Northumberland/Blythe for holiday?

[Holibobbins]

I just booked a wee getaway for here in July, little 3 bed apartment.

I've told 2 people and they both sort of laughed.

Is it not a good place for a family get away? TBH it was cheap for us so I just booked it without much research.

Is there stuff to do??

Op I live in Northumberland just along the road from Blyth, in what would be described as a run down mining town. Yes the people of Blyth can be a bit rough around the edges but the vast vast majority of them are friendly.

I grew up in one of the 'nice' towns, Morpeth, and I far prefer visiting Blyth because the people are down to earth and don't look down on others (not saying everyone in Morpeth does but in general it's not as friendly an atmosphere).

Please reconsider your holiday, there's really nothing wrong with Blyth it's just a normal run down town just like the one I live in, it would be a brilliant base for you to explore Northumberland. Don't let people put you off.

Lots of touristy people go to Blyth - Ridley Park has a water attraction for the kids, the beach is nice and there's a fantastic chippy and ice cream shop right on the seafront!

Great base. You can either pop in to Newcastle or inland to Kielder or up the coast to one of the fantastic nearly empty beaches, holy Island, historic castles, bird watching. Industrial museums ref the coal industry. Fab part of the country. My happy place!

Whitely bay ( walking distance of blyth) tends to be more expensive

I have never thought I'd seaton delavel as any nicer than blyth

So that would be fine but a muddy walk to the beach

I don't think you can compare Delly to Blyth!

Northumberland is amazing and vast but Blyth is a shi* hole, apart from the beach, defo not a holiday destination!

Op can't afford a nice MN acceptable holiday destination

Blyth isn't a shit hole but I think a lot of people here are happy to diss it with no respect to the perfectly nice people who live there , and probably having never been near the place in 30 years

I go to Blyth fairly regularly.

@Happydays321 "BarkingBeachDog blyth to bamburgh is over an hours drive!
I don't think saying blyth isn't the best place to stay is being snobby!"

I didn't call anyone a snob. I said they should feel ashamed putting the OP off a perfectly good holiday.

She has very specific sleeping and budget requirements and had found something suitable.

Blyth to Bamburgh is pretty much bang on an hour. With Alnwick around half way. So many places to stop off. Packing up your car for the beach and heading off to Bamburgh via Barter Books and Alnwick sounds great to me. Chippy at Seahouses after a few hours at the beach and a boat out to see the puffins and seals. Nice easy drive back to Blyth. What's not to like about that for a holiday day?

Next day Beamish. Even closer. The day after into Newcastle? Durham?

It's a great holiday. You should rebook op

www.cottages.com/cottages/number-eight-uk41560

Blyth isn't up to much but loads within reach. South Shields is only 15 miles away and lovely for things like paddle boarding and the park even has a little train + great fun fair. Your also close to Newcastle which would be good for the centre for life and discovery museum

Ha he's a newcastle player! It's the cup final today so us geordies are BUZZING!!

Northumberland is one of my favourite places.
The kids loved it when they were younger.
Especially the Harry Potter connection

Echo the suggestion to look at Berwick, where accommodation may be more affordable. Yes, it’s a way North, but you can explore SE Scotland too, which is stunning (and go to Edinburgh on the train for the day).
I really hope you find somewhere ❤️

How about Ayrshire? It has lots of nice beaches, easy access by train to Glasgow. You could have day trips to the islands of Cumbrae and Arran.

An hours drive for a day trip on a UK holiday is totally normal.

Blyth was perfectly fine as a place to stay for a holiday in Northumberland.

The beds meet your need at this cottage in Whitby.
www.sykescottages.co.uk/cottage/North-York-Moors-Coast-West-Pier/Destiny-Rose-1038935.html#duration=7&start=2023-07-14&changeover=5
And this one just inland from Robin Hoods Bay at £945
www.sykescottages.co.uk/cottage/North-York-Moors-Coast-Fylingthorpe/Burnside-4170.html#duration=7&start=2023-07-15&changeover=6

You must be local to me and I agree. Seaton Delightful and Blyth are worlds apart. FWIW, OP, there are areas of Blyth that are fairly well to do and the rest of it is like anywhere with good spots and bad spots. I wouldn't worry walking around it in the dark and have done fairly recently when I needed to make an emergency trip to the Morrisons.

Seafield Holiday Park in Seahouses has an offer of 7 nights for the price of 4 other than in peak summer holiday period which would put it in your price bracket. Its well located for Alnwick and Bamburgh and has a really nice club with a pool and spa (Ocean Club) for site residents to use. There are also a lot of cottages in Lucker close to Bamburgh although they may be a little over budget.

I wouldn’t discount Blyth. We stay in Northumberland every year though mainly in Amble but we use the accommodation as a base and then go exploring. It’s an absolutely beautiful part of the world and one I’m keen to move to when my kids finish college.

Iam4eels · Yesterday 21:38

- -I don't think you can compare Delly to Blyth!- -

You must be local to me and I agree

Whitley Bay, man, pet, man!

Blyth is really lovely around Ridley Park, the beach, the ice cream shop etc. We go there a lot. It is not really lovely around the main shops. I was last there last week and of course there are plenty of normal people just doing their shopping. There are also a noticeable number of people with substance issues wandering about. This is because Blyth has twice the drug crime rate of the rest of Northumberland and it’s concentrated in specific areas of Blyth. That is just an objective fact, which anyone can look up.

I can’t believe anyone who thinks of Blyth and Seaton Delaval as the same is even an occasional visitor to either.

In Seaton Delaval the "bad" part of town is literally confined to one self-contained street and it's mostly considered "bad" because it's a street of one bed flats so tends to be people on short leases. The rest of it is fairly pleasant, children play out in the street and from about age 8-9 walk to school/park/shops themselves. Residents group on FB tends to be mainly complaints about litter, parking, takeaways and the mannequins in the window of the car shop.

You can get a boat from Seahouses to the Farne Islands to see the sea bird colonies, puffins and seals!

We had a brilliant week poking about on beaches and exploring castles a few years ago. One of our favourite family holidays (and we always try to find dull accommodation outside of tourist areas as it is way cheaper and we are only there to sleep and make sandwiches).

Have a brilliant time! (I wish I was going too!)

Use it as a base to visit places like Tynemouth, Whitley Bay or up the coast to Alnwick, Seahouses or Bamburgh. All stunning.

But Blyth itself is rough. Plan days out.