Not a flat cap in sight (Villages & Resorts in Northumberland in general)

Member Name: manlybeach

Product:	Villages & Resorts in Northumberland in general
Date:	19/05/09 (381 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Wonderful scenery

Disadvantages: Absolutely none!

For some the North East conjures up images of grimy industrial areas with men in flat caps and whippets. They couldn't be more wrong. Northumberland, where I am lucky to live, has stunning coastal and countryside locations with something for everyone.

Northumberland has more castles than anywhere else in England so if that's what interests you then look no further.
Starting off with perhaps the most well known castle Alnwick which has been used in several films most noteably it was Hogwarts school in Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. It dates from the 11th century and is the second largest inhabited castle in England and is home to the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland. Tours of the castle and Fusiliers Museum of Northumberland are available and entertainment for the kids such as Harry Spotters tours, Knights Quest where they can dress up in medievel clothes and learn to swordfight are a must for the young ones.
If you don't fancy the castle they are Alnwick gardens which are the most popular visitor attraction in the area. The gardens have the largest water feature of it's kind in the UK with 38 spectacular water fountains. There are Ornamental gardens, Rose gardens and the Serpent garden which has interactive water sculptures exploring the way in which water can be made to look and move. Alnwick Garden is also home to Europes largest tree house which is a huge collection of turret topped cottages connected by a suspended walkway.

Craster is a small fishing village with the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle just a short walk across fields to the north of the village. Close to the harbour is the famous Kipper Smokehouse which also sells delicious crab sandwiches.
Bamburgh Castle is another impressive site. An 11th century Norman fortress perched on the rocks above the unspoilt beach of Bamburgh. The Grace Darling museum can be found in Bamburgh across the road from St Aidens church where the Darling family grave is situated. Grace Darling is famous for helping in the rescue of survivors of the wrecked SS Forfarshire just off Bamburgh coast in 1838. The original boat used in the rescue can be seen in the museum as well as other artifacts.

Holy Island, also known as Lindisfarne, is a tidal island only accessed by a causeway when the tide is out so always check tide times before visiting and allow plenty of time to make your return journey unless you want to be stranded. There are only 150 residents on the island and it is renowned as a wildlife haven which is home to the National Nature Reserve.Lindisfarne Castle,Priory ruins and the Lindisfarne visitor centre are all worth seeing.Another place I recommend you visit is St Aidens Winery where you can try out free samples of Lindisfarne mead. Mead is one the oldest drinks and in it's simplest form is honey and water fermented with yeast so the sugars turn to alcohol. I'm not a drinker but I will make an exception for this lovely nectar! The winery also sells English wines and fruit wines, British beers and ciders, malt whiskeys and liqueurs, Craster kippers and speciality preserves. There is also a craft shop there selling Celtic jewellery, pewter,pottery, glassware and throws etc.
Those are a few examples of interesting architectural places to see but what about the coastline? Well Northumberland has miles of unspoilt coastal stretches some of which have been designated as Outstanding Natural Beauty. Just to name two worth visiting would be Bamburgh situated beneath the imposing castle or Seahouses from where you can take a boatride out to the Farne Islands. Once these islands were a home for soldiers,saints and the lighthouse keeper, Grace Darling, but are now owned by the National Trust. It is a haven for 100,000 pairs of nesting birds such as puffins and guillemots so if you decided to go there I advise you to wear a hat unless you really like bird poo on your head! It is also home to one of Europes largest grey seal colonies and is a superb spot for keen wildlife photographers.

Further inland there is the Kielder Water National Park complete with Englands largest forest, rivers and Northern Europes largest man made lake. The lake covers over 27 miles of shoreline and is popular for water sports and sailing. You can also take things easy and take a cruise around the lake. There are picnic spots, cafes, mountain bike trails and lovely walks to be had where you might spot some of the contempory art scatterted about the area.Fifty percent of Englands red squirrel population live here too so you might see one or two of them on your travels or some deer or maybe one of the many rare bird species who visit here.
Take the drive through the forest to the former hunting lodge of the Duke of Northumberland which had now been turned into an eatery called The Dukes Pantry. Have yourselves a well earned cuppa while the kids play on the adventure playground and enjoy the surrounding scenery.
Cragside Near Rothbury where the grand house, built by Lord Armstrong, was the first home in the world to be lit by hydro-electrictity. Surrounding the house is is one of the largest hand made rock gardens in Europe and it is also home to to Englands tallest Douglas Fir tree. Stunning displays of rhododendron,lakeside walks, adventure playground and a labyrinth all make this a delightful place for a family day out. Although some parts of the gardens may be unaccessable to those with limited mobility or pushchairs due to steep slopes or steps the house, and other facilities, are all disabled friendly.

Hadrians Wall, dating back to AD122 and named after the Roman Emporer of the same name, streches for over 70 miles. Ancient Roman barracks and even remains of the earliest known flushing toilet can be seen here. There are 16 permanent bases of which Housesteads Fort is one of the best preserved. You can take a guided tour or simply go off by yourself and enjoy the panoramic views along the way. There is an information centre, refreshments kiosk, picnic tables and baby changing/toilet facilites. Dogs are allowed but must be kept on the lead because of grazing cattle nearby and ground nesting birds.
There is so much more I could tell you about Northumberland but I don't want to make it too long a read. I hope I have wetted your appetite enough for you to give us a visit. Northumberland is a relatively small county but packed with amazing beauty just waiting for you to discover it so come up and see for yourselves and I'm sure you will be surprised.

***How to Get Here***
Taken from official website


By Air
Newcastle Airport can be reached in less than 1 hour from most destinations in Northumberland and is easily accessible. The airport handles flights from the UK and a wide range of European destinations. Emirates airlines now operate a daily service connecting North East England to the Middle East and beyond.
Newcastle Airport
T: +44 (0)871 882 1121
www.newcastleairport.com

By Car
Northumberland has fantastic access from Scotland and the south via the A1 London to Edinburgh highway running the length of the county. The A69 and A66 connect to the M6 whilst the A19 provides an alternative route from the south, linking the Port of Tyne to Northumberland.

By Rail
Northumberland is about 3 ½ hours from London Kings Cross. Services to and within Northumberland are operated by National Express East Coast, Cross Country Trains and Northern Rail.

National Rail Enquiries
T: +44 (0)8457 48 49 50
www.nationalrail.co.uk
National Express East Coast
T: +44 (0)8457 225 333
www.nationalexpresseastcoast.co.uk


Cross Country Trains
T: +44 (0)844 811 0124
www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk
Northern Rail
T: +44 (0)8457 000 125
www.northernrail.co.uk

By Sea
Regular ferry crossings link North Shields with Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Bergen, Stavanger and Haugesund in Norway.

DFDS Seaways
T: +44 (0)871 522 9955
www.dfdsseaways.com

By Coach
A cost-effective way to reach Northumberland.
National Express Travel Enquiries
T: +44 (0)8717 818179
www.nationalexpress.com

MegaBus Travel Enquiries

Thank you for reading
manlybeach Masy 2009

Thank you for reading
manlybeach May 2009

Summary: A beautiful place to visit