Nervous about Holiday cottage in Bamburgh

[slfk3]

We have a week booked for a holiday cottage in Bamburgh in a few weeks time, live in Suffolk so it's a five hour drive with three children and dog. Has anyone done a similar trip during this covid business? Feeling nervous about the trip up in terms of stopping and safe places to stop, husbands high risk because of age and pre existing conditions but not in the imminent death category IYSWIM. Once you got to your holiday destination did you feel comfortable or wish you hadn't gone? Worried we will get up there and stick out and have funny looks from locals of the "why the hell have you traveled sort" but equally appreciate places and people need income during holidays as well. Holiday letting people say we can rebook for next year so if we don't go we forfeit the £1500ish for the cottage.
Don't think it helps having three boys who would be completely happy never getting dressed or leaving the house again that we aren't very good at going on holiday under normal circumstances, but that's another post entirely! Anyhow, would appreciate ants relevant feedback/advise!

Click and collect a big shop near your arrival destination

I think the nearest is probably Sainsburys in Alnwick, which is just off the A1.

Once you’re on the A1 you’ll be fine, going through Newcastle is easy

I would drive round it on the Western bypass.

DH is from Northumberland, and we go there a lot. In fact, we are driving up there this weekend. There is plenty of room for everyone. The beaches are brilliant with plenty of space for everyone. There are so many interesting places to visit where you can avoid the crowds.

Mount grace is an amazing stopping point - beautiful gardens

We've visited that area a few times in the last couple of weeks - Eyemouth / Berwick / coast. It has been busy, especially when the weather is good but everyone was fairly spaced out on the beaches and in shops. Hope you have a nice time! Great place for a UK break.

Thanks for all the tips, I think I was fine till I started trying to figure where to stop and the motoway website says to register if you stop for more than 15 minutes and the cusworth hall website said to "stay local" so I began to worry that we would be stuck for toilets on the way there and back and then feel uncomfortable when we get there. I think we will probably go, we booked it for last summer and had to cancel when husband had to have treatment for cancer instead, and once he was given the all clear we rebooked it in December for this summer. We have been wanting to go for over two years so I'm keen to go. I haven't left a 30 mile radius of where we live since last May so I'd like a change of scenery!

Just returned from Suffolk. It was lovely. We’d hired two places very close to each other to give more space for our now adult children and their partners.
It felt very comfortable. We didn’t go anywhere crowded (would be difficult in Suffolk to find a crowd). We ate out a couple of times, once outside in a pub garden where a one way system and full table service was in place and once in a restaurant where the tables were in booths.
We barbecued and ordered a takeaway.
Our food Shop was delivered by Morrison’s.
We walked, we swam, we sailed and kayaked on the river.
No funny looks at all. Welcomed warmly.
Don’t regret going at all. Hadn’t realised how much we needed to get away.

Travelling we just stopped at a garage to fill up, use the lavatory and grab a coffee. It was about four hours up due to traffic problems but quicker coming home. We stopped once to walk the dog by finding woods just off the main road.

Suffolk is now busy with visitors in holiday... why would people in Northumberland look at you?

Take masks and sanitizer for a quick loo break on the way, and take your break from the drive outdoors.

Enjoy the great outdoors around Bamburgh, a truly beautiful place.

Don’t go in crowded pubs.

Nothing to worry about at all.

When we had our first post lock down trip I was amazed at how good it felt. I didn't think I was suffering from cabin fever but once I got away from home I realised just how much I needed it.

Good luck. I hope you all have a lovely time.

I should say that even on a busy day, Bamburgh is nothing like some of the beaches down south that you will have seen on TV. It is still possible to distance.

We've just been to the lakes, busy but possible to distance. Pubs and restaurants well organised and happy to receive tourists.

It's bloody lovely to be away.

I wish I were going! My favourite part of the world!
When you go to Beadnell, be aware that there are two beaches, a beautiful rockpooly one and the stunning sandy one.
Shopping wise, you could go to Sainsbury's at Alnwick, but there is a large co-op at Seahouses which which is nearer.
Lovely boat trips out to sea at Seahouses (you can take the dog on most).
Alnwick Castle aka Hogwarts is amazing, but bear in mind that you can't take dogs.
Like pp have said, there will be lots of people, but it never gets too busy.
You will have s fantastic time ! I'm well jel

I'm away for a few days myself in Norfolk. It feels no different to any other time except you put on a mask to go into shops and you need to book to go out for a meal. Service stations and loos are all open and clean. And the open air, big skies and beaches are wonderful. Go - of course - why not?

I know Cusworth - the toilets are open if that helps. Tea room and hall are shut but I think the brewery, which is on site is open but they are open irregular hours. It's a lovely place to stop, nicer than the A1 services

We’re currently in Bamburgh. Lots of tourists / but lots of social distancing too. If you fancy a nice meal out the Potted Lobster is great, tables very spaced out, but you need to book in advance. Weather has been very mixed, so bring lots of clothes for all weathers.
We canoed up the river croquet this morning.

Cocquet
Damn autocorrect. Where did you canoe? Warkworth?

I find Seahouses difficult to find parking in, which is why I suggested Alnwick.

There is loads of beach space in northumberland - Low Newton, Druridge Bay, Alnmouth, Srahouses (awful for parking though), Beadnell, Boulmer, anywhere really.

You can stop at any service station on the A1. Wetherby, Scotch Corner and Durham are always busy though. Leeming and Washington are old and shabby, but much quieter.

About a month ago we stayed in Alnwick (near Bamburgh). It was wonderful! Its such a beautiful place and so unspoilt and peaceful. There's so much open space there. You'll be safe. We ate meals at cafes outside. Also had a lot of meals at the cottage. No one gave us funny looks. Why would they? We visited Bamburgh Castle and other castles. Plenty of tourists but all managed in a safe, socially distanced way. I envy you going there!

We have a cottage booked in Seahouses soon - I can’t wait! Someone else I know was there last week and said there were lots of tourists there. Given how hard it was to find a cottage I don’t think we will stick out! Have a great time. It’s a beautiful part of the world.

but there is a large co-op at Seahouses which which is nearer.

The Co-op I'm thinking of in Seahouses isn't that big, and has no parking. I expect there will be long queues on the narrow pavement, making social distancing difficult.

www.seahouses.org/2016/05/26/supermarkets/ gives you loads of information about the area. As Sainsburys in Alnwick is right by the A1 it is still probably your best option for stocking up, especially if you can do a click and collect.

Following as going to Seahouses soon! I think you’ll be fine OP, Northumberland is a lot less crowded than Cornwall. Have a lovely time!

@Ginfordinner
You've commented on my posts about supermarkets.
I'm sure that you are right. I haven't been out since March so I haven't a clue about the current set up.
So thank you for that. To be honest, I can't imagine going away in the current circumstances, I'd find it too upsetting. I'd rather just batten down the hatches.