Holidaying in Northumbria. Where to stay? What to do?

[MrsJohnDeere]

Dh is keen to go to Northumbria for a week in June, staying in a cottage. I know nothing at all about it except there are lots of castles.

Can anyone recommend any self-catering cottages - pref. child friendly and quite luxurious. Dh keeps suggesting really grim looking places to me and I need to find something better asap!

I'm also curious as to what there is to do if it rains? We'd be going with a 4yo and a very unruly 2yo. The 2yo can't be taken to towns, shops, cafes.

Hello, I live in Northumberland, where abouts exactly were you thinking of going?

Alnwick/Alnmouth ideally, but not too worried about location.

try Coastal Retreats. A bit pricey, but gorgeous and luxuriously stocked - they have loads of outdoor kit etc, the one we stayed at last time even had bikes for the kids!

Have a look at www.premiercottages.co.uk

I would second coastal Retreats. You also get membership of the health club in Seahouses which is good if it rains.

Alnwick castle - biggest treehouse in the country here.

Hadrians wall?

better link here Poison garden too!!

We stayed in this one near Bamburgh. Was luxurious and lovely. And you can watch birds from the windows - I got quite hooked. Views over the sea to Lindisfarne.
Huge empty beaches close by.
That site has other properties if you would prefer to be at ground level.

Cragside is worth a visit, NT property a bit south of Alnwick. Nice gardens and woods for walking in, good kids trails and adventure playground. House is interesting as well.

Northumbria is lovely. Great beaches, wide open spaces, lots of castles as you say. Alnwick gardens is worth a visit, catch a boat to look at the seals at the Farne Islands, go to Holy Island to look at the monastery. You will need to wrap up warm possibly though!

Would second coastal retreats too.

Akeld Manor at Wooler has cottages, got a swimming pool and spa and other facilities

Stay in a coastal village or town - Seahouses or Craster for example. Northumberland has some AMAZING beaches - Dunstanburgh, Bamburgh, Druridge. Long, golden sand. Like beaches should be, but without the tropical sun and coconut trees!

Katisha - was the apartment noisy? Looks nice but I'm a light sleeper. Could you hear people in the other apartments?

Didn't hear a thing from anywhere else.

I suppose the only downside if your chidren are small is that you would have to accompany them downstairs to the little garden bit if they wanted to run about.

www.ulgham.demon.co.uk think thats right. we stayed there last Oct with our triplets, very very nice accomodation, lovely lovley owners and a hot tub......bliss, not expensive......about an hour from Newcastle, perfect for Alwnick etc, loads to do in the area, we ran out of time. If the link is wrong its called The Carriage House/Ulgham nr Morpeth. Highly recommend it!

Lovley park too, 2 mins walk from cottage, really luxurious inside, and a real fire!!

We have a holiday cottage in the seaside village of Seahouses. We absolutley love it there. Bamborough Castle and beaches. Budal bay. Alnwick for Barter books an amazing second hand book shop. Alnwick castle for one day and the Gardens for another. hadrians wall.
Our cottage has two bedrooms, one double, one twin, a lovely garden and is five minute walk to village centre. If you want further details, prices etc contact me.

Try www.babyfriendlyboltholes.co.uk, there are a few properties in Northumberland. We've stayed in 2 others on their lists and are booked up to another in May. All v lovely.

What is the name of the place with the white cattle? The castle/house there is fabulous - filled with all sorts of fascinating stuff. I lurve Northumberland for holidays - big, big skies.

Chillingham Castle? They have a wild cattle park I believe.