Haltwhistle claims to be at the geographic centre of Britain - equidistant from the sea as measured along the principal points of the compass. Except the claim is rather tenuous as it requires that the northern extremity is taken to be Orkney rather than Shetland
nevertheless they do make their claim vociferously and who are we to pass up the opportunity of venturing once more up to Northumberland, plus there are a few places on the way worth a look, and once there you’re in prime Hadrian’s Wall country 
This would be particularly fitting as, within the last year we’d been to both ends of the Wall ( Bowness-on-Solway and Wallsend links highlighted in case you missed them) so it would be good to have a look at the rest 
Levens Hall, Cumbria. Yeah, yeah, I know it’s not open until April....
....but if you’re cheeky you can get in
Sizergh castle, Cumbria, been past here loads of times....
....and never taken the opportunity to have a look
The 15th century Chapel at Keld, Cumbria, thought to have been the chantry for Shap Abbey....
....and has been used as a cottage and meeting house during its long history
A pretty rare (for the UK) Muscovy duck
The Premonstratensian Shap Abbey, Cumbria....
....on the western bank of the River Lowther
First breakfast stop of the tour....
....and it’s the traditional egg-banjo sandwich.
I must remember to wash my jacket when we get home
Lowther castle, Cumbria – Home of the Earls of Lonsdale....
....built in the early 19th century but now only a shell with no roof
But they are attempting to restore it and its gardens....
....from the rigours of having been used for tank-driving practice during the war....
....which would be well worthwhile.
Clifton Hall, a 15th-century fortified manor house of which only the pele tower remains
Spire House, first of three folly farmsteads built by the 11th Duke of Norfolk of Greystoke Castle....
....the second, Bunker's Hill....
....and the third, Fort Putnam. The sun was in my eyes, m’Lud
Greystoke castle, Cumbria....
....the original structure here dating from the 11th century
Blencowe Hall, possibly one of the most interesting buildings in Cumbria....
....converted into holiday accommodation from a medieval ruin
Time for the healthy tea on tour – fish, chips & battered sausage....
....with Diet Coke
Hutton-in-the-Forest, Cumbria – The fantastic home of the Barons Inglewood, extended & reworked over the centuries.
Despite our best efforts, we were unable to get into here in December so these few shots are from an earlier foray in October
From left to right, the neo-Gothic tower, the Baroque town-house, the original Pele tower and finally the gallery with the bay window
Hutton-in-the-Forest viewed from over the fishpond. You’ve no idea how difficult it was to get this shot
Oh yeah, I don’t think those cows were cows either 
Library, Hutton-in-the-Forest
Drawing Room, Hutton-in-the-Forest
Great Hall, Hutton-in-the-Forest
Merry Christmas
Warwick Hall, Cumbria, on the river Eden
Holme Eden Hall, Cumbria, built in 1837 as a calendar house....
....with 365 windows, 52 chimneys, 12 passageways, 7 entrances and 4 storeys
Naworth castle, Cumbria
Naworth castle, Cumbria
Bacon butty?....
....don’t mind if I do
Lanercost old bridge over the Irthing
Lanercost Priory, Cumbria
Lanercost Priory, Cumbria
Banks East turret, Cumbria....
....we’re back on the Wall
Birdoswald Roman Fort, Cumbria. Actually, this bit was a farmhouse and the owner grafted a tower & porch onto it
Hadrian’s Wall
Haltwhistle, Northumberland
Is this really the Centre of Britain?
The Centre of Britain hotel in Haltwhistle
Centre of Britain hotel
Even the launderette isn’t backward in coming forward
Equidistant between Bowness-on-Solway & Wallsend....
....and between Portland Bill & Orkney
Haltwhistle – Centre of Britain
This could be our campsite....
....Hadrian’s Wall Caravan & Camping Site – perfect location for this tour
Hardstanding pitches and with electric too
Bacon & eggs?....
....It would be rude not to
But why does the gas have to run out mid-bacon-butty?
I’ll tell you what – it’s bloomin’ dark here, no wonder the area has just been granted dark-sky status by The International Dark Skies Association
Good morning Northumberland!
