Prior to Christmas we’d been talking about giving ourselves the present of a trip to London. However the train prices were pretty offensive so we opted for a different type of weekend trip – one that was rural, cosy and Rudy-friendly.
![A happy border terrier sits for the camera outside a rural cottage](https://res.cloudinary.com/fuzzylogic/image/upload/f_jpg,q_55,w_1292/v1706961167/Rudy_CharltonGate_1300_nsq6ub.jpg)
Friday’s check-in wasn’t til 4pm so we started with a drive to North Berwick. There, we visited the Lobster Shack. Clair had fish and chips while I had seafood chowder (which Clair admitted was the pick of the dishes). The weather was of the good January sort – chilly but sunny so we had a wee stroll along the beach and let Rudy have a run.
Charlton Gate cottage was perfect. We were in splended isolation, except for the neighbouring sheep and grouse. The cottage itself was comfortable with all the cooking and telly-watching facilities you’d need, plus a comfy bed.
On Saturday we visited Newbiggin-by-the-sea for more beach-walking fun.
![A smiling man wearing a green jacket and blue beanie hat crouches beside his happy border terrier dog on the beach](https://res.cloudinary.com/fuzzylogic/image/upload/f_jpg,q_55,w_1292/v1706962553/Laurence_Rudy_Newbiggin_1300_tiu1fd.jpg)
Later that day we also paid a brief visit to Morpeth, which is a lovely town.
I really enjoyed my morning walks with Rudy. It was so peaceful and the sky and scenery were beautiful.
![A beautiful morning sky over fields](https://res.cloudinary.com/fuzzylogic/image/upload/f_jpg,q_55,w_1292/v1706963031/morning_walk_charlton_gate_1300_hlvxxg.jpg)
Thanks as always to my fam Clair and Rudy for a beautiful weekend.