In 2024, the Caravan and Motorhome Membership are working a Learn, Tour, and Discover Marketing campaign to encourage folks to learn extra and go to locations related to e book settings. We purpose to assist promote authors, each previous and new, whereas offering recommendations on which areas to discover that, at one time, supplied inspiration to those that went on to place pen to paper.
Taking its title from the fort that stands proudly on the coronary heart of this city, Barnard Fortress in Teeside is a historic market referred to as Barney by the locals. It’s house to not solely the fort ruins but additionally museums, a vibrant buying space teaming with unbiased retailers, and the River Tees, standard with watersports fanatics and those that take pleasure in a wander in nature.
The Historical past of Barnard Fortress
The point of interest of this city is most undoubtedly the fort itself, which you’ll be able to see from the highway as you drive by way of. Constructing began right here again in 1093, though what stays right this moment is from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries by the Balliol household, whereas the oldest constructing on the town, Blagraves, dates again to 1484.
A view of the fort from the river
The truth that well-known artist J.W.M. Turner painted Barnard Fortress and the riverside again in 1825 ought to point out how engaging this small city is. Plus, a number of well-known writers and poets have frolicked having fun with the gorgeous environment right here and gaining inspiration for his or her work, together with Walter Scott, who began his poem Rokeby with Barnard Fortress as a backdrop, and Charles Dickens, who stayed on the King’s Head whereas researching his novel, Nicholas Nickleby. William Wordsworth, Daniel Defoe, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Hilarie Belloc and extra just lately, journey author Invoice Bryson have all loved spending time at Barnard Fortress.
24 hours in Barnard Fortress Itinerary
Barnard Fortress is a city that may be seen in only a few hours, however as a way to discover it totally, enable your self a day to not solely wander across the fort but additionally discover some of the distinguished museums on this a part of the nation.
We now have created the right one-day strolling itinerary for you, together with a listing of the highest sights to profit from your day on the town.
Day 1 Barnard Fortress Itinerary
Seize a espresso and benefit from the view from the park
One of the best ways to start out your day at Barnard Fortress is to seize a takeaway espresso and a breakfast pastry and head to the park space overlooking the Fortress itself. With solely the river for firm, the view right here is unspoilt, and when the solar is shining, there isn’t a higher strategy to start your day.
Head into Barnard Fortress
Open day by day from 10 a.m., the ruins of the as soon as grand Barnard Fortress sit excessive above the River Tees. It takes its title from the unique founder, Bernard de Balliol earlier than being handed on to the Beauchamp household and later Richard III earlier than he grew to become king. Extra just lately, the fort has been taken care of by English Heritage and can value £8.50 if booked forward, or £10.50 on the day per grownup (2024).
As soon as inside, you possibly can learn extra in regards to the fort’s vibrant previous and its inhabitants, together with the siege of 1569 and the Barnard hermit who lived there within the center 1800s.
Benefit from the unbiased retailers
From the fort, head again into city and stroll across the retailers, admiring the native retailers and their crafts. In the event you take pleasure in recent meals, take a look at the native bakeries, butchers, and delis for the very best quality produce earlier than settling in for lunch at one other standard deli spot on the outskirts of the principle city centre.
The previous coated market on the Excessive Road
Go to Andalucia for Lunch
Andalucia, on the prime finish of city, is the right place to take pleasure in lunch. With loads of choices, together with do-it-yourself steak pie and fluffy omelettes, you can be hard-pressed to seek out someplace as inviting. The plus facet of consuming right here is that the café doubles as a deli, which suggests you should purchase extra produce to take house afterwards.
Discover the wealth of art work housed within the Bowes Museum
From the surface, this grand constructing appears prefer it has been transported from the Loire Valley area of France and appears considerably misplaced in Yorkshire. After promoting their property in France, the Bowes designed this excellent piece of structure, harking back to a chateau, which was constructed to share their love of artwork with everybody.
The skin of the Bowes Museum is harking back to French chateau
Josephine herself was an avid collector, painter, actress, and socialite famend for the salons she used to host in Paris. John was an English artwork collector and thoroughbred racehorse proprietor. Subsequently, it’s unsurprising that most of the items now on present within the museum are from their personal collections or painted by Josephine herself.
