Last minute trip to Northumberland. Help please!

[Alwaysgrey]

We weren’t able to afford a holiday and this year has gotten away from us (we have two special needs children). We’re looking at a last minute trip to Northumberland. The kids love being outside and I’ve done a bit of research already but any must sees would be great though I’m a bit worried that it might rain. Also, anywhere that caters to coeliacs. Eldest of the three (he doesn’t have Sen) is a coeliac.

Where in Northumberland and how old are the children? There is so much to see and do. Alnwick Castle and Alnwick Gardens as well as Barter Books are always worth a day out. Seahouses and a boat trip around the islands to see the puffins and seals. Holy Island and Bamburgh. Beamish open air museum, which isn't in Northumberland but is close enough for a trip and is brilliant.

Lots of places cater to Gluten Free diets, our local chip shop even does gluten free food now.

Hi, we spent 4 days in Northumberland last week. Unfortunately for us it hammered it down every single day :( so there was a couple of things we didn't do which is a shame but we loved it so much we will definitely go back.

We enjoyed

Bamburgh Castle
Lindisfarne (it was raining whilst we were here, but the pebble beach is fantastic for treasure/crab hunting! My 6 year old loved it here, we were here for about 4 hours, it's a beautiful place!)
Barter Books in Alnwick is one of the biggest second hand book shops in the world, it's huge! The children's bit is really sweet, and there is a mode railway running above your head!
Then the town Alnwick itself is very nice, the castle is fab and lots of shops and cafes around.
Alnmouth reminded me of the balamory town, colourful houses sat on the coast, beautiful views.
Finally Seahouses which is a seaside town - we have fish and chips in the harbour and got an ice cream afterwards.

Our caravan was sat on the beach (Druidge Bay) so every evening we were on the beach until the tide came in, paddling and building sandcastles, looking for crabs. We really was to do the Farne Islands which is top of our list next time.

Northumberland is a beautiful place, you'll have a great time

Cragside (National Trust) is a fascinating place to visit. I can’t vouch for how well they cater for dietary needs, but in my experience, the food there is excellent.

Must see's:

Alnwick gardens- take spare clothes lots of water to play in, will fill a whole day. Alnwick castle has loads of kids events on as well but you pay extra for that bit.

Druridge bay country park lovely free kids playground, lake with things to hire and next to a huge beach, great rockpools, safe to paddle, etc.

Seahouses, more seasidy, arcades etc ( not many) take a boat trip and see the dolphins and seals.

Whitehouse Farm- animals, rides, all sorts going on.

I know the area well can answer questions, can't help with the food thing however, sorry x

There are loads of lovely beaches. Whitley Bay and Tynemouth are a bit busier and have more amenities but the beaches further up you can sometimes have to yourself!
Best thing you can do is read northeastfamilyfun, she is on Facebook and Instagram and has her own blog. She covers literally everything you can do in the area. If you ask for tips on the Facebook page people will be falling over themselves to help you.

Alnwick Castle/Gardens
Seahouses boat trip
Bamburgh Castle or just the beach if you dont want to pay to go into the castle
Holy Island
Newcastle for the Discovery Museum or Life Centre if its chucking it down

I can’t vouch for the food from a GF point of view but the play area at NT Gibside is superb.

We are in Haltwhistle at the moment, it's lovely and 1 mile from Hadrian's wall.

Keilder forest is brilliant, loads to do.

Cragside is fantastic

Beamish is definitely worth a visit.

Alnwick is fantastic

Love holy island.

The weather is meant to be ok this week and next but if not, just stick some waterproofs on and carry on!!

The best thing about Northumberland (apart from being God’s own county and gorgeous) is the portions are huge and there is often no salad option!

Warkworth is beautiful and has a ruined castle
Craster for fresh smoked kippers and an amazing pub(forgot the name but it is right in town and next to the sea)
Bamburgh Beach
Bamburgh Castle
All of Bamburgh
Take a boat trip from Seahouses to see the Farne Islands
Dunstanburgh Castle

Eat stottie cakes and pease pudding

The kids are 10,8 and 6.

@Tisfortired that’s my real fear that it will hammer it down. We went to Cornwall one year and it rained solidly for a week. I’m feeling a bit nervous about booking in case it rains. Temp looks low with at most a 20% chance of rain. Which I can handle. Just.

We haven’t confirmed booking yet but it’s between Alnwick (Cottage) or Ashington on a parkdean resort. I thought Alnwick would be better.

