So it has often come into my thinking soul, about the town of Berwick on Tweed such a unique town and not just because of its history but because after years of warring with us lot, at the end of the battling period, it became English at the end of the 15th Century.

When and how did all this happen ,before 1482 Berwick had been one of the foremost ports in Scotland, albeit a dangerous one because of it situation, and its original population had long since been decimated. In the various wars that took place here. I am not trying to say here how the whole situation arose, England had had their eye on Berwick from a strategic point of view but more so to take you there and see and feel the history for yourselves. The defensive positions created particularly by Edward 1st to keep the town are really worth noting, and one such is the `Elizabethan walls, built by Italian engineers who were seen as the greatest warring architects of the ages. Who would have thought such a passionate job could be as a warring Architect.

But the grey stony face of the walls and the foreboding power of the North sea, does make for a special atmosphere,

The name Berwick evolves from the name of the bar which crosses the tweed, and the bar lees of a problem today than what it would have been in the times of sail. There is a lot to see and do here but the jewel has to be the Holy Island, just to the south, the cradle of Anglican Christianity, and the burial place of many nobles, and including St Cuthbert.  Lindisfarne is very important and to this day many pilgrimages are made to the old priory there and of course the causeway, which has defeated me several times because of the wrong timings of the tide. The castle on Lindisfarne is an absolute rabbit warren of vaults and keep safes and was a principal stronghold.

The stormy history and great walks around the area make this a must in future


I wrote this before i left for the Uk, and now on my retrun its exciting to say we made it to the Holy Isle to have alook. Thats another story coming soon

Bob

www.celticconnexionstours.com