Originally Posted by linz06 (Post 3575789)

We went to Berwick-Upon-Tweed right near the Scotland/England border which was about a 45 minute train ride from Edinburgh. It is one of the most beautiful places I've been! We stayed at a great little bed and breakfast and walked around the town walls at sunset. There is a ton of history there! It was where my last European ancestor lived before leaving for Canada. We went into the church he was married in! It has been standing there since around the 1500's I think.

From there, we took a bus (40ish minute ride) to Bamburgh, where my family before him all came from. It's an even smaller little village, with one big church, many quaint little houses and shops, and a giant castle! We only had two hours there to catch a bus back in time to catch a train from Berwick to Edinburgh again for the night.

I was there for one reason... to find my ancestor's grave stone from 1758. I had the information, I had what was written on it, and I had the section and number to find it in the churchyard. But when we got there, there was no map, no way to figure out what sections were where! We looked at every stone relentlessly, and so many were weathered and unreadable. Finally we waved down a postal worker, to see if he knew someone we could ask. He told us where the vicar lived. It felt really weird, but we walked to his house and knocked on his door. I didn't want to go all that way for nothing. His daughter answered, and said he was away for a few days :( My heart broke!

Just then, the postal worker came by again and we told him our problem and he said maybe we could ask at the local grocery store... the guy who owned it has lived there his whole life. So we went there, and the woman said he was just out picking fruit, but he'd be back soon for lunch. We waited on a bench, and he came, and he couldn't help us either!

We had about a half hour before the bus came, and we thought we'll look one last time. Scott started at one end, I started at the other, and we looked and looked and looked... 15 minutes until the bus came, and I gave up. I told Scott we'll start walking to the bus stop. As I was walking to meet Scott, I just GLANCED at a grave stone, the third one right in front of the church doors, and I saw my ancestor's name! I yelled for Scott to come and I dropped to my knees to read it and it was exactly right, it was the one! I swear there was some force telling me to look at that grave stone! We took some pictures and video before hopping on the bus!

Those were my favorite parts of the UK. It is so different from the big cities! Everyone was so friendly and I think most of the places have just as much history as the cities do, but they're less visited. You should definitely find some little places to visit!