sale Pepe is famous for appetizing pudding. According to customers, the wine in this place is not bad. You will appreciate the charming atmosphere and modern relaxation area.
Please note that the restaurant is closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Tomorrow you will have an interesting day. The first place you go will be the manor, which has stood without a roof for 50 years, and even now, there is still much to be done for restoration. Then you will go to the residential castle, built in the middle of the 14th century, inside which is an incredible interior with different treasures, such as art collections by various artists. You will also go to another castle, which was one of the first in medieval England, with a high stone wall outside.