Cartington Castle

Yes that is a bull behind the gate. No, I didn’t go any closer.

My friend has arrived in the village for a week and after lunch we took her on a scenic drive in the National Park west of Rothbury.
The weather was horrible so most of the time we stayed in the car. Drove up to Tosson Tower a pele (pronounced peel) tower first. These were built as look out towers during the Scottish English border wars.
From Tosson we took the scenic route in the Simonside Hills to Harbottle Castle, once home to Mary Queen of Scots. You can’t see much of the castle from the car park and we chose to remain in the dry this visit. There is a lot to explore in sunnier and drier weather.
From Harbottle, we drove through Thropton Turing left at the height of the village toward Cartington and this wee castle, now enjoyed mainly by the farmer’s livestock.
After a warning cuppa in The Three Wheatheads in Thropton we deposited our friend at her hotel for a wash and brush up before meeting up later for supper.