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.

One is in a place called Sheepwash so outside of Morpeth.

I live in Morpeth :) I love it loads. Carlisle park is amazing on a nice day with the open air paddling pool

@Tapasfortwo ooo I was in Felton today too...I wonder if we crossed paths!

One thing though....parking in Morpeth is awful. It's sort of a running joke for the area.

I don't know Sheepwash, as others have said Ashington isn't the most beautiful of places which it is next to although I survived visiting Asda there while at Cresswell

The thing is that Northumberland is so fab that wherever you stay is near you will be lovely places.

"One thing though....parking in Morpeth is awful. It's sort of a running joke for the area."

There are always loads of spaces in Morrisons. You get three hours free parking there. I have never struggled to find parking in Morpeth, but I have in Alnwick.

Sheepwash is near Guide Post and Choppington which are a bit meh.

Not what I meant. More the number of bumps stationary cars get when parked up. Especially in the old Morrisons carpark

Cragside is amazing.

Alnwick is nice, good location/base.

Lindisfarne was interesting.

There won’t be puffins at this time of year if you were hoping to see any.

"Not what I meant. More the number of bumps stationary cars get when parked up. Especially in the old Morrisons carpark"

I wasn't aware of that. I used to park in the old Morrisons car park, but must have been lucky. It is a bit cramped though.

I would pick Alnwick.
Be quick to book a boat trip if you want one.

this isn't advertising I promise but I do know the people who run this place - it does look v good and accepts dogs
www.facebook.com/amblebythesea/?modal=admin_todo_tour&notif_id=1555087216900037&notif_t=page_invite

@Tisfortired - I love Cresswell Towers too. So clean, so friendly, with its own massive white cat to welcome you. Red squirrels in the grounds. The tower, the beach, the ice cream shop, the lake with the bird hide, the indoor swimming pool for rainy days. I want to be there now!

Cullercoats and Tynemouth beaches are perfect for a sunny day. Walking distance to one another, free parking near Cullercoats. Tynemouth itself is a lovely little town but gets heaving.

Embleton is a lovely beach, has a cheap family run Italians which does delicious food and there's a big play park opposite.

@Tisfortired and @growlingbear is Cresswell towers a good location for the coast?

@Alwaysgrey creswell towers is right on the beach, Druidge Bay. It's a max 5 minute walk from the park to the beach :)

Alnwick is excellent for a base.

We loved the area around Ford and Etal. The village School (Lady Waterford) is gorgeous, there is a flour Mill, large horse farm and a gorgeous stone circle.

Alnmouth. Beautiful beach and a lovely little play park, right by the estuary so you can look at the boats AND watch trains on the other side of the estuary AND see the bus. We a took transport obsessed 2 year old there years ago and she was in absolute heaven.

If you can afford to splash out a bit and fancy something bonkers and rather wonderful, you could go to Kynren. We went earlier this year on a damp evening and had a brilliant time.
www.kynren.com/

I stayed in a Lodge cottage near Morpeth earlier this month, and it had its own woodland! Was epic!! We built dens, and there were fairy doors in the trees! It was expensive but worth it!

@tigerbear that looks amazing.

Has anyone stayed in Amble? We’ve finally narrowed it down to either Amble or Alnwick.

Love Amble. Alnwick is prettier but Amble has the pier, beaches (a small pebbly one near the pier and better sandier ones round the headland), the wee pods with shops in them by the harbour, Spurrelli ice cream (or Morwick Farm ice cream a short drive away which we like even more) and is a short drive or a longish walk to Warkworth with its castle and river and another gorgeous empty beach. You'll have a lovely time whichever you pick, but with the age of your DC I'd say go for somewhere near a beach every time.

@Alwaysgrey it was incredible!!

Re Amble or Alnwick - both are amazing, but take into account if you’re driving - I presume you are - that it could be tricky to get parked in the town centre, unless your accommodation specifically has its own parking. However, there are lots of rural places to stay just outside the town, which will have parking.
Amble and also Alnmouth - and Warkworth - are all lovely. Pic of Warkworth beach a few weeks ago.

Alnwick is on street parking. We don’t mind driving around as we drive a lot as most things are a distance from where we live. That beach looks amazing.

Thanks to all that have given suggestions. I’m starting to get excited now.

@myrtleWilson thank you for the suggestion. She’s fully booked but will look to go when we go back (as i don’t think one trip will be enough).

I’m starting to get excited now.

You really should be, Northumberland is one of my very favourite places.

Enjoy your holiday

I can vouch for Manor Walks too, Concorsia swimming pool has just been refurbished so is all lovely and new. We while away many a rainy day there. Once a month they have a Makers and Bakers craft market too. Just down the road from Manor Walks is a trampoline park and it's not far from Northumberlandia either which is a giant sculpture of a woman carved into the land, you can walk around it and it has various viewing points.