This would once have been a beautiful building. Unfortunately, after Henry VIII disbanded monastic…read morecommunities in England, Wales and Scotland in the 1500s, all that remains is the gatehouse. This functioned as a vicarage to the local church and is now in the care of English Heritage and probably dates back to the 1100s. Definetly worth the walk, or the drive.

I came across this odd landmark a few years ago doing geocaching. Having never seen or heard of one…read morein the UK before I found it rather intriguing. What it is, is a sulphur spring right beside the river tees. The smell of rotten eggs greats you as you approach down a small path but after about 5 minuets the smell no longer seems to be there however if you move away some distance and return it's back like a bad smell. Apparently it has some healing properties according to the Victorians who flocked to taste the waters. Having had a little taste my self it wasn't that inviting. The original fountain was replaced in 2000 but still looks the part (see images). If you are heading up teesdale via Barnard Castle then it's on the way. A small lay-by is provided to park in and then it's just a short 100m walk down a path.

I have a great fondness for this ram statue! Often when driving to or from Scotland we stop in…read moreMoffat for a meal and usually park near to this wonderful ram (it is surrounded by parking spaces in the middle of the main street). This statue was sculpted by William Brodie (1815-1881) and presented to the town by the local businessman William Colvin in 1875 to commemorate the town's thriving wool trade. Other notable works by Brodie which can still be seen today include his marvellous 'Hercules', a bronze statue in Portmeirion, North Wales. The Moffat Ram sits on top of the Colvin Fountain whose water was used by men and animals for drinking. There were once iron cups for men to fill from the water spouts whilst the animals drank from the filled bases the lower ones for dogs and the higher ones for horses! The ram was constructed without ears and a myth (apparently without any foundation) circulated for long afterwards that Brodie committed suicide when he realised his mistake!

Legend has it that the Abbey on Inchcolm Island in the Forth, began when King Alexander I was…read moreshipwrecked in 1123, and took shelter in a hermit's hovel. After the hermit saved his life, the King decided to build a priory on the Island. In any case it was definitely a priory by the mid 13th century when in 1235 it became an Abbey and grew from there. Inchcolm Abbey is regarded as one of the best preserved medieval monastic building complexes. It really is impressive. To get here you need to get one of two ferry services from Queensferry (make you sure you choose the option to get off at the Island and don't just pay for the cruise) which takes about thirty minutes. Once there you are free to explore the Abbey (and the rest of the island). It really is a great trip, if you're anything like me and generally like ruined piles of stone. But in all seriousness so much of it is still intact, that you really get a feel for the place. Actually it can become a bit maze like with all its stairs and many floors. One particular nerve racking part involves a steep climb up some very small winding stairs. These monks really were midgets! In fact I'm quite surprised Historic Scotland still lets visitors climb these precarious heights, but I'm glad they do. From the top of the tower you get a fantastic view of the Island and across the Forth. It also makes a great family day out, especially with the cruise to boot. Kids love to run around the Island and if its a nice day it makes a perfect picnic venue.

Just because we live in Edinburgh doesn't mean we can't enjoy the city. The folks who run the city…read morecentre (Waverley Bridge) bus tours also run a boat to Inchcolm Abbey. Go for it - an absolutely brilliant and fascinating day out. Couple of tips, buy coffee on board, if you get off at Inchcolm (do, it's amazing) either take a picnic or have a meal before or after the cruise. They only have very expensive bottled drinks and biscuits and chocolate on the island. Take your camera, wear flat shoes and comfy clothes and go for a paddle if its warm. Look out for the seals, so cute. Fantastic day out for all ages.

Absolutely spectacular! Over 700 years old, by far the oldest building I've ever personally had the…read morepleasure to touch, or photograph, Sweetheart Abby speaks to the history lover in all of us. The drive to the Abby is picturesque, along the rolling hills and tucked away in a quaint village - the roads not changed much since the village was founded, narrow and harrowing if there's any traffic. The walls of the former monastery rise up from the verdant hills towards the sky, ruins now, but once, they would have been grand. For 4.50 you get to spend as much time as you like, roaming through the well preserved old gal, there are signs that tell you about her bones, and her history. Listen to the pigeons who roost in her eves and flutter back and forth. Occasionally some sound like Monks speaking their prayers - or perhaps that is just an echo from the past coming back to your ears. Either way, The Sweetheart Abby tells the tale of a woman, lost, who had her husband's heart embalmbed, so that when SHE died, she could be buried holding onto it. Love is eternal they say. Behind the old Church is a vast and dated graveyard. Pay attention walking amidst the stones. The ground is moist and the soil can be loose. It is said that the stones may falter. Tread lightly lest you be the next resident among the stones.

These ruins are on the way from Manchester to Scotland - not too far out of your way. They were…read morethe cover photo for my Fodors Scotland book. That was, of course, and eye-grabbing photo. You will be able to get a great set of photos too - even if you are not a pro photographer and if it's raining, as it was for us. Worth the stop.

300 feet up on a winding road, the view is incredible. When the fog rolls in (or are those low…read morelying clouds?) it can steal the view but make it no less beautiful. Apparently recently someone drove a van off this cliff and down to the bottom.. And survived. The van is still at the bottom. *Shakes head* When I got a chance to view this, The area was blanketed in a thick wall of fog. We walked out to the markers, we peered down over the lip of the cliff and no, we could not see the van, but we know it's down there. Bring a camera, don't look too far down..

Came for a roman exhibition and battle display, it was very good, they had working catapults etc…read moreand put on a fighting display..

A low, late morning sun through bleak winter trees covered in moss and frost.....a quintessential…read moreEnglish countryside view....and unbelievably beautiful. We happened upon Hadrian's Wall by accident on a freezing Saturday morning, having seen the brown tourists signs to a desination that has been on my "bucket list" since I was about 13 and learned about it in school on the other side of the world. How magical to just happen upon it one morning, quite by mistake! The Roman Fort in Birdoswald was practically empty - but we were still greeted with smiles and banter and the good news that Scottish Heritage cards mean free entry to the Fort. Excellent - that entrance fee will go on coffee & cake after a wee explore! The exhibition itself is well laid-out and with enough mixed media to keep even bored people interested, although I always wonder about the artists who make the replica food for these installations - I don't think Hiroshi Nagashima will be handing out any stars! That being said, the information is excellent and the museum is a good yet relatively brief introduction to the Wall and the history of this particular area of it; I do recommend buying the small booklet on the history of the Wall - especially when entry is free. Walking around the grounds, there are further boards and the frosty morning really was the most amazing time to see it - the Wall itself is an incredible feat; the tramworks people in Edinburgh could learn a lot, considering the Wall spans the width of the entire country and was completed in 7 years - and is still in pretty good condition hundreds of years later! The wee cafe is clean, functional and not uncomfortable. More importantly, the coffee is good and the malteser slice we decided to share was good enough to make us wonder if sharing wasn't the way to go! We will definitely come back and do some walking along the wall when we have appropriate shoes - for now, it was just a thrill to touch it, to see it, to have a magical morning become even more so with the reminder of amazing things it's possible to simply stumble upon.

Shap Abbey is 1 mile out of the village of Shap, in the valley of the river Lowther. It was mainly…read morebuilt in the 12th century, except the last building which remains intact. The west tower was built in the 15th century. the canons who started the Abbey were Premonstatensian. this was a group who looked for remote locations to 'commune with God'. Boy, did they find one here. Before the modern ease of transport they would have been very isolated in this beautiful place. Dates apart this is a fascinating place. you can see the remains of the loos and the bakery, and a good deal of the floor plan of the Abbey.