Northumberland recommendations

[SnowCurl]

Just that! Talk to me people. Am on a holiday come down and need to start thinking happy thoughts for next year! (Yes, already ) x

Yes you need to go earlier in the year to see puffins. We managed to see them on a boat trip to the Farne islands one July, but they said that usually they wouldn't be there so late in the year. Late spring/early summer should be fine.

I love northumberland. Here on holiday right now.

This year in Embleton which is handy with great kids play area, beach in walking distance, post office (cash withdrawal easy) and shop, plus pubs do take away fish n chips.

Really handy base for Alnwick, Seahouses, Bamburgh...and gorgeous Newton.

It's been showery but still sat all afternoon in sunshine yday!

With three young DC I would recommend.....

Going to amble paddling pools. It's a small beach in amble enclosed by a pier so not got crashing waves and it's very shallow.

On the other side of the pier is a great spot for rockpooling at low tide. You can get buckets and nets from amble.

Warkworth castle is nice and they usually have things going on over the school holidays-falconry, fighting knights etc

A walk down the river at Warkworth in the evening is lovely. Feed the ducks and have a relaxed walk-you can walk around the castle in the evening too (outside the grounds) and it's lovely and peaceful in the evening.

There's a coastal path that's good for riding a bike on if you fancy that? You can get on at Warkworth and go along up to alnmouth to spend a day there. The village is nice as is the beach.

I would definitely recommend getting a national trust and English heritage membership for up here. Family passes are less than £10 a month.

Cragside is also lovely. Great walks. It's huge too so even when it's busy you can do a walk there and see very few people. The labyrinth and the play area are good there-den building too. Take a picnic and you're set for the day.

The puffin cruises are in late June/July. Take hats though as there's lots of flying birds = bird poo

Kielder national park is also gorgeous.

A lot of the towns/villages have local shows/raft races/markets so look them up too. Warkworth have just had a Warkworth show, alnmouth raft race etc

Imo evenings are the best on the beach. A little bbq. Maybe a walk down the coast a little.

I'm a new local and love it up here.

Those lists are great, Nickname and Superheroes. Thank you very much. Cragside is definitely on our list. We wanted to go recently but it looked better to spend a day there as it looked huge!

Will make a note of all the recommendations to start looking for places to stay :) xxx

Yes, definitely do Cragside, and Gibside in north Newcastle is a canny day out too, but wear good walking shoes as it's a good walk. Worth it though.

What do you like out of a holiday? Do you like being near the beach, but also being able to have a wander somewhere or easily eat out on an evening?
If so then Bamburgh is the best base IMO, but rentals are really expensive.
It's got a few nice places to eat, the most amazing beach overlooked by the castle, little Grace Darling museum and a fab ice cream shop.
If you pay to go in the castle there is a good cafe there for lunch that you can't otherwise access.

Although the beaches are stunning, most of the time it is on the chilly side, so make sure you've got a wind break and a fleece!

Yes, you could easily spend a day at Cragside if you haven't been before but keep the kids out of the long grass as there are ticks around.

Thanks Bookaboo, I shall remember that!
I'm not a sit-on -the-beach-all-day kind of person. 2 hrs or so and I'm done and ready to do something else. The kids could be on the beach all day! Having said that I like being able to see the sea and walking along beaches Normally we would stay somewhere where we can get to a beach for a few days out but can largely do other stuff.
Is Bamburgh not busy in the summer months?
Xxx

There are so many beaches in Northumberland that the beaches never feel crowded. I particularly like Alnmouth and Druridge Bay.

Parking in Bamburgh can be a bit busy in summer holidays but the beach is so big it's never packed. I would say stay in Beadnell as you will then be able to walk to a great beach from your cottage. Beadnell beach is also more sheltered from the wind than many. Cragside is a great day out but I think Kielder is a bit far for not so much for your young DC.

If you go first half of the holidays there's likely to be a country show/fair on in one of the inland towns which is fun for wandering around seeing the animals, waggiest dogs etc and trying local foods.

Loving the sound of the country fair!
Why was a post deleted???

It was selling fake qualification certificates and crap shite like that.

Druridge bay country park is good too!

I reported it.

Bitty I have been to Druridge Bay Country Park many many times. I would recommend it.

Those who have travelled from down south, do you stop overnight en route? Looks a long journey (around 6 hours) so thought it might be good to take advantage and turn it in to a bit of a UK tour! Any suggestions on good places to stop?

Ah ok! I wondered what someone might have written in a fairly innocent thread :)
Have just googled DBCP- looks lush.

Hyper, how about a stop in Yorkshire? Or the Peak district? I'm not sure what the roads are like now but there were loads of roadworks on the M1 which increased journey times substantially when we were travelling North from down south. Xxx

We've done it from the Sussex coast to Northumberland twice without an overnight stop. It's taken us about 8 hours iirc. Longer on the return normally. We go up the A1, past the Angel of the North and that weird sex shop!

It's definitely doable in one go but there are plenty of lovely places to stop on the way as well. Yorkshire dales would be a nice stop, or the Yorkshire coast.

Or the Lake District, not really en route but fantastic and well worth a stopover.