Northumberland walking holiday with ADHD..(not much thing 😭)

[claudib]

Hi there,
First of all, apologies for sounding like the spoilt brat but my part in a boat. Me partner and are two teenagers a walking holiday in Northumberland for the week.. now while it sounds idyllic for some..this is my worst nightmare.. It was actually a gift to him from somebody else so I didn't really choose it or look into it But just planning ahead as we are leaving in a few days, I am horrified at how unappealling it looks (to someone like me..) We've already had a row about it cuz I let it slip to him my fears.. (blame it on my ADHD or being selfish/ dramatic )
Anyway, I'm just thinking what will we do in a cottage for a week (amongst the blustery, craggy coastline walks) Is there anything really appealing to people with busy brains and teens!?
(Apologies to any locals btw. It's not the area, It's me!!)
Thanks!

If you can't go whole heartedly stay home. Let them enjoy the trip. I had a boating trip as a teen and loved it. Sadly can't afford to go now.

It sounds perfect as another ADHDer. The perfect opportunity to let yourself decompress, think your thoughts , have great conversations etc

Are you in a boat or a cottage?

If a cottage, then:

Alnwick castle and gardens, was a Harry Potter setting and the gardens are amazing. Good cake and a decent second hand bookshop in the town.

Newcastle itself - dog cafe and two cat cafes (catpawchino and I forget the other one). Decent-ish shopping with a massive primark
And m and s and John Lewis

Tynemouth is lovely - you can get there on the metro from central Newcastle and there are surfing lessons and wild swimming at the beach. The Ruined castle and priory are above the beach and there's loads of restaurants on the Main Street, the metro station has a great market on Sundays as well,

Hey guys, all your messages are amazingly helpful.. I agree, plenty of reflection time which is a good thing!! And yes to be able to afford it is a luxury. I am quite in a lean situation personally at the moment but thankfully my partner is working a lot and really needs this break so I'd better buck up and appreciate it.
And thank you so much on Octavia..wild swimming and cat cafes. Oh my gosh perfect! And I love gardens, I'd thought it was all cragginess and bluster.. !! You have shown me to look beyond my own nose!! 🤥😂😍
Thankyou!!!

Lindisfarne is amazing- watch out for tides. Bamburgh castle, wonderful beaches….
amazing bookshop in Alnwick….

Just Google what there is to do near your house. You can do that or chill at your house while the others walk.

Where are you stopping? Northumberland is large!

This. Go on walks and take the time to really notice your surroundings. The sea, wildlife, hills etc. At night go outside in the dark and look at the stars. You might even see the northern lights.

Plus look on visitnorthumberland.com and pick a few places to visit like Alnwick Gardens etc. It might also be worth joining the National Trust if there's a couple of places nearby that appeal as a couple of family tickets could cost nearly as much as a year's membership and then you have it for the rest of the year to visit other places closer to home.

Thanks so much, chaps..we are near Rothbury

That's near Cragside, which is a really interesting National Trust property.

There's loads of fabulous places in Northumberland, it's incredibly beautiful and rich in history.

I've got ADHD so I know what you mean about needing your your brain something to do, someone mentions a hike to me and my blood runs cold, no matter how beautiful a place is I don't need to see it for hours and hours, the dopamine doesn't last long!

But you'll be fine 🤞 the weather holds but there's so much you can do (assuming you have a car) and loads of lovely restaurants as well if you can get organised and book some up

We did kayaking with teens along the estuary at Amble, there are bound to be similar water based activities to do. What sorts of things do you like OP?

I've just come back from a short stay with relatives near Rothbury - if you like gardens I'd recommend NT properties at Wallington and Cragside, both are beautiful.

Cragside is a great day out and is national trust. The coast from tynemouth, cullercoats and Whitley bay is a nice walk on a sunny day with lots of pubs to stop in along the way!

Tynemouth priory is English heritage and is interesting!

Newcastle itself is a great day out, lots of shopping and cinemas plus the metrocentre is just in Gateshead and teens will likely like that.

Belsey hall and gardens also lovely and chillingham castle is supposed to be the most haunted castle in the uk!

Rothbury is a great base!

You can hire bikes at Kielder Water
Explore Hadrian’s Wall - I’d recommend Vindolanda & Roman Army Museum
Hexham is nice to visit / has large leisure centre & if you in the are Wheelbirks Ice Cream Parlour is lovely
Alnwick Gardens / if in Alnwick, visit Barter Books
Floors Castle in The Borders
Newcastle is awesome in general
Bamburgh Castle

I don’t think any of the above involve coastline blustery walks but you are missing a trick by not doing one - I’d recommend Low Newton to Craster via Dunstanburgh Castle & have a lovely lunch at The Jolly Fisherman

It is the most beautiful coastline in the UK IMO and there is so much to do.
Blustery coastline = fresh unpolluted air and a good excuse for a pub lunch!
Cragside, Belsay, Alnwick, Embleton, Dunstaburgh, Craster etc the list is endless

I don’t think any of the above involve coastline blustery walks but you are missing a trick by not doing one - I’d recommend Low Newton to Craster via Dunstanburgh Castle & have a lovely lunch at The Jolly Fisherman

We did that earlier this year (from high newton) - very good! My crab sandwich was so huge I had to wrap half of it to eat on the way back.

Low Newton has a good pub with its own microbrewery, though it didn't do food every day.

Theres people with adhd who live there. Find the Facebook group for that area and ask what the locals would recommend.

Cragside is my favourite NT property, I’ve been lucky enough to visit twice this year. Bamburgh is my favourite beach and I’ve witnessed an amazing sunrise there.
Alnwick is worth a visit.