Where to visit in Northumberland

[Biscuitsneeded]

We've booked a self-catering cottage outside Hexham. Very random as have never been to the area but we all need a change of scene! I have on my list of things to see/do a National Trust gorge nearby, the Kielder national Park, then for a day trip Alnwick and castle... Anyone else go any good recommendations for things to do with teenage boys (other than lock them with devices in a darkened room)? Thanks in advance for all suggestions.

Loads. DH is from Northumberland so we have explored it extensively. I have a long list on my laptop and will post it later.

Holy Island is lovely, take a picnic and there are loads of quiet beaches. Extra fun if you leave it to the the last minute to do the crossing and the water starts lapping the tyres!

Beaches! Low Newton beach is fabulous. Limited parking so you have park and walk down. The pub is lush too (Ship Inn) -crab sandwiches on the green

We went last Easter and it was lovely. If you're a booklover you must visit Border Books in Alnwick - a huge second hand bookshop in a converted railway. All the well known attractions were great but the town I liked best was Amble as it felt like a real working town

If you want to see Hadrian's Wall there's a beautiful trail and the central crags are best to access at the moment around the Housesteads area. I believe Vindolanda has reopened btw, but check their website.

I used to love the train journeys from Hexham to Carlisle, and Hexham to Newcastle, and all the local pubs and museums and archaeological sites around the area, but, you know, coronavirus.

We are off to a self-catering cottage outside Hexham in a couple of weeks. We love Northumberland. You really can't beat the beaches. Bamburgh beach is lovely. Warkworth also worth a visit - beach and castle also worth a look. I also like it down by the river in Corbridge. We've never been to Cragside but I note gardens are open now so we may do that - NT property. We'll also probably end up at Alnwick gardens again ... there's loads to do honestly

Cragside!!!!

Northumberland Attractions
Towns
Morpeth, Alnwick, Hexham, Corbridge, Berwick upon Tweed, Rothbury, Warkworth

Castles
Alnwick Castle and gardens, Aydon Castle, Chillingham, Warkworth, Belsay, Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh, Lindisfarne

Stately homes
Cragside, Wallington, Seaton Delaval, Belsay Hall & Castle

Other Attractions
Holy Island, Hadrian's Wall - Housesteads, Vindolanda and Chesters, Corbridge Roman Town, Howick gardens, Woodhorn museum, Farne Islands, Grace Darling museum, Brinkburn Priory, Warkworth hermitage, Hauxley nature reserve, Kielder, Ingram Valley, Coquet Island, Coquet Valley, Ford and Etal

Beaches
Druridge bay, Alnmouth, Embleton, Seahouses, Bamburgh, Newbiggin, Cresswell, Holy Island, Cocklawburn, Beadnell, Low Newton, Longhoughton, Boulmer, Warkworth, Seaton Sluice

Children
Whitehouse farm centre, Kirkley hall zoological gardens, Heatherslaw light railway, Eshott Heugh animal park, Northumberlandia

If you are planning on visiting Holy Island you must check the tide times. And please don't take zigzagbetty's advice about leaving to the last minute to cross the causeway . The local news often shows idiots who do this and they are a PITA.

Cragside is amazing. It's also bleeping expensive so if you are going, join the NT first! You can offset your membership with there and a trip to the Farnes and Lindisfarne Castle.

Mind you, English Heritage is also a good card to have, for the castles. A fair few ruins are free to visit. Places like Warkworth or Berwick barracks aren't. Bamburgh Castle is private so you have to pay anyway if they are open.

Housesteads is both NT and EH! If you want to go there (and walk along Hadrian's Wall) then make sure you all have good walking shoes. It's quite a hike up from the car park. Sycamore gap is close by too.

We loved Corbridge Fort and also Chesters - the latter is smaller but has the more modern history of the man who saved a huge length of the wall after he inherited an estate there. All are EH. You can get discounts at Vindolanda with EH, too.

If it wasn't for coronavirus we'd be up there now. I could cry. I love the place.

This is all really helpful - thanks very much!

Agree with Cragside, it's lovely. Also Barter Books in Alnwick if they are into reading in any way, it's the best second hand book shop in the world.

Good beaches all along the coast. Amble has a nice little area down by the port with little kiosk shops selling crafts, cheeses and ice cream. We had the best Sunday lunch ever at the Mason's Arms in Warkworth - portions have to be seen to be believed and will fill even the hungriest teen.

Bamburgh and Seahouses and Holy Island.

We had a wonderful holiday near Otterburn when I was a teen - loved the Wall, Vindolanda and Keilder Water. I'd love to take my DC back.

The countryside is stunning!

I obviously forgot to put lighthearted on my crossing post