Northumberland - Alnwick

[mummy1202]

Hi everyone,

Looking to book an April break with our two children - 7 and 3, near Alnwick.

Have been looking at Riverside in Wooler and Golden Sands at Cresswell. Does anyone have experience of either, or someone else they would recommend to stay? Just looking for somewhere spotless, good fun for the kids and easy to get around?

Also any recs of things to do in the area that are a ‘must do’?

Thanks so much! Xx

My kids are older but we loved the poison garden at The Alnwick Gardens. It probably helped that Blue Peter were filming the same day and we kept seeing the crew all around the gardens. We missed getting tickets to Lilidorei (they sold out quite fast) which my 10yo was upset about. So if you're interested in that, then get tickets early.

We always stay at Elmbank in Berwick but it’s further north.
It’s a quiet site, no bar or anything so ideal for us.
Loads to do around the area and not far to pop to Scotland for a day out either, Edinburgh and some lovely castles. Close to Lindisfarne too.
We tend to make a day of Alnwick on the way back down.

Love Northumberland, Alnwick garden is beautiful and if you like reading definitely call in Barter books.
Carlos is a fish and chip shop now I’ve never had fish and chips but they do fabulous ice cream.
Bamburgh is one of my favourite beaches and I’ve been lucky enough to spot dolphins while walking along it. In Bamburgh there is also a small RNLI museum all about Grace darling it’s free and her grave is in the church yard opposite.

Cragside is worth a visit.

Wooler is pretty but quite remote, the Cresswell site is right on the beach, close to Amble, about 12 miles to Alnwick for the gardens and castle. Good Friday is the duck race in Alnwick garden which is fun and the next day is the kite festival in Newbiggin.

If your DC like running around castles, Warkworth is fantastic. A short boat trip from Seahouses could be fun depending on weather. Someone will be along to mention Barter Books, but probably not with young children!

That whole area is just fantastic.

We're staying seahouses in april for a week.

Northumberland is great. We've stayed at Huts in the hills, which is inland, beautiful huts but likely fully booked for April, and at the Sunningdale in Bamburgh twice. The kids were younger than yours on our first couple of trips, but were 6 and 9 last time we went up there. We have enjoyed trips to see the puffins on the Farne islands, to Holy Island, Warkworth castle, Alnwick castle and walking from Low Newton on the sea to Dunstanburgh castle and back. On the last visit we visited Belsay Hall, Cragside (which is a national trust owned), Alnwick gardens, and walked up Yeavering Bell. My top 3 are probably Holy Island, Cragside and puffins on the Farne islands if weather is fine, otherwise Alnwick castle.

Cragside is wonderful, especially in April.

Northumberland is a lovely county with lots of lovely places to visit including Kielder Water, Hexham, Corbridge, Holy Island etc.