Wonderful area of the world, and the locals are very friendly!

Some other suggestions to take a look at would be;
Cragside House and gardens, Belsay House, castle and gardens and Wallington if you venture inland.

Low Newton by the sea with the Ship Inn and a walk around the nature reserve and embleton bay.

Kielder water if weather good and want exercise/ got bikes out

If rainy take a look atdiscovery museum, centre for Life and Baltic art gallery in Newcastle. If your staying at the north end near Berwick the museums of Edinburgh are not much more than 30 mins train away.

Have a fab time!

I'd pick Alnwick over Ashington definitely. The South East corner around ashington is the most urban and densely populated area of the whole county.

That’s really helpful everyone thank you. I love Yorkshire but the pictures I’ve seen of Northumberland I thought were beautiful. We’ve had a tough few years and I as cheesy as it sounds would like to go somewhere that feeds my soul a bit.

@Alwaysgrey is the Ashington site Cresswell Towers? That's where we stayed. Our caravan was fab, brand new and spanking clean but I have a feeling we were lucky!

20% is good odds! We have 96% chance rain so it was inevitable haha, despite that we had fun. My DS is 6 and also loved it.

“The best thing about Northumberland (apart from being God’s own county and gorgeous) is the portions are huge and there is often no salad option!”

With respect, that is total bollocks. OH is from Northumberland and we spend a lot of time here (I am in Northumberland right now)

Anyway, I have a list that I have saved so here it is:

Northumberland Attractions
Towns
Morpeth, Alnwick, Hexham, Corbridge, Berwick upon Tweed, Rothbury, Warkworth

Castles
Alnwick Castle and gardens, Aydon Castle, Chillingham, Warkworth, Belsay, Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh, Lindisfarne

Stately homes
Cragside, Wallington, Seaton Delaval, Belsay Hall & Castle

Other Attractions
Holy Island, Hadrian's Wall - Housesteads, Vindolanda and Chesters, Corbridge Roman Town, Howick gardens, Woodhorn museum, Farne Islands, Grace Darling museum, Brinkburn Priory, Warkworth hermitage, Hauxley nature reserve, Kielder, Ingram Valley, Coquet Island, Coquet Valley, Ford and Etal

Beaches
Druridge bay, Alnmouth, Embleton, Seahouses, Bamburgh, Newbiggin, Cresswell, Holy Island, Cocklawburn, Beadnell, Low Newton, Longhoughton, Boulmer, Warkworth, Seaton Sluice

Children
Whitehouse farm centre, Kirkley hall zoological gardens, Heatherslaw light railway, Eshott Heugh animal park, Northumberlandia

We have been to Northumberland every year (with a gap of three years) for many years and are going again in two weeks time. All of the suggestions above, plus Almouth beach is fab, Dunstanborough castle is a lovely walk with good views. Don't miss Morwick Farm ice cream parlour - actually on the farm just outside Warkworth - slightly off the beaten track. Oh and Warkworth Castle is great.

You will love it - I bet you come again in future years!

Had lunch in Warkworth today (yum)

Park Dean resort at Ashington would be Sandy Bay? Not a great deal there and Ashington itself is meh. If you're wanting a caravan then Whitley Bay is the better Park Dean resort of the two (in my opinion anyway) and puts you in more of a central location for Tyneside and Northumberland.

If you're not fussed on having a caravan park then I'd go for the cottage in Alnwick.

Beaches and castles a-go-go!! Agree Cragside is awesome, one of my favourite NT places.

Take wetsuits, the water is coooooooooold.

It’s lovely and so quite, you can drive down lanes for 20 mins and not come across another car. Would love to go back there.

Quiet!

There's a show on in Tynenouth until September called Cirque Du Hilarious with the guys from the Danny and Mick CBBC show, they do a Butlins show too. I took oldest DD and DS on Sunday and they loved it, it's in a tent so that could be an option if it rains. Next door to that is the local aquarium too.

@Venger yes it’s sandy bay. I’m not fussed on a caravan. We thought it might be good for evening entertainment but youngest will probably struggle to cope and I’d rather have a better location.

@TapasForTwo has given an excellent list!

My two additions would be Woodhorn Colliery & Wheelbirks Ice Cream Parlour

Come visit me for a cuppa 😁

We love Plessy Woods. Stick on your wellies and get stomping! Northumberland County Zoo. Fruit picking.

Also, please, please, please visit The Running Fox in Felton. It's amazing

Also, you'll need lots of duck food....plenty of ducks up here