Local Talk Back June 2014

One particular plus point is the fact that the museum has not felt the need to "dumb down" to just
appeal to children (with touch screens and flip up pictures and cartoons etc. everywhere) which
seems to be common now in museums.
It’s a long drive from Gloucestershire but well worth a
visit, particularly if you are visiting the Lake District
and fancy a small diversion east away from the
crowds. I’m sure the area is busy during the school
holidays, but there are good parking areas along the
wall for walkers, some of which are National Trust
and some not and some beautiful bed and breakfasts
and places to stay and explore. You can reward
yourself with great pub food and beer at the Twice
Brewed Inn which is right near the wall and La Toot
tearooms in Haltwhistle is highly recommended, as is
the village shop and tea room in Bardon Mill. Nearby
is a lovely walk following the river at Allen Banks –
probably overlooked by many people walking the
wall. We were lucky enough to also watch a local
farmer working his two Clydesdale heavy horses
ploughing a very sticky field – fantastic to see
someone still using this labour intensive and difficult
method of farming, presumably just for his own
satisfaction.
Jo Niblett