County Durham/Northumberland area. What's good to do as a family with teens and a mum in a wheelchair??

[OnTheRunWithMannyMontana]

We are staying near Consett for a week starting Monday and I'm searching for fun things for us to do. I am a wheelchair user but happy to watch or join in where I can! And I love a challenge. Teens are DD14 and DS18. DH too.

So far we are thinking:

Beamish (obvs)
Kayaking (specialist place that caters for disabilities)
Metro centre
Whitley bay and beach wheelchair

Any other ideas at all for places not to miss?

Thank you!

If you fancy some more activities take a trip over to Kielder and do one of the Calvert Trust packages (I’ve always fancied the zipwire). https://www.calvertkielder.org.uk/

Ooh they do abseiling! That looks fun! Thanks 🙏🏼

South Causey Inn is lovely for food and near Beamish. Allensford is really nice too for a wander.

Oh that menu looks delicious! Thanks for the recommendation 🙂

We've booked tickets for Kynren as wanted to go for years. I'm also following for tips as we go at the end of August!

If you’re at Whitley Bay - Fish & Chips at Tranchers on the promenade.

if you’re coming further inland/ passing through - Wheelbirks Ice Cream parlour do amazing ice cream (and lunches)

Woodhorn Museum near Ashington

Also there were seals at St Mary's lighthouse when I was last there.

There are boat trips from Seahouses, we did one last month and saw puffins and seals, and they sometimes have dolphins following the boats too. You can contact them and ask which boats take wheelchairs as apparently they can only take wheelchairs from the slipway when the tide is right.
https://farneislandstours.co.uk/

Just be careful with beamish. It's a fabulous place and certainly worth a visit but I'm not sure how accessible all of it is for a wheelchair user. Some of the roads are cobbled, the paths in the town bit are really narrow too and I'm not sure you would be able to access any of the houses, dentists etc. I don't use a wheelchair but a relative does and she avoids it for this reason.

Other than that wheelbirks Ice cream parlour is lovely. There is an absolutely amazing Chinese restaurant called the pavilion near consett. South causey is lovely too as already mentioned.

If you fancy a trip further up north, Northumberland is amazing, the boat trips to the farne islands are great, barter books is amazing too.

Kynren is just amazing! You will love it!!

Knitsley Farm Shop is lush for lunches and treat food. The cafe is lush too. Also have a trip up to the Derwent Reservoir, its only 10 mins from where you are. While you're up there, go to Blanchland to have a wander and a drink at The Lord Crewe, it's an ancient pub and restaurant and Blanchland is just beautiful 😍

If the weather gets out, The Crown and Crossed Swords is Shotley has a beautiful beer garden and nice food.

Broom House Farm is on the way to Durham and does lush food and has a nice outdoor area. Animals to see as well.

Durham also has an Odeon Luxe which you could take the teens to see a film at. Its along the new river walk area with loads of restaurants. Also a new Lane 7 bowling alley.

I second The Pavilion at Iveston near Consett. People come from miles around to go there. The lunch menu is great value, you have to book.

Agree that Beamish isn't always fully accessible, original buildings not been made to modern accessibility standards and all that, but it has accessible transport for round the museum and the newer parts are more accessible. There is a proper Changing Places in the Welfare Hall which is brilliant.

Seaside definitely good, Gibside National Trust has good, wide paths for wheelchairs. Durham itself sadly isn't great (Normans didn't plan ahead) but it is lovely and the Cathedral currently has a beautiful art installation of the planet suspended in the Nave.

If the teens like adventurous activities then coasteering could be good. I took my teen to a place at Howick and we had a great time. The instructors were great explaining to some other parents which places that could access to watch so could be worth giving someone a ring to see.

Also up in Northumberland of you are happy driving around than Alnwick Gardens are great. Beautiful, pretty accessible, has a great poison garden tour the teens will enjoy and is just a great day out. My big teen recently attempted to be grumpy about going than ran around like an excited 3 year old all day.

Not sure if you want to drive much but Alnwick castle is amazing!
Some Harry potter was filmed there, but the grounds are fab, defo check out the poison garden which is accessible.
Some of it might be tricky for wheelchair but for a mixed party would offer good fun... and the treehouse restaurant is awesome!! There is a ramp, so I'm thinking could be wheelchair ok, though I wouldn't like to confirm.. maybe a lift too (not sure), but there are also rope walkways you can have fun going on too. Booking essential for that.
https://www.alnwickcastle.com/accessibility

That's an hour from your location though