Last visit.

We've had a great day out today. We've taken the train from Bingley to follow the Settle - Carlisle line to Carlisle.

The journey is wonderful with great scenery all the way.
In Hellifield there was a steam train pulling Pullman coaches. It was the Leander and the passengers were all enjoying a good breakfast. (It was there changing engines on our way back too) Of course the line ahead was full of people with tripods and cameras waiting to get a good shot of the train especially as it crossed the Ribblehead viaduct.

Our reason for the trip though was to go to Carlisle Castle to see the touring installation of the 14 - 18 poppies, commemorating the First Word War. This is their last year as of course November will commemorate 100 years since the end of the Great War. We saw the original installation at the Tower of London in November 2014. In 2015 we saw the first touring installlation at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, the Wave and then the Weeping Window, seen here, at Woodhorn Mining Museum in Northumberland. By accident we were in Orkney at the time of commemorating the Battle of Jutland in 2016 and the Weeping Window was adorning the wonderful St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall.

I think Carlisle have done a great job. Lots of helpful volunteers, costumed individuals who for some reason couldn't be photographed in front of the poppies and interesting displays and exhibitions. I liked the yellow Plantains and daisies growing amongst the poppies too.

As well as enjoying this we had the chance to explore Carlisle which for some reason we haven't done before. A lovely city with a great cathedral (especially the ceiling) and close and other interesting buildings making up it's historic centre.

We've had a lovely time and we travelled on Northern trains which were on time!