For my friend Fiona

Nicola, Pete, Lola and Nell want to travel the world with a difference. We hope to get a taste of many countries without adding to climate change (with needless emissions from aeroplanes) or having to waste hours of holiday time in airport terminals. We hope our adventures inspire you to take a Grand Tour of your neighbourhood whatever the weather. This post is from Nicola

At last we've got to walk around in your old manor, Berwick-on-Tweed. In fact we went on a mini pilgrimage there to buy the latest Harry Potter and found that WHSmith had sold 450 copies on the very first day of the book's release. Lola hasn't lifted her head out of the book since we bought it for her and will require a lot of bribing, coaxing, pocket money raises to prevent her telling us the ending when she finishes it... all too soon.

The good news is that we've found a ruined peel tower that we think you should snap up and turn into a holiday home... As you said about Mottingham, we can't afford not to.

Practically ever since I met you I've been meaning to visit your old haunts and I have to say that I'm dead impressed. Chips in Seahouses; a picnic on Holy Island with castles behind us and infront of us, fab food and friendly people - really Northumberland is perfect. Thanks for being the inspiration to get us here!