Perfect weather for the day in prospect
Baaa
Campsite ducks
Kids these days, always checking for vitally important messages on TwitFace
Breakfast – and it’s....
....bacon & egg for a change
There’s nothing quite like a bacon & egg butty outdoors. It’s never the same at home
Vindolanda Roman Fort, Northumberland
Vindolanda Roman Fort, Northumberland
Vindolanda Roman Fort, Northumberland
Vindolanda Roman Fort, Northumberland
Vindolanda Roman Fort, Northumberland
Vindolanda Roman Fort, Northumberland
Vindolanda Roman Fort, Northumberland
It’s never too cold for ice-cream
Campsite chicken
Campsite duck
Campsite chickens
Campsite duck
Lulu – campsite cat. Clearly not vicious enough to kill her own tea
Turned out nice again!
Time for a wee celebration....
....we’ve escaped from the Mother-in-Law for a few days....
....so that calls for some pink sparkly wine....
....which is a splendid idea in a Bongo
Cheers! – Don’t mind if I do
Looking like Aunt Sally, she’s only had one glass. Hic
Accompanied by the pièce de résistance of campsite cooking....
....fish-finger butties!
Lulu was hovering hopefully at this point, but this wasn’t to be her lucky night
Stop the World, I want to get off, I’ve got a hangover
I’ve just the remedy for that....
....bacon & eggs!!....
....with lashings of tomato ketchup
Next stop, the Roman Army Museum, Northumberland
Thirlwall castle, Northumberland....
....a 12th century ruin on the bank of the river Tipalt
Bellister castle, just to the south of Haltwhistle
Blenkinsopp castle, Northumberland
The iconic Sycamore Gap, Northumberland....
....right next to Milecastle 39
Sycamore Gap and Milecastle 39
Winshields Crag, Northumberland, the highest point on the Wall
Housesteads Roman Fort, Northumberland
Housesteads Roman Fort, Northumberland
Housesteads Roman Fort, Northumberland
Housesteads Roman Fort, Northumberland
A cracking view of the Wall, with the defensive ditches to the right on the Barbarian side to slow any attack from the north
Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland
The Wall, Northumberland
Chesters Roman Fort, Northumberland, with the North Tyne in the distance
Chesters Roman Fort, Northumberland
Wall, Northumberland. A convenient name for a village in this neck of the woods
Hexham Abbey, Northumberland
Hexham Abbey, Northumberland
Leffe Blonde – Perfect!
Meatballs with a chopped onion....
.... and a jar of Napolina tomato & chilli pasta sauce....
....with some freshly grated Parmesan and some quality beer....
....Bon appetit
Now that is really tasty
Pheasants, Lancashire. There were loads of them but one of them didn’t make it, it’s all over the Bongo
Looking to the coast from the Jubilee tower, Forest of Bowland, Lancashire
The Jubilee tower, built for the 1897 diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria
In the interests of balance, the other (more plausible) contender for the location of the exact geographic centre of Great Britain is….
….Dunsop Bridge in Lancashire....
....oddly enough, named after the bridge over the river Dunsop
….In 1992, BT installed its 100,000th payphone here….
….and included a plaque to explain its significance, unveiled by Sir Ranulph Fiennes
For completeness, the locations above are to do with Great Britain and the British mainland. So why not also go to the nearest structure to the centre point of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland - The Ashton Memorial in Williamson Park, Lancaster, built by James Williamson, 1st Baron Ashton....
Ashton Memorial, Lancaster – you’ll have seen this from the M6 loads of times
In the bird-house at Williamson Park. The do believe the female is the one on the right
English Giant Lop-Eared rabbit
Lionhead rabbit
Lancaster castle viewed from the Ashton Memorial. May as well go for a closer look
Lancaster castle, still a Crown Court….
….and up to two years ago a prison.
Hangman’s Corner – the Drop Room is in the round tower behind those double doors where the victim would be prepared, then led out of the doors onto a small gallows. After hanging for an hour the body would be given over to the relatives for internment
And on that joyous note we disappear into the sunset of 2013. A Happy New Year to all our readers, from Team Muz
