Visiting NEAM

Hi, if you’re coming down during the summer I would recommend you try and make it for our annual Jets and Jeeps event on 16th & 17th July (watch out for more details etc).

As regards to other attractions the ones already mentioned are mostly good despite one or two bad experiences at certain places but that was mainly due to a ridiculous visitor who virtually assaulted one of the party.

Washington Old Hall, I haven’t been to but have heard very good things about – incidentally via car its only really 5-7mins max depending on traffic. Also Washington F-Pit is a similar distance away also supposed to be a good place to visit.

On a similar note you have Woodhorn Colliery about 30-40minutes up the A19 which I can confirm is a really excellent attraction and well worth a visit (after NEAM of course ;)) they have a little light railway etc nearby as well.

On the Roman fort line you have Segadunum :confused: which is the most easterly point of Hadrian’s Wall, just on the other side of the Tyne Tunnel. With the Arbia supply depot on the south side of the river.

Souter Lighthouse and St. Mary’s Lighthouse are also other decent visits.

Alex

Visiting NEAM

If it’s something non-aviation related you’re after, then Washington Old Hall, ancestral home of George Washington (1st US president) is a National Trust property worthy of a visit.

Even better, it is just 4 miles (a 12-15 minute drive) away, making it easy to “make a day of it”, and giving plenty of time to linger at both locations!

Due to the US Presidential connection, there’s usually some special events taking place around the 4th July

Washington Old Hall website is at http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-washingtonoldhall

Depending on how far you want to travel, and how long you’re going to stick around, there’s a big military vehicle meet this weekend ( 7/8th ) at the Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington; about another 90 minutes south of NEAM.

http://www.wheelsandwings.co.uk/

Around 200 military vehicles on show, plus a great aircraft museum too.

Discovery Museum, Newcastle – excellent museum (science based) with a rather nice sectioned Conway tucked away. Huge displays on Armstrong Whitworth. … oh and the first gas turbine powered ship.

If its during the week, send me a PM and I can show you around the Aviation Academy at Newcastle Airport. (search for the Newcastle Aviation Academy Restorations thread on here)

Alnwick Castle is superb – better than Bamburgh I’d say, plus the Gardens are nice too.

If Roman stuff is your interest, then Vindolanda near Hexham is worth a visit.

Beamish is more than one day now… its massive and well worth a visit (or two) – I have an annual family ticket…

To be honest, if you’re only there for the day, go to the Discovery museum – its easy to get to…

Not been but it is on my list of “places to go” http://www.beamish.org.uk/ and then of course there is the City of Durham, wonderful cathedral, if that is your sort of thing.

Planemike

Bamburgh castle is nice, one of many up the Northumbrian coast.

It was owned by William Amstrong and there’s a small section set aside about his armament companies, including Armstrong-Whitworth. There are a few bits of planes; engines, guns, piece from a Warwick, Vulcan ejector seat, and the castle’s pretty impressive too.

Well if you’re driving you could also head across to the Solway Aviation Museum at Carlisle… it’s an hour or so from NEAM, but if you’re going back up north it’s close to the M6 / M74 – which is usually a quicker route than the A1 anyway…