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.

We were in Morpeth for a week in the October holidays. Durham Cathedral was a highlight as well as the other places mentioned above inc. Hadrians Wall.

The observatory in Kielder is amazing if anyone likes star gazing, they do talks which suit all people and they explain what you are looking at. I appreciate not everyone's cup of tea but I loved it and I'm not a mad science person!

We actually have a trip booked to the observatory one night Treetophouse.

Which bit of Hadrian's Wall would you recommend? I am planning on doing this as a stop off on the way down from Scotland (Perthshire) to Northumberland.

Sorry to jump on @NoHayDosSinTres thread we are going at Easter can anyone suggest dog friendly options too

@NoHayDosSinTres Steel Rigg and Sycamore Gap make for a great walk. Fort wise vindolanda is very interesting as an ongoing site of archaeology. There's a great cafe at The Sill too

Get a parking disc as soon as you can from the TI centre or similar. There are quite a few free parking spots around Northumberland and you can use this (also some car parks insist on this being used).

I made my family visit the free Bagpipe museum in Morpeth, but it's not everyone's cup of tea.

It is all very nice, and I agree with a PP about Alnwick Castle being a bit overrated (for the price). Berwick is another interesting stop with the town walls, but yes, you need about 3 weeks!

Tip for Barter Books OP, get your kids to choose a few books from home to trade in. They are always short of young adult fiction/teen fiction IME.

They’ll be able to hand over a few old books and put the credit towards ‘new’ used books. No cash payments, only book credit value, so you’ll have to spend it if you’re not planning on returning to get the value of it.

They did limit trade ins to ten books per family once they reopened after COVID. I’m not sure if that has changed now as I haven’t been yet in 2022 but if I remember I’ll post back when I next go.

I'd recommend the view in tynemouth if you're looking for a cafe on the beach. stunning views.
Alnwick gardens and bamburgh are worth a visit too!

There are quite a few locations along the coast for coasteering if your DC are in to outside activities - lots of firms offering it and it is a good location for beginners (and great fun.

Drift cafe at Cresswell beach is 👌. Other recommendations:

Hadrian's wall
Hexham incl abbey
Barter books
Warkworth - Bertram's is a great bistro/cafe
Amble for fish n chips plus a visit to the ice cream shop
Ingram valley
Any beach!
Cragside and Wallington NT properties
Food in Morpeth - Lollo Rosso Italians, Socrates @no5 Greek
Holy island
Berwick walls

@Mia85 Thanks for the link, I have booked for the summer with Fifth Point.

[quote EwwSprouts]@Mia85 Thanks for the link, I have booked for the summer with Fifth Point.[/quote]
Great! Hope you have a wonderful time. We loved it

If you are driving home go to Beamish on the way home.

I am lucky enough to live in the Scottish Borders and work In Northumberland. Just coming on here to say how nice it is to see that lots of people love to visit the area. Sycamore gap is also my favourite section of Hadrian's Wall. Lots of lovely walks by the coast and little unspoilt beaches. You've been given lots of great ideas, op. Have a lovely time!

@NoHayDosSinTres Head to Beadnell for the afternoon, the teens can have a surfing / water sports lesson at the beach, then grab some food from the Bait shack next to the beach, their crab fries / lobster rolls are amazing, also their daily special suppers are really amazing too!

You won't be disappointed! Both are on instagram if you have it!

The Bamburgh Castle Inn at Seahouses is lovely for reasonably-priced lunch and many of the tables have sea views. It's also handy if you wanted to get a boat from Seahouses.

In Bamburgh itself, I loved the Grace Darling museum. Not too big or overwhelming but a really interesting guide to her and her father's heroic rescue. There is a delicious ice cream selection in Bamburgh's cafes and the beach and castle are just beautiful.

The Ship Inn at Low Newton by the Sea is lovely and on a fab beachside location but if you are to book a table I would recommend, it gets very busy even off season.

The Tree house restaurant at Alnwick is also fabulous for lunch and I think there are some child friendly activities there too.

Absolutely love Northumberland and have lots more to explore!

On my to do list is the Kielder observatory at night 😊

Ps if you are bringing bikes, there's a lovely bike route from Alnmouth to Warkworth and it's apart from the villages either end (where I push) it's totally off road. I hate cycling on the road!

You may not have time with all the georgous suggestions you have been given but I recommend The Tyne Valley . Corbridge and Hexham are worth a visit as the surrounding countryside is beautiful .

All these suggestions are very helpful as we're thinking of Northumberland.
Would there be many places doable as day trips?
Ideally, we'd like to have a base for six days and visit places from there.

Any suggestions of where we could base ourselves, preferably a beachy place?

F

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

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.

Afternoon tea at the running fox

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!

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.