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!

We were in Bamburgh two weeks ago when it was hot!

Great places to eat
The Jolly Fisherman at Craster. We went lunchtime and the seafood platter was amazing and good value. Then did the walk to Dunstanburgh.
The Fish Shack at Amble. Walk around the marina, link with Warkworth.
The Indian Brasserie at Seahouses was great . Bhuna prawn puri delicious.

Cragside is very interesting.

Beadnell Bay is a great swathe of beach and more sheltered. You can do paddle boarding lessons there.

Highlight of the trip was watching a huge pod of dolphins go by from the path at Bamburgh beach one evening. I think the boat trips are usually lucky but we didn't go on one.

Fish Shack or the Harbour Fish Bar in Amble. Alnwick Playhouse is a lovely wee theatre.

Most of our favourites have already been mentioned here I think, so would just like to add Morwick Dairy for the best ice cream. Have a fantastic time!

Some brilliant suggestions here!
I'm going the first week of September with DH.
We are going mainly for the Roman forts and to see several castles but will definitely check out some of the places to eat

Warkworth is a nice village with a riverside walk and a castle.

As DH is from Northumberland, and I have visited often, I have drawn up a list of places of interest.

Towns
Alnwick, Amble, Berwick upon Tweed, Corbridge, Hexham, Morpeth, Rothbury, Warkworth

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

Stately homes
Cragside, Seaton Delaval, Wallington

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

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

Children
Northumberland Country Zoo, Northumberlandia, Whitehouse farm centre

Places to eat
Ephesus, Morpeth
Nadon Thai, Morpeth
Tandoor Mahal, Morpeth
Lal Khazana, Shilbottle
The Cook and Barke Innr, Newton on the Moor
The Running Fox, Felton
The Village Inn, Longframlington

Thanks so much again for all the tips! I've made a couple of restaurant reservations, and am going to book the seal cruise. Tried to get in at Alnwick Treehouse but there are no tables at all until September!

I just wanted to say thanks again for all the recommendations. We've just got back from an amazing week away, and I officially have a new favourite place to visit. I was gobsmacked not at how lovely everywhere was - we were ready for that - but at how comparatively quiet it was compared to the Lakes, Dales, etc.

There's so much we didn't get round to doing, because the fabulously hot weather kept our walks on the short side, and the sea breezes drew us back to the coast. Craster->Dunstanburgh->Low Newton was a brilliant walk and we definitely want to do more along the coastal path. A special thanks to the poster who recommended getting pizza at the Old School Yard and taking it to the beach - that was DC2's favourite bit of the week, and we'd not have found it without the tip.

I'm already looking for accommodation for next year (our rental was superb but £££ as we left it late to book. Not overpriced at all though - very grand indeed!).

We just got back from Northumberland too, OP! Agree it was simply wonderful.

Just an FYI if anyone wants to go to the Treehouse Restaurant in Alnwick but can't reserve online, email them and ask to be put on a wait list for cancellations. We were lucky enough to get a lunch booking last Saturday that way, and the food was terrific!

I’m thrilled you had a lovely week away.

not Northumberland, a bit further down, but completely doable for all of the Northumberland stuff, I have had family stay here when they came to see me and just said it was fabulous.

www.ridingfarmcottages.co.uk

@Sportycustard Thank you for the Black Swan Inn recommendation. It was wonderful & we wouldn't have found it without you/this thread!

Fab thread OP!
I'm place marking because we're up there next week. It's been about 15 years since we were last up that way and we now have kids to keep happy (11&13).
I'll add Barter Books to the list and some of the restaurants!

Sounds wonderful

Adding another recommendation: The Hatch is a new restaurant on Holy Island/Lindisfarne.
Big garden with well-spaced tables and great burgers, especially the vegan "green burger"

This is such a useful thread - we're in Northumberland now so I had bookmarked it previously and it's great. Just wanted to add one - just had a v tasty wood fired pizza from Embers in Embleton - it's a posh pizza van with a really nice outdoor seating area, fire pit etc. We're staying at a nearby caravan site so a freshly cooked pizza was most welcome! emberswoodfired.square.site/home