I waited and I waited. Surely we must get at least a sprinkling of snow sometime? Yes we did! We has a fall of about 5-6 inches and the really nice thing about North Northumberland, is the amount of sunshine we get in the winter – so some beautiful scenic days. This was the view from our front door late one afternoon, looking across to Ross Castle on the Chillingham range of hills.

A few days earlier, as the snow was threatening, I decided to have a walk in the College Valley to the north of us. There are three valleys in a row, the middle one is almost directly behind us, the Harthope Valley, to the south, the Breamish Valley and the most northerly, the College Valley. All run more or less east to west and are dead ends, which means you don’t get the through traffic. Even more so in the College Valley, only 12 cars a day are allowed to drive up the valley, on a pass which costs £10 from Savills in Wooler. There is a free car park at Hethpool, at the beginning of the valley proper. The valley is managed by a trust , very much on traditional lines and very much a working area. It’s also a valley of hillforts. You are of course, allowed to walk and it’s magic. A bit like stepping back in time. The day I was there, only the tops had a sprinkling of snow, I was making my way up to Great Hetha which has the remains of a hillfort on the top and although not the highest hill, has some great views.

The snow didn’t hang around for long and we were back to the greener but still sunny views from Firwood.

On a final note, there is a lot of sheep movement at this time of year, moving flocks from field to field to graze on whatever grass is available. I have to say, there is nothing nicer on a sunny winter’s day, than getting caught up in a sheep jam!!

Beth

I was going to show a seasonal photo of Firwood nestling in the snow but as yet, we haven’t had any this winter! We started the year with a very dry spring, went into a very dry, hot summer and now we are in a relatively dry and mild winter! Our rainfall stats are way below where they are normally in Glendale and the norm isn’t high compared to other parts of the country. This area of Northumberland is noted for being drier, we also get the most hours of winter sunshine than anywhere in the country, a meteorological fact. Wooler boasted two sanitoriums in the Victorian era due to the clean, dry atmosphere.  That’s why I love it when it does snow, it stays clean and white!

I could have used a snowy photo from previous years but I felt that was cheating a bit so you’ll have to make do with the Christmas tree instead.

We wish all our guests a Very Merry Christmas, a happy and healthy 2019 and look forward to seeing you next year.

Mike and Beth

2017 was our 20^th year of doing B&B! We started in Betws -y -Coed in Snowdonia, moved slightly South East to Pensarn Hall, just outside of Harlech, before settling back in the North in Firwood. We are very proud that we have guests who stayed with us 20 years ago in that very first B&B still visiting with us, obviously very firm friends now. Over the years we have made many friends who arrived as guests – and hope to continue doing so for a few years yet!

It has been a lovely year in North Northumberland, starting with a very mild and extremely dry winter which continued into a very dry spring. In fact, we were getting quite worried about the lack of rain at one point, Firwood is on spring water and we thought we were going to have to ask visitors to share baths! It didn’t come to that (shame, said some), with a little rain in June. It was a fantastic bluebell time, the hills in the Breamish Valley were stunning!

We continued through the year with just enough rain and a lot of blue – different I know to some areas of the country where they saw nothing but grey and mizzle. It’s a fact that we are on the dry side of the hills, something visitors are often surprised at. It was a marvellous year for the heather moors and looking from Firwood over to Hepburn Moor, all you could see was a purple glow.

It’s also been the year of magnificent sunrises and sunsets, again something people don’t expect on the East side of the country. This was looking from Firwood at sunrise over toward the Chillingham hills.

Coming into winter, again, dry, blue, with a few days of very cold, crisp and frosty white.

Beautiful! The only thing for me that would have made it better would be a little bit of snow, not everyone’s wish though. There’s time yet…….

Mike and I wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2018 and to those who have already booked, see you in the New Year!

Mike and Beth

We would like to wish all our guests, past and present, a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Looking forward to seeing you in 2017! Mike and Beth.

I think it’s fair to say there has been weather in North Northumberland! Before Christmas the area was inundated with water and we are always thankful that Firwood sits on the hillside, elevated above the fields and valley bottom. The temperature was unseasonably high, sometimes hitting 13 and 15 degrees. The Milfield Plain reverted back thousands of years to being a lake and along from Firwood at Yearle, the floating bog became Lake Yearle. The bog is reputed to be one of the oldest and deepest in the country, I’m not quite sure in that case how much water it took to fill it to overflowing!

Then all change in a blink of an eye. Temperatures dropped to –3 and the snows arrived. Not a huge amount, an inch or two but all the wet froze and the world around us became a completely different animal. A monochrome scape early in the morning with the snow still threatening, turning to a riotous sky above the snowy landscape as the sun setting behind Firwood reflected off the clouds above Ros Castle to the east.

The snow didn’t last long, temperatures climbed again, snowdrops are making an appearance and the daffs are pushing green spears above the ground. Who knows what the next month or two will bring? I do know it will always give me plenty of photo opportunities!

Beth and Mike

I think it’s fair to say that the start of the year in North Northumberland has been relatively mild. Although we have had some snow, it’s been confined to the hills behind – just enough to make it look very scenic! In fact, until late January, when this photo was taken of the snow covered Cheviots, the hills had stayed remarkably green. There is still a smidgeon of the white stuff on the tops, hanging on the northern slopes and gulley’s, it looked lovely a few days ago against the bright blue of a sunny sky.

