The Area
If this is your first time to Northumberland, or you are a returning visitor, there’s plenty of things to see or do right on your doorstep.
Things to see and do
Staying at one of Howick Holiday Cottages gives your unlimited access* to Howick Hall Gardens and Arboretum. The ancestral seat of the Earls Grey since 1319. Discover the history of the 2nd Earl, after whom the famous tea is named, wander through the beautiful gardens created by the 5th Earl Grey and his family or for the more energetic explore the arboretum, a united nations of shrubs and trees covering over 65 acres. Keep a look out for the various events that are staged throughout the year at Howick, there is always something for everyone to get involved with.
The village of Longhoughton is just a few minutes away, there you will find a shop (with cashpoint), the Running Fox bakery and café, and Longhoughton Church.
Via a single track lane to Low Steads Farm, just oposite the Church, there are two very special and stunning beaches - Howdiemont Bay and Sugar Sands. Parking above Howdiemont Bay is available daily.
Further afield are the charming coastal villages.
Amble - Known is the ‘Friendliest Port’ is a bustling traditional fishing port with a modern marina at the southern gateway to the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Beauty. Amble’s charm is centred around the harbour’s South Pier and promenade which provide a scenic walkway that’s attractively lit by night.
Warkworth - This picturesque medieval village is enclosed by a winding loop of the River Coquet and the skyline is dominated by the massive remains of Warkworth Castle. Once home to the Percy family, today the castle is now owned by English Heritage and is a popular location for many events throughout the year.
Alnmouth - An attractive seaside village known for its iconic painted houses, Alnmouth stands between the River Aln and the North Sea and enjoys a delightful golden sandy beach and estuary with small boats ‘bobbing’ in the Estuary harbour and has a great children’s playground. Once a proud merchant port, it is now a peaceful haven with a wealth of restaurants, pubs and tea rooms along with an art gallery, gift shop, post office and village store.
Alnwick - Originally a medieval market town it still retains many of its cobbled streets, narrow alleys and fine stone buildings which now house a range of specialist shops. With its own theatre and cinema, many restaurants and pubs, the town offers something from everyone. Alnwick Castle dominates the town and has been home to the Percy family for over 700 years. Its grounds were designed by Capability Brown, the beautiful state rooms are of Italian renaissance design, and there are paintings by Canaletto, Van Dyck and Titian. Nearby lies Alnwick Garden - a truly inspiring landscape with beautiful gardens, designed for every season. From fragrant roses to mirror-polished water features, the world’s largest tree house to a poison garden - there is always something to admire and plenty of vibrant activities too.
Boulmer - Pronounced 'Boomer' is set right on the dune-hemmed coast. One of Northumberland’s last genuine fishing villages, the distinctive blue fishing cobles go out every morning, in much the same way as they have for the past 100 years. Consisting of a stretch of cottages and small houses, most with unobstructed sea views, Boulmer is the perfect getaway for tranquillity in a more remote rural scene.
Craster - This picturesque fishing village, famed for its Smokehouse producing fresh kippers, perches above a tiny horseshoe harbour, the historic cornerstone of village life. Craster is set in some of the most atmospheric scenery Northumberland has to offer. Visitors by road pass through a rectangular 14th century Pele tower, a reminder of Northumberland’s warlike past, to be greeted by views from Craster of the shattered ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle a short walk North along the coast.
Embleton - is a small village dating back beyond medieval times, lying just a mile from the Northumberland coast. Viewed from the sea, the undulating whinstone ridge that shelters the village, resembles a caterpillar, hence the old name Emeldune, meaning the hill of the caterpillar. One of the main attractions is the stunning Embleton Bay, a gloriously wide sandy beach that seems to stretch for miles into the distance.
Newton-by-the-sea - Two different village experiences. High Newton, half a mile inland from the sea is a sleepy hamlet, or follow the road until you reach the tiny corrugated iron St Mary’s Church, originally purchased in a kit but completed with elegant stain glass windows, beyond you are greeted by one of the most spectacular views in the county. Secluded Low Newton hamlet is an open ended square of white-washed cottages set around a green overlooking the sweeping bay, with the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle in the distance, an 18th century fishing village.
Beadnell - A charming coastal village lying between rolling farmland and the dune fringed stretch of Beadnell Bay. Old cottages and pretty houses line the coastal road and in the summer the small harbour is filled with colourful boats, some of which bring wild salmon, crabs and lobsters to be served in local restaurants and a host of coasteering activities for all the family to take part in. Home to beautiful lime kilns, restored by the National Trust, Beadnell is unique as the only West-facing harbour on the East coast, making it an enchanting place to watch the sun set. The bay is home to an important colony of little and Arctic terns that can be seen swooping overhead.
Seahouses - A lively working port that manages to offer the feel of a classic British seaside resort. Fishing boats leave the colourful harbour for lobster and crab, and the village is also the gateway to the Farne islands. The bustling high street is the perfect place to get fish and chips or ice cream before perusing the many shops or the small amusement arcade. You can take a boat to the Farne Islands which lie a few miles off the coast. As well as being the most exciting seabird colony in England, with over 23 species, it is also home to a large Grey Seal colony which in autumn welcomes over 1000 pups. Pods of Dolphins frequently ride the bow waves the tourist boats visiting the islands create.
Bamburgh - This dramatic coastline ravaged by nature and steeped in history makes Bamburgh one of the most sought after villages in Northumberland. With a story around every corner you can spend the day exploring its imposing castle, museum, historic church and glorious sandy beach. Once home to the kings of ancient Northumbria, Bamburgh Castle is now one of Northumberland's most iconic buildings, restored by Lord Armstrong in 1900. Bamburgh was also home to the heroine Grace Darling who in 1838 rowed an open boat to rescue shipwrecked sailors. Bamburgh beach is not only breath-taking but seems to go on forever, from the South at Seahouses all the way North to Budle Bay. This vast expanse of golden sand is backed by high dunes and is easily accessible. At the north end it turns rockier which is perfect for rock pooling.
Holy Island of Lindisfarne - The tranquil beauty of Holy Island has made it a sanctuary enjoyed since antiquity. Still a place of pilgrimage, the Holy Island of Lindisfarne is the source of England’s Christian Heritage. It was here that St. Aidan founded the monastery where early Christians crafted their message and it is also the birthplace of the Lindisfarne Gospels. Standing on a rocky outcrop overlooking the island is Lindisfarne Castle, a romantic 16th-century castle now part of the National Trust. Another historic attraction is Lindisfarne Priory, home to St Cuthbert and the Lindisfarne Gospels. The Lindisfarne Heritage Centre tells the complete history of the island and has an electronic copy of the Gospels.
Berwick-upon-Tweed - Changing hands no less than 14 times in 300 years, visitors will see why the English and Scots fought so hard over Berwick-upon-Tweed. Berwick is handsomely set on the north shore of the River Tweed, which is world famous for salmon fishing. The massive curtain walls and gateways encircling the town are unique in Britain and are amongst the finest ramparts in Europe. Three bridges span the river, the most eye catching being the majestic Royal Border Railway Bridge with its tall, slender arches. On the seaward side of the pier is a sandy beach sheltered from the waves by a rocky reef. The reef continues northwards for about a mile to a cove where there is another sandy beach. South of the river are the sandy beaches at Spittal and Cocklawburn. And beyond Cocklawburn is Cheswick Black Rocks, one of the finest beaches in Britain. Berwick and the surrounding villages are a perfect base to explore North Northumberland, tour the Scottish Borders or take a train journey to Edinburgh or Newcastle.
