Northumberland - where to go, where to eat

[TheTurn0fTheScrew]

It's my annual thread to scavenge for holiday tips (The Scotsnetters played a blinder last year). We've booked a holiday cottage in Alnwick - right in town proper - and I'd love recommendations of things to do. DC are 11 and 15. We all like the beach, a good hike (if there's a tearoom or pub enroute all the better), and eating lots. DC1 and I like shopping, art, and museums.

We've a car and don't mind driving a bit while we're there. I'd appreciate restaurant recommendations in particular so we don't need to resort to tripadvisor. thank you!

Ah that's good to know.

I'm a local and it's all anyone talks about

The ships inn

As said, Etal and Ford, Duddo stones while you are there, Northumberland's own mini stone henge.

The running fox at Felton, Alnwick treehouse (if you can get booked in!). A trip to the farne islands, definitely although as mentioned you can't land actually on the islands but you can sail around them and see the seals, puffins, and if you are lucky, dolphins. Barter books. Bamburgh and Holy island are both lovely. Craster is lovely too. Northumberland is a beautiful place!

Bambrugh Castle, boat trip to the Farne Islands. And there's a great fish and chips in Seahouses - one of the best I've ever had.

@SliceOfCakeCupOfTea I don't want to downplay avian flu, it's hit the Farnes hard. A few thousand birds have died, which is awful for some populations (especially puffins and terns). But there are about 20,000 birds there normally in the breeding season, so on a normal boat cruise, the drop isn't really that obvious!

There's a fantastic Chinese restaurant in Alnwick, just inside the town walls, called Yan's.

Check the tide times and drive to Lindisfarne.

Cragside is worth a visit.

The walk from Craster to Dunstanburgh Castle is lovely, very atmospheric and easily doable (it's about 1.25 miles and fairly flat).

Yet another vote for the Joiners Arms in High Newton for lunch. The Ship Inn in Low Newton also really lovely but more of a great pint and a ploughman's. Nice walk from there to Dunstanburgh.

Bamburgh beach lovely - more waves than Low Newton. Ross Sands beautiful. Bit of a walk and no toilets or anything but worth a trip. Budle Bay is lovely. Weird currents though so not a place for swimming.

Soooooo many castles. Got my English Heritage moneys worth after two trips to Northumberland. Warkworth, Etal, Lindesfarne, Etal, Norham, the barracks at Berwick.

Bamburgh Castle great. I really enjoyed Alnwick but we went during covid when numbers were limited. I imagine it's really busy during normal times.

The only place I don't love in Northumberland is Beadnell. It was really busy. Admittedly Northumberland busy so still not packed but busier than everywhere else. Ditto to Seahouses.

Copper Kettle tea room in Bamburgh (and the castle of course), Alnwick garden definitely and crazy golf in Seahouses, followed by fish and chips!

Alnwick gardens and castle.., dunstonborough castle.. cragside.. seahouses... holy island.. boat trip to see the puffins.. day out to Newcastle.. hadrians wall...

Food wise I love the anglers arms if you do go to cragside!

If you explore tynemouth/Whitleybay/cullercoats/the fish quay then Buddha lounge in tynemouth is beautiful Asian food (Chinese/Japanese fusion).

Seahouses is ok. Not pretty as such. Had some nice seafood in bamburgh

And if any of your group are interested in older history, it would be a shame not to see some of Hadrian's Wall (just "the Roman Wall" to locals) while you're up here! Vindolanda for a museum, Housesteads for atmosphere.

Fabulous place.

What they all said 👆

The dirty bottles in Alnwick is fab and very Harry Potter themed, so the kids will like it.
The treehouse in Alnwick castle is magical but expensive.
Northumberland arms in Felton is an award winning gastro pub and the Running Fox also in Felton does the best afternoon teas in the area.
Holy island is a must. The Manor house hotel has the best location with a huge beer garden that looks down to the castle and sea.
If you fancied driving south down the coastal route Seaton Sluice is a very pretty little place. The beach there( locally known as Charlies garden) has some of the best fossils and victorian sea glass you will find anywhere, my kids spent hours there as kids. The kings arms pub that is 300 years old and right on top of the rocky peninsula does lovely food.
Just down the coast from there is St Marys island. A tidal island with a light house, shop, visitors centre.The whole area is a nature reserve and very protected. When the tides out the rockpools are amazing and you can see seals on the rocks and dolphins in the water.

Not sure if it floats your boat OP, or whether the hour or so drive would be too much but Kielder has walks, water sports, art & architecture installations and, apparently, Very Dark Skies.

We're in Northumberland at the moment. Yes to Craster, gorgeous walk to Dunstanburgh castle today. We also had a lovely play on Warkworth beach today, beautiful stretch of sand. Personally not super impressed with the food at Jolly Fisherman (I'm veggie and they don't do that well but my fish liking husband had a better time) but the outside area is grand. Near Craster, the Stable yard cafe is very nice and The Cottage Inn has a really nice beer garden with kids play park.

Yesterday we did a boat trip from Seahouses - we really enjoyed it and didn't see any dead birds (did see NT staff on Farne island in ET like white suits!) but this late in the summer there are less birds about, the puffins are setting off now. We enjoyed the seals and last of the puffins but when we went end of May it was amazing. Yes to Holy Island & Bamburgh castle and obviously Alnwick castle/gardens.

We were a bit further south earlier in the week and had a fabulous walk from Housesteads Roman fort along Hadrian's wall to the Sycamore gap (which meant we could then introduce DD to Robin Hood prince of thieves!) - just over an hour from Alnwick.

We went for a nice walk and then fabulous waterfall swim here when we came up earlier in the year which is not too far from Alnwick
www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/walk/linhope-spout-walk/

Alnwick gardens are fab, never done the castle but we love barter books too. The Treehouse is expensive but a nice treat although it books up well in advance.

Walk from Beadnell or Craster to low newton by the sea (or there is a car park there but nothing walks are nice) and stop at the ship inn for lunch.

Trip to the Farne islands although you can't get off the boat at the moment due to bird flu, Elan pizzeria in Seahouses is lovely if you are over that way.

Holy island is our favourite trip and the ice cream/fudge shop is a must!

We have never done Bamburgh castle, only mooched about Bamburgh and stopped for a drink in a pub.

If you are passing Belford on the A1 then Sunnyhills is a great food/gift shop with cafe, we went after it was recommend to me on here and had a great lunch whilst also buying some gifts (and a candle to get rid of the smell of killers in our holiday let ).

The Ship pub in Sea Houses is choc full of historic chandlery. It's like having a drink in a museum ! Very nice though.

Just read my post back, it smelt of KIPPERS!

If you do fancy a day in Newcastle/Gateshead, start another thread and I'm sure that the Geordies will give you even more suggestions! Or indeed for suggestions for places to stop on the drive up.

That was momentarily shocking 😱🤣

Closer to Alnwick... for non-motorised watersports, Coquet Shorebase Trust in Druridge Bay Country Park is great!

The coffin carrying tableau will be the monks carrying Cuthbert from Lindisfarne to Durham. If it fits in on your way too or from, try and drop in to Durham for the cathedral. If you do, find Vennels near Waterstones for the best cakes.

Take or hire bikes and cycle a section of coast and castles route and can stop at several beaches. Sugar sands is a locals beach nice for evening stroll - walk or drive through a farm to access it.