Tips for trip to Northumberland

[NoHayDosSinTres]

We have 3 nights booked in Morpeth, Northumberland in Aug. We plan on having this as our base to discover some of the main sights in the area.

Can someone please share some tips on places to go, things to do and great places to eat in the area, for a family of 4 including 2 teens.

[TrillianMurphy]

@Blert

Wood fired pizza from the van at The Schoolhouse Gallery in Alnwick

Oh, didn't know that place was ever bloody open. Tried 2 different days during its supposed opening times and it was shut. Not even a note saying when they'd reopen.

Anyway, I think everything I was going to recommend has already been mentioned.
My favourite things we did on our Northumberland based holiday were:
The Roman Army Museum
Alnwick Castle
Bamburgh Castle
Lindisfarne
Beamish
Durham Cathedral.

[AnneElliott]

Farne islands - great day seeing the little Puffins.

[NewYorkCityDreamer]

Blyth south beach, Whitley bay (di meos), morwick dairy are great for ice cream!

alnwick castle if the teens like Harry Potter

[PiffleWiffleWoozle]

Young not old

[PiffleWiffleWoozle]

Pizza at the Star at Harbottle and a walk to the Drake Stone.

There’s a lovely traditional toy shop in Rothbury if you are already at Cragside but too old for teens.

[LuluBlakey1]

Please don't risk the tide at Holy Island- your car will be a write off if you get caught and the RNLI have to rescue you- only fools do it. It's dangerous.

[LuluBlakey1]

Ross Back Bay not Bay Bay- you could do that and Budle Bay in the same day and have tea in Bamburgh.

[LuluBlakey1]

Riley's Fish Shack is extortionate and outside. You'll be cold in October. Don't waste your money on it.

Barter Books at Alnwick is fab.
Definitely Holy Island (Lindisfarne)- it is absolutely beautiful- but you need a good weather day and to match the tides. You have to like walking but it is lovely.
Cheswick beach near Holy Island is breathtaking as is Ross Bay Bay .
Budle Bay is fab if you like birds and wildlife.
Can still go to the Farnes in October on a trip from Seahouses
Low Newton By the Sea- you could walk to Dunstanburgh Castle and back and have lunch at The Ship at Low Newton- great food and atmosphere. Tiny village.
Howick Gardens are much nicer than Alnwick Gardens - it's an arboretum and lovely in autumn. Great tea room. Children can run wild among the trees- you might see red squirrels too. There's a lovely walk to the coast from Howick but go after lunch because you have to leave the gardens to do it.
Embleton Bay is also beautiful.
Amble is a cheerful seaside town - chips etc.
Warkworth, near Amble has a castle and great walks- is very quaint and beautiful.

It is the best county in England by a mile. The countryside is lovely too and there's Hadrian's Wall and the Cheviots. It's all great.

[JustBkind]

We’re thinking of going here in August so this is really helpful! Enjoy your hols!!

[44PumpLane]

Where in Morpeth are you staying OP?

Food in Morpeth, Lollo Rosso Italian restaurant is decent, Nandon Thai is good Thai food, Mulan for decent Chinese.

Loads of nice pubs and cafes now too.

Running Fox does great cakes, scones and pies and afternoon teas (and take outs).

Northumberland is the most castle rich county and so you're spoilt for choice......in fact Morpeth even has its own castle too (although Morpeth Castle is quite dinky)!

There are loads of great NT and EH places in the North East but I definitely echo Cragside- beautiful gardens, interesting walks and actually genuinely interesting how Lord Armstrong developed/used hydro electricity for his home.

Loads of other great suggestions on the thread for day trips from Morpeth, honestly you'll be aspoilt for choice.

Farne Islands is also a great shout.

[midsomermurderess]

I'm right now staying right by the wall in a tiny place called Chollingford, 5 miles from Hexham. I'm going to use the AD 122 to wander up and down the wall and visit the sights, do some walks. It's lovely.

[Blert]

Wood fired pizza from the van at The Schoolhouse Gallery in Alnwick

[SallyCinnamon3009]

Bamburgh and seahouses
Alnwick - for barter books, Alnwick castle and garden
Alnmouth
Dunstanbrugh castle
Hexham is nice
Holy island/ lindisfarne

[MumzeeSaz]

My part of the world...think everyone has pretty much covered it all off but having been last year...(I now live in the South)
Definitely fish and chips at Sea Houses
Cragside for culture
Alnwick Castle for history and fun stuff
Bamburgh Castle for history and culture and gorgeous beach
Dunstburgh Castle and Embleton Bay for a secluded but beautiful beach
If you have teens - surfing lessons although you might want good wet suits as it's freezing in the North Sea!


It's all gorgeous - maybe even a trip to Newcastle going South and heading north to Almouth and even Berwick.

Whatever you do - enjoy.

[Abraxan]

Holy Island - check the tide times. Try and time it so that you can watch the tide come in too - even as a much older teen dd loved to watch the local cars chase the tide, seemingly unconcerned of the road being covered over.

[Perfectlystill]

Brilliant thank you so much @Geometric

[Geometric]

@Perfectlystill. we like the gardens best - house is cool too, but we’ve been a few times and ran out of time to go inside last time. They are proper exploring gardens - carriageway long walk, big rockery type walk, woodland etc, some lovely views.

[Perfectlystill]

Those of you suggesting Cragside, what is the best part of it?

The website says it's England's 'first smart home' which doesn't sound that thrilling from a family POV, but I'm intrigued as so many ppl say they loved it.

Please tell me as I'm wondering if we should go or not!

[LaBelleSauvage123]

We’ve just been to Alnwick for a 3 night break - well it turned into 2 nights after EasyJet cancelled our flight.
Loved Alnwick Gardens and Barter Books.
Had the most amazing seafood platter at the Fish Shack in Amble
Pipers Pitch kiosk in the car park at Craster does a haggis and bacon roll - the Auchtermuchty- and a kipper roll, both of which are great, and the owners are lovely.

[viques]

Just seen you have booked a visit to the observatory. Hope you enjoy it, the volunteers who run it are very knowledgeable, it’s not their fault that I understood every word as they explained it and then couldn’t remember half of it afterwards!

Also go to Keildor and track down red squirrels, they are so unbelievable cute. There are ospreys too. Take your binoculars everywhere.

[viques]

Look and see if the Keildor observatory is doing a nighttime event, it’s a dark sky area, so if you get a clear night it’s great, also the f
Drive up to the observatory at night is terrific, watch out for deer!

[blitzen]

Afternoon tea at the running fox

[shiningstar2]

Weather can be variable in this wonderful part of the world. If you do get poor weather do take a bus from Morpeth into Newcastle and stroll the quayside. Lots of restaurants and places to sit outside if the weather gets better. The view with the Old Bridge and the new Millenium Bridge is worth a look. Walk across the bridge to the Baltic Museum. Free entry and some interesting art. Check what's on at the Theatre Royal and if it's something your family would enjoy make a booking and make a night of it or go to a matinee to fill in a rainy afternoon. Just up from the Quayside there is the ruins of the Old Castle. Whatever you choose, you can't really go wrong.

[Fuzzyduckduckyfuzz]

Depending if you enjoy walking there is the cheviot hills. I love finding the wild goats

[Perfectlystill]

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