Late Summer Tour 2025.

 Late Summer Tour 2025

This years late summer trip took in 4 camp sites, Edinburgh Mortonhall Caravan and Camping Park, Thirlestane Caravan Park Lauder, Tantallon Caravan and Camping site North Berwick and finally Warren Caravan and Camping Park Bamburgh.

Edinburgh.

The reason we wanted to stay at MortonHall was three fold. Firstly to take part in the All Under One Banner March, the second reason was to visit the newly refurbished Filmhouse and off course to see our family.

Saturdays All Under One Banner March was very well intended, actually the turn out was better than i thought. It included the Bikers for Independence and was led by a Pipe Band. It finished outside Holyrood on the edge of the park. Stalls, live music and speeches were the oder of the day. 

Also on the same day there was the pro Palestine March and a peaceful protest against the UK Governments proscription against Palestine Action held outside the UK governments headquarters. Couldn’t  help but notice lots of police videoing this very peaceful event. I wonder why?

The following day we were picked up by our daughter and taken to Dalkeith for Lunch and a catch up with our three grandsons.

On our final day we took the number 11 bus back into town for a visit to the cinema. The Edinburgh Filmhouse was originally opened in 1979, but had to close in October 2022 when it went in to administration. In September 2023 a campaign organised by former staff to reopen got underway, finally it was re-opened in June 2025. 

We fancied the 2025 Irish movie Christy. Set in Knocknaheeny in Cork, the film centres on two estranged brothers who attempt to reconcile their differences. A cracking wee movie that one won the best Irish film at the Galway Film Fleadh in July 2025. To round off the day we retired to Nando’s for lunch. 

Lauder.

The camp site was set in the grounds of the Thirlestane Castle Estate at the southern end of Lauder, which is in the Scottish Borders only 22 miles from Edinburgh. It has a long history becoming a Royal Burgh in the 14th century.

You have to book a tour the visit the castle, something that’s well worth while., you can not just wonder around on your own. Our tour guide was a very knowledgable lady called Judith, what she did not know about the castles history was not worth knowing. You also get a cup coffee and a Tunnocks Tea Cake on completion of the tour - very nice.

The castle and its land has been in the ownership of the Maitland family since 1587and the castle was extended in the 1670’s to what we see now. Its cared for by a charitable trust but the family still live in part of the castle. In 1745 Charles Edward Stewart lodged at the castle on his way to invade England, getting as far as Derby before having to turn back. (Unfortunately)

Lauder Town Trail was our next adventure. You can pick up the trail guide from the campsite reception. We spent some time following the guide and i have included photo’s of some of the  points of interest  as follows:

Town Hall. The Town Hall was formally the town Tollbooth. This typically simple Scottish building dates from 1735.

Lauder Kirk. Designed by Sir William Bruce, master mason for Holyrood House in Edinburgh, the Duke of Lauderdale erected the present church in 1673. It underwent repairs in 1822 and again n 1864.

Lauder War Memorial. Erected in 1923.

Nr 4 The Row. This was built in 1795 as a meeting house and church. It has subsequently been used as a school, joiners shop and more recently as a house. 

The Avenue. This was originally he main entrance to Thirlestane Castle. There are plans afoot to reopen a tree lined path to the castle in the future.

Jonny Copes. This house is where John Cope is said to have made his first stop after the battle of Prestonpans in 1745 where the he was defeated at the hands of the Jacobites.

Enough culture for the present. The following day we did a 7.5 mile circular walk around the tranquil Borders countryside. Following the Southern Upland Way south to Fordswell. Turning right on to a narrow roadway via Upper Blainslie and joining the A68 at Stonyford Bridge and back to the campsite via B6321. A lovely walk, and it stayed mostly dry if not a little chilly. 

North Berwick.

A return visit the Tantallon Camp Site. Tantallon Caravan Park is situated over looking the Firth of Forth between Craigleith and the majestic Bass Rock and is one of the Meadowhead group of campsites. The facilities and cleanliness of the site is second to none with a great team of staff that are both helpful and friendly

Although we visited North Berwick earlier this year we felt it was certainly worth a another visit. The campsite situated to the south of the town is highly recommended for its organisation and its exceptional clean facilities. And anyway i wanted to take Barbara on a boat trip as she missed out last time 

As i remarked previously the town it self is a rather attractive Victorian seaside resort with long sandy beaches, three golf courses and a small harbour. and some nice shops and places to eat. An easy walk from the camp site across the golf course and along the shore.

Sula Boat Trip was our preferred sightseeing tour but due to the weather our trip was canceled, so we had to book up with the Seabird Centres Catamaran Tour around Craigleith and Bass Rock. Unlike Sula this trip was more nature orientated, it did not include the history Information that there rivals included. But a very enjoyable trip all the same. And it didn't rain!

We did a couple of walks, the first was into town and along the beach towards Yellow Craig but unfortunately this walk had to be called off early because of the very heavy rain. 

Our second walk the following day, after the rain finally stopped was part way along the coastal path towards Tantallon Castle. We got as far as the Leithies and down across the beach to the “island” Will finish this walk on a future visit to the area no doubt. 

Waren Mill nr Bamburgh.

The last port of call was across the English Border into Northumberland and to another of the Meadowhead Group of camp sites, the third on this trip indecently. 

Waren Caravan & Camping Park is situated in 100 acres surrounded by woodland. A nice quite site with mostly static vans as is normal with the company. The site is well kept with the normal facilities one expects. Its attraction is that its both walking distance from the shore line and the village of Bamburgh with its mighty castle.

Obviously our first visit was to the castle, a rather pleasant 3 mile walk, half of which was on a public footpath across some farmland. As it became quite wet on our arrival at the castle we decided to explore the 14 state rooms with their antique furniture, suits of armour, a great collection of priceless ceramics and of course artworks. 

Built around the 11th century it played a key role in the border wars of  the 13th and 14 century and was the first English castle to fall during the Wars of the Roses. Restored in the 19th century by the industrialist William George Armstrong, and is still the home of the Armstrong Family today. 

On the way back through this rather charming village its worth visiting St. Aidens Parish Church. There has been a place of worship on this site since the year 635.

Not far from the camp site is the English Coastal Path which we followed toward Bamburgh, we sat and had our pease

 watching the Para Surfing and decided to walk back along the beach as the tide was out. 

Budle Bay is part of the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve which is home to to the largest over wintering population of ducks, geese, and waders in north east England with between 50,000 and 60,000 birds recorded annually.

The end of another successful motorhome trip. Other than North Berwick we did not come a crossed many freeloaders this time. Our average price per night was over £38.00 with only one site (Lauder) not having a fully serviced pitches.