BEACHCOMBERS-JOURNAL

HADRIAN'S WALL - SYCAMORE GAP  (1) Sycamore Gap WALKING HADRIAN'S WALL  TO - SYCAMORE GAP - 16 SEP 2014 It was a hazy and fairly dull day in late summer when I visited the famous sycamore tree at Hadrian’s Wall. Parking at the viewpoint at Steel Rigg Car Park (near Once Brewed) I first walked west up to the trigpoint above Winshield Crags  (2) , yes, bagging trigpoints is among my faults. Despite the hazy low cloud I was rewarded with a decent view along the wall from the summit. (2) Trigpoint at Winshield Crags Looking East towards Steel Rigg Retracing my steps eastwards and passing the car park I met my wife and stopped for a quick photo of Steel Rigg  (3)  &  (4) . This is the Whin Sill, a layer of igneous rock whose rock face forms a natural barrier that the Romans used to their advantage when constructing the wall. (3) Steel Rigg & Peel Crags (4) Chris & Myself at Steel Rigg Sycamore Gap is on the east side of Steel Rigg, just pas...

THE LOOV'RE - BERWICK UPON TWEED The Loov're Cafe "a Grade II listed building" FASCINATING BUILDINGS I love photographing unusual architecture, and this little place immediately grabbed my eye. This article kicks off a series about fascinating buildings and we found this one at Berwick-upon-Tweed - The Loov're Cafe and Ice Cream Parlour. We spotted this curious little coffee shop while walking the town’s ramparts, its located on Bank Hill, near the big car park at Castlegate. HISTORY The building’s design, size and bright colours give it a pleasant old-world charm. To me it looks like a tiny house despite its lack of windows, but its elaborate design obscures its original use, a public loo - hence the name 'The Loov're.' It was originally built in 1899 as a public convenience for women, and it was known as the Bank Hill ladies toilet. At the time public toilets were only just starting to become widespread, and this one was rare as it only catered for w...