Roving Rothbury Reporter and The Penny Toss Trail!

Normal day off trips out all have the same destination, Durham, to visit family, which way we go there is usually determined by either weather or a particular purpose.  Last week, with blue sky and sunshine we knew we wanted to head to Tynemouth first , to enjoy fresh sea air as well as coffee and cake. However yesterday we had no agenda. This is when the "The Penny Toss Trail" comes in to play, so it is all up to chance where we end up for coffee and cake.

Heading out of Rothbury the B6342 was the road we chose before The penny Toss trail actually started.The first flick of the coin came at Scots Gap, heads left, tails right, so right it was, passed Wallington and in the Hexham direction. Next penny toss was the A68 junction, heads left , tails for straight on to Hexham, so left won that time. Tootling along, on very familiar territory we had a brief puppy dog comfort stop at Allensford with a stolen chance for a swim in the Derwent (puppy dog, not me!) We began to think about our coffee shop options. We have read about http://www.sweethart-cakes.co.uk/ in Appetite magazine and we knew we were 5 mins away, decision made.

We were welcomed in to a busy but relaxed atmosphere, it is obviously a popular place. The shelves of freshly baked bread behind the counter, the array of cakes in the cabinets and under the cloches were so deliciously decadent that I felt as if the calories were already being devoured through my eyes.

Two delicious Americanos were ordered alongside chocolate orange brownie  and a strawberry and coconut tart. I do love my chocolate brownies, but unfortunately I am not a fan of chocolate and orange together, so my choice was the coconut tart, it was gorgeous! The chocolate orange brownie was getting lots of positive Mmmms as well. I believe that Sweethart Cakes are also very famous for their egg custards so if that is your preference I can tell you that they looked very tempting, and that is from someone who wouldn't touch any sort of custard.                          

Our service was quick and efficient and we again had change back from £10 So "The Penny Toss Trail" served us well!