Walking in Northumberland

[Venisonpie]

I've got 4 spare days at the end of June to escape London (Tuesday to Saturday) and fancy walking somewhere new - Northumberland I know nothing about but suspect it would be ideal. Are there any suggestions for the best areas to walk and where might be a good base - ideally a decent B&B/pub/hotel and camping is out as I'm 51!

Thanks v much.

[Chimune]

I think there might be some sort of wall which seems to attract a lot of walkers...

[RammyMP]

We stayed at the new Premier Inn at Alnwick at new year, it was reasonably cheap, decent location and you know what you get at a Premier Inn. But they’ll be a fair few holiday cottages I’d have thought.

We often park at Embleton Bay then walk the coastal path to Craster, lunch at the jolly fisherman then walk back.

There are some great beaches around there, Beadnell, Bamburgh, Holy Island…

[jackofall84]

Some good walking to be had around Kielder Water.

[Mezzanine]

We stayed as this self-catering cottage when we went to Northumberland.

Greenyard Cottage

On a lovely little farm in the countryside and the perfect base for exploring the coastline and places like Kielder.

[Harpoon]

The coast is fabulous walking.

One of my all time favourite walks is Craster to Low Newton and return. It's pretty much flat as a pancake but on a sunny day, simply glorious. Park at the old quarry in Craster (the main car park), walk down through the village and turn left to follow the coast up to the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle. Keep going and you can drop down onto the superb beach (Embleton Bay). Lunch can be had at the Ship Inn at Low Newton - a freshly made crab sandwich and a couple of pints from their own brewery sat out on the green is just perfect in my book. It does get busy at times, so worth getting there as it opens for lunch.

Another cracker is to start at Boulmer and go north up the coast to Craster. Would echo the post above saying have lunch at the Jolly Fisherman. Worth checking the current situation - if you booked an outside table, you got one on the coast side of the pub. We had a week in Boulmer just after lockdown finished in April 2021 and moules frites with a bottle of rose (in the sunshine) went down an absolute treat. On the way back, divert off the coast past to Hawick Hall as the tea rooms there does some cracking cake & scones. If you find the right path through the gardens / grounds, there is (or was!) a one-way turnstile to get straight back on to the coast path near to Sugar Sands.

I've run Boulmer to Alnmouth before and that would make another good walk. The beach to the south of the small caravan site at Seaton Point is another beauty.

The Fishing Boat Inn in Boulmer has rooms but might be too pricey. Great location though.

[DoctorX]

Low Newton is lovely and a good spot for a coastal walk to the north or south. Stayed here last year and would recommend:

https://joiners-arms.com/

[monkfish1]

jackofall84 said:

Some good walking to be had around Kielder Water.

This^^^^

Did this last year. Weather was fantastic too. Which helps.

[Anastie]

The Cheviots have stunning walks. Link for inspiration but Ive not used this one.

https://www.campsites.co.uk/inspiration/hikes-and-...

[LimaDelta]

Simonside is miserable.



Stay away from Ingram Valley



Kielder is just commercial forest



Cheviot is barren



And they had to put a wall up to stop people escaping



You won't like it.

[toon10]

I'm local and as others have said, Simonside hills, Ingram Valley and the Cheviots are all great places to walk. I love Dunstanburgh castle and there's a few walks centered around that. The Cheviots are slightly more challenging if you want something with more inclines. We like to visit Hadrian's wall and there are lots of walks which take it in. A popular choice is a route which takes you to Sycamore Gap.

If you want something a bit different, we stayed at Heslyside Huts which was a great experience.



A wintery shot of the Cheviots.

[Drooles]

I’d echo what others have said about Low Newton and the walls to Dunstanburgh Castle. That is just a lovely part of the world! Also, if Holy Island appeals, try to stay overnight: waking up in the morning when the causeway is closed and being able to walk around with just the locals is a real privilege and such a calming experience

[Venisonpie]

Crikey, some really fantastic suggestions here. Thanks v much.

[mrsshpub]

This is a lovely place to stay, with the choice of staying in the B&B or in one of their lovely shepherds' huts: https://www.westfieldhousefarm.com/

[paulwirral]

We normally stay at beadnell , rent a cottage or stay at beadnell towers , so we can walk along the coast to seahouses then onto bamburgh or as mentioned , down towards low newton for a beer then onto Craster for lunch , there’s a bus back to beadnell if you overdo it !

[i4got]

The Reivers Way, 146m long-distance path, following in the footsteps of the notorious Border Reivers.

Fo a 4 day walk you could pick a 50 to 60 mile stretch?

[Chimune]

That looks like a brilliant walk !

[Steve Campbell]

Some nice walks around Linhope over to Linhope Spout waterfall.

If it's a sunny/warm day, expect some local teenagers (or tourists) using the rocks and plunge pool as a fun spot to jump. The water is cold, I wimped out but my teenage son joined the fun :-)

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

As already said, the walk from Craster to Dunstanburgh is lovely

[Giantt]

Used to be better with the coal site working, biggest excavators in UK were there but still a landmark
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&amp...