One of many newer rooms on the Bowes Museum
There are a lot of totally different areas of the Bowes Museum to discover, together with momentary exhibitions, work by Turner, Gainsborough, Goya, Canaletto and Van Dyke, and the mechanical Silver Swan. Relationship again to the1770s, this reproduction of a feminine swan accommodates greater than 2,000 shifting components, which permits its head to maneuver like an actual swan would. Throughout your go to to Barnard Fortress and the Bowes Museum that is one factor to not be missed, subsequently be sure to time your go to to observe the swan swimming for your self.
The Silver Swan on the Bowes Museum
For literary followers, it’s value noting that Mark Twain additionally noticed this Swan show at a Paris exhibition in 1867, which he later wrote about in his novel The Innocents Overseas.
‘I watched the Silver Swan, which had a residing grace about his motion and a residing intelligence in his eyes – watched him swimming about as comfortably and unconcernedly because it he had been born in a morass as a substitute of a jeweller’s store – watched him seize a silver fish from below the water and maintain up his head and undergo the customary and elaborate motions of swallowing it…’
Likewise, when Invoice Bryson visited Barnard Fortress, he described the Bowes Museum as ‘a fully fabulous establishment’.
Spend time perusing the books at McNab’s Bookshop
Promoting previous, new, and second-hand books, McNab’s is an establishment in its personal proper round Barnard Fortress. This pleasant little unbiased bookshop, established in 1988, is unfold throughout two rooms with snug sofas and partitions lined with books on all totally different subjects, from journey to literary fiction and kids’s books.
Inside McNab’s Bookshop
The nice and cozy welcome you obtain right here once you stroll by way of the door solely provides to the cosy really feel of this place. If, by this level, you’re additionally after a caffeine repair, then there’s a espresso store connected the place you possibly can order earlier than going again to take pleasure in your self throughout the bookshop itself.
Discover the Charles Dickens Plaque
Maybe some of the notable writers of basic literature, Charles Dickens, liked to discover the locations he wrote about, and Barnard Fortress isn’t any totally different. In 1838, he visited the city whereas finishing analysis for his e book Nicholas Nickleby, and subsequently, a blue plaque was erected in his honour. When visiting, be sure you wander all the way down to the location of the previous King’s Head Resort, the place he stayed along with his illustrator, Hablot Browne.
Head to Moments Café for afternoon espresso
With a number of fabulous do-it-yourself muffins, together with vegan choices, paired with sustainably, ethically sourced Lonton espresso, Moments Café is the right place to unwind. Relationship again to the early sixteenth century, this listed constructing nonetheless has some unique options, together with a completely working 18th-century range that warms the entire place on a chilly day.
Take a stroll alongside the river to the Deepdale Nature Reserve
Earlier than the solar units, head again all the way down to the river and stroll all the way down to Deepdale Woods, among the finest in Teeside, and full the round stroll so that you just as soon as once more find yourself again at Barnard Fortress. This woodland has been lovingly maintained within the hope that extra wildlife will return to the realm and was talked about in Sir Walter Scott’s poem, Rokeby:
“…and final and least however loveliest nonetheless, Romantic Deepdale’s slender rill”
Get pleasure from pre-dinner drinks on the Three Horseshoes
Sitting on the crossroads of the 2 principal buying streets, this pub has been respectfully renovated and is now the perfect place to take pleasure in an early night drink at their Cellar Bar or, within the hotter months, their beer backyard. They provide a number of classical cocktail selections and many alternative craft beers throughout the partitions of a Seventeenth-century constructing.
Have dinner at Babul’s
Voted among the finest eating places on the town, Babul’s presents Indian and Bangladeshi dishes in a vibrant, vibrant atmosphere. You possibly can take pleasure in a number of South Asian delights combined with cocktails to enhance your selections.
Observe within the footsteps of Invoice Bryson and have a drink within the Previous Effectively Inn
In The Highway to Little Dribbling, Invoice Bryson mentions the Previous Effectively Inn; subsequently, earlier than heading again to the city centre, go to the historic teaching inn, which has fort partitions working alongside the beer backyard, and luxuriate in an actual cask ale.
Remaining Ideas
Barnard Fortress is extra than simply the fort it’s named after, and subsequently, to do it justice, you must prepare to spend the day there exploring. Sure, you could possibly rapidly go to the fort if you’re struggling for time, however you’ll miss out on a lot extra. For us, the nice and cozy welcome supplied by everybody at Barnard Fortress is a purpose to go to.
The previous King’s Head Resort in Barnard Fortress the place Charles Dickens stayed
Really useful Excursions
- Go to Raby Fortress, constructed throughout the 14th century and one in all England’s most spectacular, nonetheless intact castles. Contained in the grounds, you possibly can uncover the woodland journey playground at The Plotters’ Forest, wander across the 18th-century walled gardens or take pleasure in lunch within the Vinery.
