Making the most of 4/5 days in Northumberland

[notmrscookie]

Last minute trip up to glasgow in August on way back I have booked 2nt seashores near bamber and 2 nts high hauxley

I have English Heritage and national trust membership . Have a car and am a solo traveler

Thurs 19th aug from about 12pm
Friday
Sat ( txfer day but only 1 hour away)
Sunday
Monday am checkout time. 10but happy to stay around

Looking at doing bamber castle
A boat trip to seal seal not sure from where yet
Think there a good national trust place nearby

Suggestion and itinerary suggestions pls

Bamburgh Castle is impressive to look at from the outside. I wasnt too impressed with the internal tour - it's been turned into a bit of a homage to the owners artwork which doesnt tie in with the age and history of the castle. Dunstanburgh Castle is (imo) a better one for an internal tour.

A trip onto Holy Island is a must imo. Check out the tide times on the day so you can cross the causeway in good time before it closes for the night.

Drive into Alnwick and have a wander round the town - specifically Barter Books.

Alnmouth is a lovely coastal village with a stunning beach and lovely little shops and tea rooms.

Lindesfarne
Bamburgh Castle
Alnwick Castle
Cragside
Warkworth Castle
Lots of lovely coastal walks and beaches
I think the Hadrian's Wall sites are English Heritage if you're heading that way home.

Ooh, perfectly-timed thread - we're off to Northumberland for a few days mid-July. Can't wait!

Cragside is amazing. Alnwick gardens and castle are too but quite pricey.
Beaches are beautiful. It's quite a large area, I'd check out google maps and not drive too far as you aren't there for long.
Enjoy!

Agree with pp - Bamburgh castle is best viewed from the outside! A visit to the 'butcher the baker the sausage roll maker' on Bamburgh high street is in order, to get a gorgeous sausage roll to enjoy on the beach.

Alnwick is nice, particularly barter books. Half the joy there is the lovely cafe - you can cosy up with a book in front of an open fire, so a good stand by for bad weather. Alnwick castle & garden are great, but they will be heaving with kids in August - they're very child friendly.

We went to see the seals from Seahouses, which is near Bamburgh - really good fun. Do bring a waterproof - we went on a lovely day but still got soaked! I believe some of the tours let you get off to have a wander round one of the islands, but we've always had dogs & kids so not 100%,

Agree that Cragside is brilliant - definitely worth a visit.

Craster for kippers and a walk to Dunstanburgh Castle.

The RNLI Grace Darling museum at Bamburgh

Cragside as you have national trust membership. It's really good.

Alnwick castle if you have Harry Potter fans. Alnwick gardens also very good. But pricey especially if you do both.
Barter books in Alnwick is great but I also prefer it in winter.

Newton by the Sea for The Ship Inn & microbrewery, and crab sandwiches on the grass. The car park at the top of the hill (no cars allowed in the bay) is NT as well I think.

Warkworth is good - good ruined castle (English heritage I think) lovely River walk, hermitage might be open (you have to go over the river by boat to see it), Bertrams cafe is fab, Warkworth beach is a good one.

Sugar sands beach is amazing.

You can't stay in Hauxley and not go for a walk round Hauxley Nature Reserve

www.nwt.org.uk/get-involved/visitor-centres/hauxley-wildlife-discovery-centre

I’ll add Wallington to the list, a very pleasant NT property near Morpeth.

Oh yes. The garden at Wallington is gorgeous.

Boat trip from Seahouses to the Farne Islands- seals aplenty there! And it's just down the road from Bamburgh. And agree with PP re the butchers there, and the sausage rolls!

The butchers shop on the main street in Amble sells the best Scotch pies. Also visit The Pods in Amble.

See the puffins on a boat tour!

Farne Islands by boat
Lindisfarne
Alnwick

Those were my top 3 when we went a few years ago. Alnwick is pricey, but if you are either a) a Harry Potter fan or b) like gardening, it's totally worth it.

If you're going to Craster, there's a gorgeous (almost hidden) little coffee shop at Craster Tower called The Stable Yard. Worth a visit for lunch or coffee and cake.

Also, The Barn At Beal is lovely, and on the way to Holy island.