April called. She said to pack your bags.

From wide sandy beaches and iconic castles to the bountiful local produce on our menus and the nature on our moors and shores, you won’t be short of things to do this spring.

And our two rural boltholes Eshott Hall and Doxford Hall are perfect to relax after a day’s sightseeing and to enjoy warm hospitality and award-winning cuisine.

Here’s our round-up of suggested activities when staying in Northumberland.

 

Birdwatching

Famously home to 55,000+ pairs of puffins and an array of other seabirds, the Farne Islands offer one of the best wildlife experiences in the UK – they’re a firm favourite of Sir David Attenborough’s. Did you spot The Farne Islands in his latest Wild Isles series?

April is an exciting time to visit the islands. The first puffins arrive, eider ducks return and many other seabirds including sandwich terns, razorbills, guillemots, and kittiwakes start to make an appearance. From your boat you’ll be able to spot shags, cormorants, and grey seals. The puffins will also be parading, pairing up and displaying dominant or submissive behaviour; the shags with their beautiful breeding crests looking like dragon-punk hybrids.

The islands also have the largest breeding colony of grey seals in England and you’ll often see them hauled up on the rocks or bobbing in the sea. You can park in Seahouses and take a boat -we recommend Billy Shiels Tours – to get up close to the action!

Heritage & History

Alnwick Castle, home to the Duke of Northumberland, reopens on 31^st March, after their annual winter closure and it’s always deservedly at the top of our ‘to-visit’ list.

Made famous as the film set for Harry Potter and Downton Abbey, it’s popular with young and old alike. Tour the castle, taking in the State Rooms and collections of fine art – or try your hand at broomstick training and the Dragon’s Quest.

After pottering around the castle, spend time getting to know Alnwick and its pretty cobbled streets and remarkable architecture. No visit to Alnwick is complete without a stop at Barter Books, housed within the town’s old Victorian railway station. Here you’ll find one of the biggest collections of antiquarian books in the UK as well as a model railway, a station buffet and a children’s room.

Dunstanburgh Castle. The ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle tower over the Northumberland coastline on a remote headland, reached by a stunning 1.5-mile coastal walk from Craster. It’s easy to see why it’s one of the most photographed sites in the county. The Castle was built on the most magnificent scale and rivalled any castle of its day. Today visitors can explore the great gatehouse and the imposing Lilburn Tower, which commands stunning views north towards Bamburgh Castle. Entry is free to National Trust and English Heritage members and dogs are welcome on leads.

Parking is at Craster, home to the famous smoked kippers, some lovely art galleries and a choice of dog friendly pubs.

Lindisfarne Island (Holy Island), Berwick-Upon-Tweed

Just a few miles off the Northumberland coast, Lindisfarne Island is a must-see destination. Although cut off twice a day from the rest of the world by fast-moving tides, you can drive, walk or cycle over the dramatic causeway to Holy Island (after checking the safe crossing times). The epicentre of Christianity in Anglo Saxon times, the Lindisfarne Priory is one of the region’s most revered treasures and the island remains a place of pilgrimage today. Although dogs aren’t allowed in the 16^th century Lindisfarne Castle itself, staff will watch them while you browse the rooms and artefacts. You can walk all the way around the castle, spend time in the Lindisfarne Museum and potter around the pretty village. The Lindisfarne Nature Reserve is home to rare plants and an exciting array of wildlife. You’ll often see seals hauled up on the sand as well as puffins and dolphins.

Bamburgh Castle, Bamburgh

Standing 150 feet above the sea, the magnificent Bamburgh Castle is an icon of the Northumberland shoreline and has been the film set for many blockbusters. Set amid sand dunes bursting with wildflowers and with views out to the Farne Islands, it’s a location that’s hard to beat. The castle is full of myth, legend and over 1,400 years of history to explore. Although dogs aren’t permitted in the castle’s fine state rooms or the Clock Tower Tea Room, dogs are welcome inside the castle grounds, Armstrong & Aviation Museum, Tack Room Café and Victorian Stables.

After your visit we thoroughly recommend a walk along the wide sandy beach from Bamburgh to Seahouses (3 miles in one direction). With grassy dunes to one side and far-reaching views to the Farne Islands on the other, it’s a gem of a beach walk. But do wrap up warm – whatever the season!

Cragside Estate, Rothbury

Located just a mile or so outside of Rothbury is Cragside Estate, original family home of Lord Armstrong, Victorian inventor and industrialist, and the birthplace of green energy. The first building to be lit by hydroelectricity is now a National Trust property offering a truly awe-inspiring day out. Inside the main house you’ll find wonderful works of art and paintings, one of the first hydraulic lifts in the world and an impressive ten-ton marble fireplace in the Drawing Room that was ingeniously built into the crag-side itself to support its immense weight. Aside from the main house itself, there are over 30 miles of paths to explore and a magnificent display of rhododendrons and azaleas. The gardens are at their most spectacular in late spring when literally tens of thousands of rhododendrons are in full bloom.

There is also a fantastic Adventure Play Area and labyrinth for children. Dogs are welcome on to the estate but must be kept on a lead at all times. Dogs aren’t allowed in the National Trust Shop, the cafe or the toilets but there are plenty of picnic areas as well as outside seating for the café.

Warkworth Castle & Hermitage, Warkworth

This magnificent Northumberland fortress crowns the hilltop above the River Coquet. From the almost intact 600-year old keep to the lavish gold-patterned leather-lined walls of the Dukes Room there’s plenty to keep you occupied, if you’ll excuse the pun. Walk half a mile up river to find the Hermitage, a religious building carved out of the rock, and return by boat to the castle. The castle and hermitage are closed for part of the year; please check their website for details.

Cycling

With some 200 miles of scenic, and relatively flat cycling, the Coast and Castles cycle route hugs the coastline from Newcastle to Berwick-upon-Tweed and offers a great way to get up close to many of the famous natural and historic sites of Northumberland.