Otterburn Tower

**cessna152towser** · 2nd July 07, 10:52 AM

Today was Ann's stroke club summer outing when we crossed the border by bus to Otterburn Tower.

Ann's mobility scooter travelled there in the luggage hold of the bus.

The original building was founded in the 1086 as a bastion to repel the marauding Scots. Robert Umfraville, a cousin of King William I, was charged with protecting Tynedale and Redesdale and keeping them ‘free from wolves and enemies’.

The castle is surrounded by its own landscaped gardens.

In 1388 the Tower withstood its fiercest attack from the Scots following the battle of Otterburn. The Scots, led by the 2nd Earl of Douglas were confronted a mile north of here by the English, led by Harry Hotspur, son of the Earl of Northumberland. Despite Douglas being slain, the Scots won the battle and advanced to the castle at Otterburn then onwards towards Newcastle. Today's Scots visitors are far less aggressive.

The castle nowadays is an upmarket hotel.

We had lunch in one of the dining halls.

Above the grand fireplace is a three dimensional interpretation of the Battle of Otterburn.

We then made the short journey to Otterburn Mill to let the ladies shop for textiles. Otterburn Mill has already been covered in a previous photothread.
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=25240

**Dirk Skene** · 2nd July 07, 11:15 AM

Nice photo tour. You mentioned it was a rather up upmarket hotel. Did you happen to catch what the room rates were?

**cessna152towser** · 2nd July 07, 11:51 AM

Did you happen to catch what the room rates were?

I didn't ask, but there should be more information on their website.
www.otterburntower.com

**McMurdo** · 2nd July 07, 11:54 AM

Simply amazing thanks for the tour Alex.

**Alan H** · 2nd July 07, 05:17 PM

I assume that the windows weren't there at the time of the battle....

**McClef** · 3rd July 07, 03:19 AM

And blue sky! I have almost forgotten what that looks like down here!

**CelticRanger66** · 3rd July 07, 06:54 AM

Great Pictures Alex!!! Thanks for posting!!!

**cessna152towser** · 3rd July 07, 09:42 AM

I assume that the windows weren't there at the time of the battle.

Most of the windows are the result of successive renovations leading to the fine hotel we see today, the most recent being 1999, though there are a few historic leaden and stained glass windows.

And blue sky! I have almost forgotten what that looks like down here!

Amazingly it was raining heavily here when we left in the morning and again when we arrived back but we got fine weather at Otterburn which is only about 30 miles away on the other side of the Cheviot Hills.

We have had very heavy rain here today in the Scottish Borders - when I left the court building in Duns this afternoon all the ground floor offices at rear of the building were under several inches of water - since the front rooms were still dry the floor must be on a slight slope!