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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Miaou, did you find anything to do around Alnwick?

18 replies

earlgrey · 05/08/2006 09:54

Because I have to admit I am truly dreading this holiday .....

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chipkid · 05/08/2006 10:29

are you going to the alnwick area?

earlgrey · 05/08/2006 11:03

Yes, chipkid. Seven hours in a car to end up in what looks like the middle of nowhere .....

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fullmoonfiend · 05/08/2006 11:25

Alnwick gardens are fab my boys loved the treehouse and the water features. The castle is quite cool too. How old are your kids? I have some leaflets somewhere with farm park, roman forts which I will hunt for now, if you tell me what your kids are into?

earlgrey · 05/08/2006 11:31

FMF, THANK YOU!!! I really think a week would have been enough, but H's booked us up for two .......

We'd be into anything that can, erm, fill our time, really. They're girls, 6 and 8.

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fullmoonfiend · 05/08/2006 11:48

2 weeks! yes, long time for little ones Are you cottaging (!) or BB or camoing for 2 weeks?
Anyway, some thoughts for you.
1: Keilder forest - huge great area of beuty with woods, huge lake with boating etc, picnic areas.
2: Alnwick castle has harry Potter kudos (exterior shots but down is now filled with HP fans and 'souvenirs' It's a pleasant bustling market town anyway.
3: Banburgh castle - with beautiful, huge clean beach
4: Lindisfarfne (Holy Island) well worth a trip for te fun of drving accross the 'sea' - it's a tidal island, so make sure you check out times to get across, and more importantly back again.
5: Stephenson Railway Museum (abou 25 miles away,but you can have a ride on a steam train.
6: Beamish Museum (45miles away in Stanley) is a fab day out, it's a living history outdoor museum about life in the north east with trams to ride on, olde fashioned shops, streets, houses, school, mine. Quite expensive but a lovely day out for all ages.
7: Go to newcastle for a day (30 miles) Hancock museum worth a visit while you're there, very central. Loads of cafes, shops etc 5 mins walk away from museum.
8: If you want a junky day, go to Metro centre in Gateshead (again, 30 miles) with shops, bowling, multiscreen cinema, fun fair, laser quest - you get the idea!
9: Cragside is near Alnwick, beautiful house with acres of stunning gardens
10: Not sure how far Morpeth is from Alnwick but not too far (Probably about 30-40 miles) but this looks good

Hope the weather is kind to you

fullmoonfiend · 05/08/2006 11:50

god, if you can read my awful typing today that is! Let me know if you need a translation - I hurried cos i shouldn't be on here today - got so much to do

Squarer · 05/08/2006 11:53

pssst.... don't go to Newcastle just for the Hancock Museum - it's closed until 2009

earlgrey · 05/08/2006 12:11

FMF, THANK YOU!!! That's fabulous info! Even beginning to feel slightly less pessimistic about the whole thing.....

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earlgrey · 05/08/2006 12:12

We're cottaging, in a place called Longsomething.

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earlgrey · 05/08/2006 12:13

Longhoughton, even

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pecka · 05/08/2006 12:14

Whitehouse Farm is BRILLIANT. It has lots of animals to feed and pet (they get alot of them out for the children to hold) There is a huge indoor sandpit and soft play area for when the weather isnt good. Face painting, candle making, big slide, bouncy castle, adventure playground, tractor rides etc etc

fullmoonfiend · 05/08/2006 12:36

Squarer - good point, well made !
They're not getting rid of the stuffed animals are they? As a small child I was thrilled (and ever so slightly spooked) by them

fullmoonfiend · 05/08/2006 12:37

there's also Hadrian's wall of course, though it depends where you go as to how thrilling it is...
Tourist info at Alnwick will have loads of leaflets for you. And, middle-of-nowhere it may be but the countryside is quite stunning in Northumbria.

fullmoonfiend · 05/08/2006 12:40

Just noticed this on website -
''There is a small supermarket in the village - ideal for Groceries, newspapers, video rental, etc. The village also has a church. Near to the coast, there is a track down to 'Sugar sands' bay with sandy beaches and rocky outcrops. A peaceful beach. The coast walk and bicycle track are nearby. The small fishing village of Boulmer is about 2 miles east. ''

so sounds like a nice spot Earlgrey! Also Craster (teeny fishing village) is worth a visit if you like kippers

chipkid · 05/08/2006 14:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

earlgrey · 05/08/2006 17:34

FMF, thank you, and where on earth did you find that? I tried searching Longhoughton and came up with nothing.

chipkid, thanks for your reassurances. In what way is it not picturesque? You've got me worried now. And, at the risk of sounding like a complete philistine, does it have any restaurants nearby willing to accommodate children?

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earlgrey · 05/08/2006 17:35

I mean, is the Red Lion the > one?

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chipkid · 05/08/2006 22:12

eargrey-some of the villages in that area are stunning-longhoughton has some beautiful cottages but it also caters for the servicemen stationed at Boulmer and the area around the spa shop isn't so picture-book pretty.

racking my brains for places to eat out with children...will post some tomorrow

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