Mumsnet Talk

Having some leave to use up I've decided to have a few days away on the Northumberland coast. Am intending to stay Alnwick area.
Do you have any top tips or favourite spots on that coast that you'd recommend?
I've been up there before to Lindisfarne, but not to the coastal villages further down.

Thanks in advance

Bump

I live in Alnwick, its a nice little town and quite centeral to all areas. Wi thor with out kids?

Alnwick castle is closed till end of march but Alnwick gardens are open and are nice. Bamburgh is lovely and has a lovely beach for walks etc and Seahouses which is just before Bamburgh has fab fish and chips.

Do you have any idea where you will stay?

Dunstanburgh castle is lovely. Bambrough also stunning as is warkworth. Amazing beaches for blowy chilly walks.

If you like walks then the walk from Craster to Dunstanburgh Castle is fab - nice teashop in Craster as well (or there was when we went last summer). The pub in the square at Low Newton by the Sea is well worth a visit (or more) - can't remember the name as we normally walk there. Alnwick itself has the castle and garden and is good for mooch around. Warkworth Castle is lovely as well. We tend to do beaches and castles as we are holidaying with children.

The Ship Inn is the pub at Newton by the Sea, I agree you should make a trip there! Cragside is lovely, a National trust place too.

I miss living in Northumberland, its so much prettier than Hull!

The Northumberland coast is a great place to visit, not a great deal to do in Alnwick but nice for a visit. The gardens and treehouse are interesting. Newton by the sea is a great base, some gorgeous properties here if you are looking to rent. http://www.coastalretreats.co.uk/index.php/booking/search
I second the recommendations for Bamburgh, stunning beach, newton for the ship inn, dunstanburgh/craster walk and crab soup in the local pub at craster. Beadnell is also a lovely little place with a pretty bay.

I will be going with partner, no children, so anticipate fresh seaside walks, nice pub meals, mooching around bookshops and castles, and a bit of kite flying should we fancy it!

Am sorting B&B accommodation, Madein Scotland. Thanks for the info re Alnwich castle, that's helpful. Do want to visit the gardens.

Ooh, Ship Inn at Newton by the Sea looks great, we'll definately be visiting there! Perfect for a rainy afternoon, should there be one

Barter books in Alnwick is a massive secondhand book shop with large roaring fires and cafe, you can sit and read the books on the sofas etc and its nice if its raining and freezing outside.

...and Barter books also has a toy train track running around the ceiling... There's also a nice-ish farm shop place somewhere with very good cakes near an open-cast mine - what do you mean, doesn't sound great????

Now where was it? <mumble mumble>

Kielder beautiful if you have time for some Cheviots action too.

Barter Books is on my list! Sounds great.

Frisky, if you remember where that farm shop is, let me know! A few walks should work up an appetite for a nice cake

Berwick is quite nice for a walk around the walls on a blustery day. Its about 30 miles from alnwick I think. Nice cafes down in bridge street. One is a boutique hotel called 'number one sallyport' I think, its very nice.

Avoid seahouses. 1950s time warp and not in a good way, sadly.

this farmshop was what I was thinking of but possibly too inland and south even for a cake-o-Phile like me unless you're tempted to do a spot of Hadrians Walling in which case a whole other world opens up . It's straight down A1, mind, but not enough for destination in its own right IYKWIM

<Takes note about Seahouses, although might stop there for fish and chips>

Thanks for the link!

Thanks everyone for your contributions - all helpful.