Belsay Hall was built between 1810 and 1870, set amidst gently rolling hills in Northumberland, the northernmost county of England. The castle (above), a short walk away through the grounds, predates the Hall but became a fashionable folly once the Hall was in use.
When we visited, it was gorgeous weather for wandering through the gardens - a substantial portion of which consists of passage-ways cut into the hillside. The looming cliff faces and lush vegetation gave the whole place a somewhat fantastical feel, which I much preferred to the somewhat sparse formal gardens nearer to the house.
You can climb the castle for beautiful views over the surrounding countryside, and we enjoyed watching house martins swooping in and out of the towers, clearly enjoying the sunshine as much as we were.
12 comments:
That rosy-red sandstone changes so dramatically with the weather doesn't it - warm and glowing in sunshine, heavy and threatening when the sky is overcast.
Those walls, those trees, such spectacular sights!
Amazing! I love this kind of stuff. :)
I want to come visit this.
Oh wow... thsespivtures are beautiful! Must add this to mg list of places to see before i die :)
Oh, I have yet to visit a real castle! (I don't think I'll count Hearst Castle in California!) Beautiful pictures!
Lemon Drop Pie
Heya, I'm checking in from SITS--what a beautiful castle, hall, & gardens! I could just sit in those big trees and watch the birds fly around all day. Thanks for sharing--I'll dream about the English countryside tonight!
~Becky
doodlebugonline.blogspot.com
Hello from a SITS friend....love the castle grounds. Looks so summery and lush. Thanks for posting.
Rina @ www.k6art.com
It looks like such a lovely way to spend an afternoon. And I love that gnarly tree!
Stopping by from SITS. Have a great weekend.
BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Your photos are as enchanting as the castle and grounds. Gorgeous.
I loved it. Its one of the most beautiful blog which I have seen so far. Thanks for sharing, I would like to bookmark it.
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