I'm travelling up to visit my parents tomorrow and will be in the North East until Friday morning.

Do any of you have any great suggestions for places to take my girlfriend to show off the region?

She's already been to St James' to see us beat Leeds on Boxing Day so it can't get much better than that and we've ran over the Tyne Bridge during the Great North Run (Although she hasn't seen the new bridge).

We're on a pretty tight budget as well so nothing madly expensive would be good.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Answers

Answers page forthwith!!

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Tynemouth is a nice place to stroll around. Or how bout Dunstanburgh Castle, and up to Bamburgh and Holy Island. Anyone who doesn't find those views stunning isn't alive. :-)

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Beamish

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

If you are going up that far, take her to try the fish and chips in Lewis' on Seahouse's High Street

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

How about the Roman wall out west? I always loved that area as a kid.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

The Angel and Metro centre in Gateshead, The New millenium Bridge , Centre for Segadunnum in wallsend, the sculpture and royal keys in Wallsend,

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

What about Lumley Castle? Of if not, the Rivorside's pretty close ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Anyone who doesnt' appreciate the views of Lumley Castle from the Riverside simply isn't alive. ;-))

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Theatre Royal are doing cheap daytime (half term) tours - see new icNewcastle site - which gives you an excuse to walk down Grey Street/stroll round Grainger Market...(free) Laing Art Gallery does a nice cup of tea and shows you've got an artistic side and don't just worship Brown...and, best of all, the top of Bainbridge's car park has a great view of the ground.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Durham Cathederal and Castle, and a nice walk along the river.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

What, you haven't taken her to see the great and ancient city that is Sunderland yet? They've got a shopping precinct now, you know. Plus, they've got a glassworks centre.

-- Anonymous, February 21, 2001

South Shields. Down to Ocean Rd. Park the car alongside the world's first unsinkable lifeboat (a memorial to its constructor), then walk (or in your case run)the 1.25 miles to the end of the pier. Then the 1.25 miles back to the car. Then an Indian meal and watch the sand- dancers tale their pleasure.

Bliss. Cannit be bettered.

-- Anonymous, February 21, 2001

Eight pints of Stella in Wetherspoons is a canny day out.

-- Anonymous, February 21, 2001

Sorry Rik, but as for the Metro Centre suggestion please god NO - spare her !!

Can't think why she wouldn't want to head back to SJP - have they started those ground tours yet, cos she's bound to enjoy one of them ...

Outside the toon, maybe mountain biking in Kielder Forest in the morning, a stroll along Hadrian's Wall and around Houseteads/Vindolanda in the afternoon, then a canny pub supper in the Milecastle Inn (Military Road above Haltwhistle).

-- Anonymous, February 21, 2001

Actually, a visit to one of the old disused mines is always a moving, instructive experience: Jonno took me and Ciara last year and it was ace.

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2001

I had Brad (from the US) staying last year and he got me to take him all over the North East. I hadn't been to half of these historical monuments that are on your own doorstep. This year I AM GOING TO TAKE MY CHILDREN TO ALL THESE PLACES. ... when does the footy season end?

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2001

De Builder

After all this advice its to be hoped that you'll report on which places you visited. And why you didn't go to the others..............

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2001

Whilst it's nice to look at the millenium bridge it isn't open for walking over yet is it? April or something i'd heard....

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2001

I think it's more like July, Gav. Still better than the outline of a boat floating in the water which has to be removed because it went rusty. Bliddy mackems can't even manage outdoor sculpture. The only monolithic culture who couldn't get their stones to stand up.

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2001

Which would explain why they've failed to progress as a sub-species of the human race?

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2001

Rik,

you asked when does the footy season end? shouldn't that have been - when DID the footy season end?

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2001

I took me girlfriend to Cragside house and the grounds at Rothbury , absolutely beautiful .. oh aye Kippers at Craster and the Farne Islands for the Puffins , seals and the shags ... after all that i even got a shag of me own . Coat off ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2001

De B, If you do go to Tynemouth pop in and tell me mam I'm sorry I forgot to phone her at the w/end. Ta!

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2001

So where can I get hold of one of them shags then sting?

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2001

Is that why that famous woman rowed out to the Farne islands in a lifeboat, to get a shag?

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2001

Nah Rik. Her father was in the boat at the same time, so that's unlikely. Now I'm not usually one to start any rumours but I did hear the last time they were seen together, he was a 'puffin ...

-- Anonymous, February 23, 2001

Syme all the birds hang around the Farne Islands , in fact its one of only two places in Britain you are guaranteed to get a shag ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 23, 2001

Well folks. Thanks to you all for the suggestions but I'm afraid to say that my girlfriend had so much work to do she had to work for her entire half term holiday and that meant we weren't able to travel up North! I will print off all the suggestions and use a few at Easter.

I still had my three days off work to improve my golf and do a few things around the house, like sleep, eat, drink etc!!

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001

I'm not going to waste all these suggestions. I'm planning a trip up over the Easter break so I'll try to get as much of this in as possible.

Also I want to go to the match on Easter Monday against West Ham. Does anyone know how easy it is to get tickets for home matches when you're not a season ticket holder.

I usually get them through the Midlands Supporters club but do the Box Office sell tickets on general sale? I'll need three tickets I think.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2001

Very easy if you're willing to stump up corporate prices. I don't think those seats have ever sold out this season. :-/

Not sure how many seats at more realistic prices are offered for general sale. I think there's supposed to be around 2000 total, and go on sale about 2 weeks before the match. Nufc.com usually post the onsale date as soon as it's known

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2001

Hey DeB. I'm sure there may be one or two spares going from this BBS if you remind folks a bit closer the time. If not, then the ticket orrifice should be able to help.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2001

DeB

If you need a season ticket - mine should be available. send us an email and i'll give you the details....

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2001

Bear in mind but, a lot of the walking - the wall, Kielder etc - might be restricted cos of the F & M.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001