Things to do in North England/Scottish Borders

[Hulababy]

We are going away for a week at October half term, staying in a cottage not far from Jedburgh.

We = me, DH, 9y DD, katz and her DH and their DDs aged 6y and 9y.

We will have cars and happy to travel to visit some places. Want a mix of things to do for all of us.

Any particular places you would recommend in the region?

TIA

Do they like harry Potter? If so, then you should take them to Alnwick Castle. Bamburgh beach is amazingly beautiful. Lindisfarne is lovely but you MUST check the tide chart and MUST follow it. Abird watching trip by boat to the Farne Islands? Further afield or en route, Durham is gorgeous. Newcastle has great children's museums (Hancock/Life Centre/Seven Stories).

My DD loves HP and Alnwick is on her list of one of the things she'd like to do.

DD also loved watching the tide come in after we had a trip to Holy Island/Lindifarne. Had forgotten that will be close enough - will add it.

Thank you for the ideas. Will go and google the others.

Definitely Bamburgh and northumberland coast generally.
But Edinburgh isn't so far and is packed full of things to do and see for all of those ages! come over and ask us on the Edinburgh local board and I am sure we can give you plenty of ideas

Google 'Cream of Galloway', it's near Gatehouse of Fleet. There's outdoor activities, including a pedal kart track, climbing stuff, and a large indoor soft play, cafe with local icecream (hence the name), walks and the nearby beaches are good, too. Totally recommend for your dcs ages. It's not as expensive as some activity places, either.

North Berwick is nice, too. Agree loads of good places round Edinburgh.

Have a good time!

all sound great - getting excited now, really need a break!

Is this it: www.creamogalloway.co.uk/

Just considering the weather. Any indoor suggestions too?

Also is there a park and ride for Edinburgh?

NT property Cragside near Rothbury & also Vindolanda on the Roman Wall x

Thanks :)

There is an amazing bookshop in St Boswells which is just a short drive from Jedburgh called The Main Street Trading Company, it has a great children's section and does fab cake!!

Melrose and Kelso nice little towns for a mooch around and there are some lovely walks.

Def do a day trip to Edinburgh - the new Museum of Scotland is supposed to be amazing, amongst other things.

South of the border - Lindesfarne, Alnwick Garden and Castle, Barter Books in Alnwick, beaches at Embleton, Newton by the Sea, etc. Ford and Etal estates.

We went to this farm park a few years ago [http://www.jedforestdeerpark.co.uk/] It's a better than average farm park with deer and birds of prey,

For indoor activites the centre for life and discovery museums are both hands on and close together. The Hancock museum
Is a bit more of a traditional museum but still good(and free). They're all in Newcastle city centre.

You could go ice skating at Whitley bay ice rink followed by fish n chips and a browse around the craft/antique shops in Tynemouth and a nice walk along the coast. You can climb to the top of st mary's lighthouse in nearby Whitley bay for nice views but check the tide times first.

The woodhorn museum in Northumberland is indoors and so free! It gives you an insight into the mining industry and has a nice little tea shop.

I recommend going to seahouses to catch a boat trip around the farne islands. You'll hopefully see some puffins!

Morpeth is a lovely Market town in Northumberland and has a lovely park, beautiful gardens, aviary, boating lake and lots of ducks to feed. Plus there are lots of nice family pubs/cafes to grabs bite to rat.

Enjoy your time here!

Moulesfrite - it is actually just out of St Boswells we are staying, so great recommendation as likely to be walkable.

you should definitely go if you are withing walking distance - website here

I am actually visiting my best friend who lives in St Bowells this week and we will probably spend most of the day there! I love it so much I would actually consider moving to the Borders so I could go all the time, but then I am a total bookshop geek!

Live in Newcastle and went to Uni in Edinburgh so know a lot of places in between!

But hula the book shop does cake too we never have cake on holiday!

Thank you for all these will haveca look through

lol Katz - coffee and cake??? Really - I am not sure that is an activity I could possibly persuade my Dh to participate in, what do you think?!!

Lol! Did you read the menu - think it may have to be on the def to do list?

Lots to do round Durham way. The oriental museum is a good day out and it's cheap for a family ticket. Durham nice to visit anyway. Hartlepool Historic Quay good day out as is Beamish museum. All have plenty inside.

I love Beamish - not sure how far away it will be, will google.

Forbidden Corner is a bit too far I think, sadly.

Tbh I think stuff in Durham and newcastle is a bit too far from where you are staying, you will be doing an awful lot of driving if you go there.

Yes, Newcastle and Durham are probably a bit far for our day trips. My sister lives in Newcastle so me, Dh and DD may well call and see her on our way home I think. Don't want to be driving tons every day - will do Edinburgh, and maybe Alnwick and perhaps Holy Island too. So need closerby places too.

You really have loads of options. If you are staying near Jedburgh, I live in Hexham & Jedburgh is only an hour from us (A68), so Cragside & Vindolanda are well within your reach & worth a visit. If you like walking, there are some great ones around Kielder Water, with adventure playgrounds too, plus bird of prey centre x

Oh yes agree Cragside is fantastic.

What about this www.shepherdswalks.co.uk/ he does self guided and guided walks including family friendly ones. Don't think the puffins will be on the Farne Islands at this time of year but if the weather is calm its still worth a trip to see the seals (can be very sick making if choppy though!)
When you are in Alnwick pop in to Barter Books - one of the largest second hand book shops in the world, a big childrens section, coffee and biscuits a fire and comfy chairs and a model train that runs around the ceiling.
It may be a bit far for you but Wheelbirks farm has the most amazing ice cream parlour www.wheelbirks.co.uk/ and while I am on the subject of ice cream Doddington Dairy (nr Rothbury) does fabulous ice cream and cheeses, try Cuddy's Cave. You can't visit the farm but it will be on sale locally.
There's pot a doodle do nr Berwick www.potadoodledo.com/ for an indoor activity.
I could keep going but would be here for ever. Fantastic part of the world to visit and if you are brave (or mad) enough the surf is usually good in October ;)

Thanks again; will have a look at the suggestions.

www.vindolanda.com/

we used to go here when we used to visit our Great Aunt