The rest of us have been basking in sunshine, the bulls in the field in front of Firwood have been out all winter, not something that happens very often.

Around the area now, the snowdrops and aconites are coming to the fore. In fact, Northumberland is snowdrop heaven at the moment! It’s good to see life springing from the ground again, not that it has disappeared entirely this winter, we could still find the odd rose in bloom in January. I know there can still be a sting in the tail before we hit spring proper but if there is, at least it won’t last too long at this time of year. Here’s to the coming Spring, longer days and warming temperatures!

Mike and Beth

We would like to thank all our guests for their support in 2014. We look forward to welcoming those who have not yet discovered the delights of Northumberland, as well as those who have grown to love it, in 2015.

We wish you a Very Merry Christmas and all the best for a happy and healthy New Year.

Mike and Beth

What’s been in the news recently about the Northumberland National Park that has got everyone talking? The recently bestowed Dark Sky status of course, awarded on December 9th 2013, Gold Tier to the combined areas of the Northumberland National Park and Keilder Water and Forest Park (the Northumberland Dark Sky Park). It is the largest Dark Sky Park in Europe covering nearly 1,500 square kilometres of breathtaking scenery between Hadrian’s Wall and the Scottish border – including Firwood. We always knew we had magnificent skies above us, something our guests comment on a lot, but now it’s official!

The photo (thanks to Couquet Valley Images)above was taken in January in the Breamish Valley a few miles away from Firwood on a star gazing event we went to put on by NASTRO and shows the Milky Way, which over 80% of people have never seen. It was a great night ( a bit chilly but we were well covered) and this gives you a good idea of what you can see from the carpark of the B&B!

There is a very lovely video taken in the NNP, well worth a look. Why not come and take your own though? We have at Firwood a selection of equipment to help you star gaze, including binoculars, tripod ( good for watching the birds on the feeders and the Red Squirrels in the trees during the day as well) and a Dobsonian telescope! We are very beginners ourselves but we have star guides and a very good book to help to identify what you are seeing. Sometimes I think, just looking is enough.. Mike will have to be a bit quicker though, putting out the telescope a few nights ago, a shooting star whizzed across the sky behind him. ‘Where? Where?’ He said. Too late, long gone!! Mike has plans of his own. He has identified a part of the garden that should be ideal for watching the night sky, or indeed the birds during the day and is devising an observation platform. I’ll keep you informed!

I am always proud of Northumberland. Where else is there such diversity of landscapes and the possibilities for whatever it is you want to do in one county? Star gazing, wildlife, castles, museums, magnificent beaches, wild hills and mountains, quiet lanes for cycling and the lack of population for chilling. Oh yes, Northumberland National Park is officially England’s most tranquil location.

Beth

If you like your cycling, Northumberland is the place to come to. Wonderful scenery, diverse terrain and – very important, the roads are quiet as regards 4 wheeled traffic. If you are looking to add a bit of focus to your cycling, there is the Wooler Wheel Cycle Challenges The May 2013 event was a great success, despite challenging weather! The October 100N (with a 50km on the same day) was ran in the most superlative weather! Perfect conditions for some 500 cyclists.

Following on from the sportive, every month the Wooler Cycle Hub has a programme of FREE guided leisure rides for you to try. Places on these are limited but as one of the main sponsors of the Hub, Firwood B&B has guaranteed places for anyone wanting to cycle. And if you don’t want to bring your bikes, we can arrange for hire bikes.

An example of a guided ride is Saturday 31 May “The Ford and Etal Explorer”. A free guided leisure ride along one of the waymarked WCH routes. This ride will take a meandering route from Wooler to Ford and then to Etal, crossing the River Glen at the ford at Yeavering, and climbing up to Slainsfield and Hay Farm for spectacular views of the Cheviots erupting out of the Milfield Plain. Returning to Wooler via Fenton and Doddington (ice-cream!). Distance 29 miles. There will be a stop for lunch at Heatherslaw Mill or Etal Village where there are cafes and a pub. All on road, apart from the short good quality farm tracks leading to the ford at Yeavering.

If you are interested in any of the cycle events, more details can be found on the Wooler Wheel web site (you can sign up for the news letter there as well) or you can e-mail me at welcome@firwoodhouse.co.uk

I managed to catch a couple of our Red Squirrel visitors on video, squabbling over the feeder- it’s on Youtube (Aren’t I getting adventurous!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhJ2UijXeuQ

We have a very nice little write up on the Northumberland National Park web site about the National Park Bumblebee Awards of which we were a winner. If you are interested, take a look on Bumblebee Awards

Geoff Holland, hill walker, fell runner, mountain biker and walk book writer, has very kindly let me link to his site Cheviot Walks Here you will find walks in the Cheviot Hills to tickle the most jaded of palates and they are downloadable for your own use. His book ‘Walks from Wooler’ re-creates the walks of W. Ford Roberston from a book published in 1926. I don’t think the essence of them has changed. His latest book is called ‘Walks on the Wild Side – the Cheviot Hills’ and is a collection for the more adventurous amongst you. Geoff has also a wonderful slide show on his site , a fantastic way to see the majesty of the Cheviot Hills.

Mike and Beth