- Positioned within the Forest-in-Teeside within the North Pennines, the Excessive Pressure Waterfalls are a few of the most spectacular within the area. Standing 21 metres tall, Turner might have painted the waterfalls in 1822, however they’re nonetheless breathtaking right this moment.
- The ruins of Egglestone Abbey, a small monastery relationship again to the thirteenth century, are free to enter. The monastery nonetheless stands to a point and has views out over the Tees Gorge.
- Between 1171 and 1187, Bowes Fortress was constructed on the location of a Roman fort and was a stronghold for Henry II. Immediately, the fort has a moat on two sides, with the maintain being the one remaining a part of this spoil; nevertheless, it’s nonetheless value a go to.
- The Locomotion Museum in Shildon, which is free to enter, is the right household time out. It’s house to greater than 70 heritage railway automobiles, exhibitions, and gardens to discover.
In case you have time to go to additional afield:
- Head to Richmond within the Yorkshire Dales, a vibrant market city with a fort and waterfalls. It is usually the place Lewis Carroll went to high school for a while.
- Go to the UNESCO World Heritage Web site of Durham. This college metropolis is house to a cathedral and a fort, which is among the many best examples of Norman structure in England.
- Make a journey to Bolton Abbey and discover this sprawling property, together with the priory ruins and the stepping stones, earlier than having lunch at The Devonshire Arms.
Find out how to get to Barnard Fortress
The closest prepare stations to Barnard Fortress are both Bishop Auckland or Darlington, which means that you’d be at the very least 40 minutes away if travelling through bus or 20 minutes in a taxi. If you wish to fly in, Teesside Worldwide Airport is half-hour away, whereas Newcastle Airport is one hour away. Lastly, through highway, Barnard Fortress is simply 20 minutes off the A1(M).
Travelling by Motorhome to Barnard Fortress
For these travelling of their motorhomes, must you not want to keep at a campsite close by, there are a few parking choices for you, together with:
- The Purple Effectively Inn (Harmire Highway, DL12 8QJ) in Barnard Fortress permits motorhomes to park totally free in a single day in case you have a drink or meal of their restaurant. Nonetheless, aside from water, there aren’t any different amenities out there.
The place to remain in Barnard Fortress
For a comparatively small place, a wide range of lodging is on the market, which ought to spotlight simply how standard this market city is. The Three Horseshoes is a centrally positioned resort relationship again to the Seventeenth century. All bedrooms have been sympathetically renovated to a excessive normal however now embody all the trendy comforts you’ll anticipate.
In the event you would favor to be barely additional out of city, though nonetheless inside strolling distance and near the Bowes Museum, maybe the smaller Newgate Home B&B would swimsuit you higher. For these prepared to journey barely additional afield for a keep in absolute luxurious, look no additional than Runa Farm, which has been designed with beautiful element in thoughts, the place some rooms come full with personal balconies and scorching tubs. There’s additionally a glamping web site connected and a restaurant and bar space providing seasonal and native produce from their farm.
Motorhome Campsite Choices
When travelling to the realm through motorhome or camper, nevertheless, for those who want to keep for an evening or two, there isn’t a higher place than Teesdale Barnard Fortress Membership Campsite, supplied by the Motorhome and Caravan Membership.
The doorway to the Motorhome and Caravan Membership web site
It’s centrally positioned inside strolling distance of the city centre and presents a peaceable keep in an exquisite location with full amenities out there. The workers onsite are extraordinarily welcoming and are there to supply any steerage on the place to go to and locations to eat and drink.
Pitches out there at Barnard Fortress
With 95 pitches to select from, you possibly can resolve whether or not to be nearer to the bathe block or look out over the woodland that’s set again barely. Within the evenings, alongside the resident rabbits, you’ll hear all method of wildlife, together with owls, making you’re feeling like you’re miles from anyplace when, in truth, you’re only a 20-minute stroll from city. This web site presents the very best of each worlds; it’s a place to chill out and gives the comfort of a neighborhood city to discover, which suggests you possibly can park up and overlook about driving anyplace for just a few days.
Sundown at Barnard Fortress
Have you ever visited Barnard Fortress? What would you suggest others go to when within the space?
(N.B. The Caravan and Motorhome Membership did present us with a free pitch at some point of our journey, however all analysis and proposals are our personal and have on no account been influenced by others).
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