Places to Go
Alnwick
Barter Books. A huge second hand bookshop in the old train station in Alnwick. It is on the right on the way out of Alnwick towards the A1. The Café does good lunches
Alnwick Castle. Medieval Castle, one of the sets for Harry Potter. The best view is gained from the pastures. Go down Narrowgate and past the West Entrance to the Castle, down the hill to the river and walk along the riverbank. You can continue on and make a circular walk. See OS maps. Beware, it is closed over the winter when the family are in residence.
Alnwick Gardens. Impressive fountains, Rose Garden, Ornamental Garden, Maze and Poison Garden. Children will love the mini tractors at the bottom of the fountain as well as the opportunity to get soaked in some of the water features.
Bailiffgate Museum – lots of information about local heritage. It has recently had a facelift
http://www.bailiffgatemuseum.co.uk/
The Coast
Alnmouth. Lovely seaside village with great beach and links Golf Course.
Bamburgh Castle. The Castle overlooks a large sandy beach. Bamburgh also has a couple of good pubs and restaurants. Good Golf Course
Seahouses. For the busy harbour, trips to The Farne Islands, fish & chips and Swallowfish Ltd (locally caught fish, shellfish and smokehouse).
Lindisfarne. Visit the Castle, Priory and Harbour but check the crossing times before setting off. http://www.lindisfarne.org.uk/
Embleton. Great beach with view of Dunstanburgh Castle, and Golf course.
Craster. L Robson & Son for Craster Kippers and try the Jolly Fisherman for food and drink.
Howick Hall. Near Craster. The ancestral home of Earl Grey with Gardens, Arboretum and tea house. Earl Grey tea was devised to suit the water here.
Farne Islands. Trips go from Seahouses to spot seals, sea birds and puffins (in season).
Warkworth. A village further down the coast from Alnmouth. Impressive small castle.
Coastal Walking:
Craster to Dunstanburgh, Dunstanburgh to Embleton, and Embleton to Newton by the Sea,are all lovely stretches of coastline.
Best Beaches
Alnmouth - drive into village, turn left towards sea and drive carefully over golf course to park.
Embleton - park on the road to the golf course and walk over the course to the beach.
Bamburgh – beautiful beach dominated by Bamburgh Castle on the headland.
http://www.bamburghcastle.com/
Sugar Sands -follow the sign to Low Steads Farm in Longhoughton and keep on through it until you reach parking on the land above the beach.
Football hole -a walk North from Low Newton but a lovely little cove.
Ross Sands near Belford – it’s a biggish walk from where you park your car at the roadside near the farm, but worth it.
Inland
Cheviot Hills. Great Walking. Some OS maps and walking books available in the cottage. Other information in the tourist office. Good walks include Windy Gyle from the valley beyond Alwinton, and Hedgehope from Ingram passing Linhope Spout.
Chillingham Cattle. A wild herd of Cattle. The tour around them has to be done with the warden. Telephone 01668 215250 to arrange a visit.
http://www.chillinghamwildcattle.com/page-2
Cragside. National Trust property which was the first in the world to be lit by electricity. House is full of gadgets and there are gardens and a large estate to explore.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cragside/
Hadrian’s Wall. Impressive forts at Chesters, Vindolanda and Housesteads, as well as the opportunity to walk along the wall. I am told west of Vindolanda is the “best bit” (an hour away).
http://www.visithadrianswall.co.uk/
Further Afield
Newcastle
The quayside, the Baltic art gallery and the Sage Concert Hall definitely worth a visit. There is a market on the quayside every Sunday 9.30 to 2.30pm.
The Hancock Museum
The Discovery Museum
Northumberlandia is a human landform sculpture, just off the A1 on the way to Newcastle from Alnwick.
http://www.northumberlandia.com/
Cinemas
Alnwick Playhouse 01665 510 785 http://www.alnwickplayhouse.co.uk
Vue, Cramlington 08712 240240 Vue, Cramlington
Odeon, Silverlink 08712244007 www.odeon.co.uk/silverlink
My Ideal Week In Northumberland
Day 1
Walk from Craster to Newton by the Sea passing Dunstanburgh Castle. Lunch at The Ship or The Joiners in Newton and return to Craster to buy Kippers.
Day 2
Trip to the Farne Islands, followed by Fish and Chips in Seahouses.
Day 3
A day in Alnwick visiting the Castle, Gardens and finishing off with tea and a browse in Barter Books.
Day 4
A walk along Bamburgh beach. Continue to Holy Island (by car) depending on crossing times. A stop at The Barn at Beal for refreshments.
Day 5
A walk in the Cheviots. Rothbury makes a good stopping point for provisions.
Day 6
A morning in Alnmouth, walking along the beach and up the Estuary. A browse in the village and something to eat in one of the cafes or pubs. The afternoon could be spent at Howick Hall finished off with tea in the Early Grey Tea room.