The historic market town of Alnwick, just a few miles from the coast at Alnmouth, offers very good shopping facilities and delightful old Inns. The town centre is approached through the medieval arch of Hotspur Tower and one is led through the town to the great barbican guarding the gateway to Alnwick Castle, home of the Dukes of Northumberland. The castle’s beautiful grounds were landscaped by Capability Brown in 1765, creating a beautiful park. The Castle is open to the public and there is a delightful walk along the River Aln through the grounds known as the “Pastures”. Alnwick has many narrow streets, cobblestones, and with its position halfway between Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Berwick-upon-Tweed, makes an ideal touring base. Voted best place to live in the country, 2009.