Recommend me great places to visit and stay in Northumberland?

[SeeYouInFive]

I’d like to go away with DH for a long weekend. We like hikes and pubs, basically. Have never been to Northumberland but I know people who have and their pics look beautiful.

Can anyone recommend where to go and what to do there?

If you’re not fussed about sandy beaches, I’d probably recommend Craster as a base for good walks. One of the best-loved routes follows the coast path towards Dunstanburgh Castle. From there you can continue onwards along Embleton Bay for as long as you like. Another popular walk is a circular to Howick Hall and Gardens. Craster is also a good base from which to visit Seahouses and Bamburgh (and maybe even Lindisfarne) to the north, and Alnwick Castle to the south.

Ooh go on one of the billy shiels boat trips at seahouses.

The Jolly Fisherman at Craster is famous for its seafood, and The Ship Inn is an excellent pub within walking distance of Craster.

Away from the coast, NT at Cragside and Wallington. Walking in the Cheviots - we love the Breamish Valley and the walking that starts from Wooler Common. The Running Fox cafes for lunch or coffee - Shilbottle, Longframlington.

Seahouses or Banburgh

Kielder Forest, so Falstone is a perfect place to stay

Blanchland is a fascinating place - can never work out if I like it or it makes me feel slightly nervous! To me, it always feels slightly odd, a bit like the threads on here about Glastonbury and Bath - must be on a ley line or something.... The Lord Crewe is good for a beer.
Corbridge is a pretty place for a wander - good cake from Grants Baker and several nice pubs, walks along the river.

Cragside.

Chillingham Castle is fabulous, eccentric, spooky and has beautiful scenery on the way there too.
Ford & Etal estate was a good day. Had a lovely lunch there, also went to visit the prehistoric standing stones at Duddo (part of the estate).Very atmospheric with incredible views.
Bamburgh, Seahouses, Farne Islands, Alnwick (Bacon sandwich at Barter Books) Lindisfarne. You won't be bored.

It's quite a varied landscape so it's worth thinking about whether you want a lot of one thing or a bit of each. There's the coast, the national park bit which is a lot of hills and moors, and then the areas around the Tyne valley and Hadrian's Wall. If you wanted to do all 3 then somewhere like Alnwick or Rothbury probably a good base, or if you aren't bothered about staying rural then Newcastle itself because it's then easy to get to on main routes.

In terms of the coast the most stunning bit IMO is probably between Alnmouth and Bamburgh but avoiding Seahouses unless you want a trip to the Farne islands (just cos it gets rammed and always feels more touristy than the rest). Joiner's arms in High Newton always looks gorgeous.

I love Blanchland too but know what pp means about weird vibe. My personal favourite is the Coquet Valley and compared to somewhere like the Lakes it is always pretty empty.

Cicerone have a really good 'walks in Northumberland' book might be just as well getting that and deciding which walks take your fancy then booking around those.

Warkworth - really lovely main street, walks by the river, astonishing castle ruins (like an illustration from a children's book on 'How to Build a Norman Motte and Bailey Castle'!

I have been thinking about this too. Could anyone post links to good accommodation?

Grace Darling Holidays have beautiful cottages in Northumberland. Just Google them and input the number of people and general area on their website.

Alnmouth is my favourite for coastal, Kielder for forest.

www.crabtreeandcrabtree.com/regions/northumberland/

coquetcottages.co.uk/our-cottages/

Just popping back on to say thanks for all the fab recommendations. Working my way through them…