Louise and her husband Ron had five days to cover ten attractions, giving generous time to each. No rushing, no racing about, just absorbing what each attraction offered.
They succeeded. They loved their Northumberland trip, enhanced by meeting informative people, who made it memorable.
- Brunton Granary
Here we meet Mark and Lucia Bridgeman, who own Brunton House and Cottages, which are perfectly placed between Alnwick and Bamburgh. Lucia is High Sheriff of Northumberland for 2024-2025.
Proudly, they describe how the 1793 granary was converted into today’s stunning accommodation.
The decor is top-class, stylish and colourful. There’s attention to detail and comfort everywhere - in the lounge, the games room with a bar and drinks’ fridge, table-tennis table, table football, and a 65” TV, and in the four double bedrooms. Bathrooms are stocked with White Company toiletries.
The superb, well-stocked, kitchen makes self-catering a pleasure. From the outdoor patio, you can admire Brunton burn and the working farm, including black cows. A short walk away, past wild flowers, is their peaceful lake.
Everything you’d want for a wonderful holiday is within a house you won’t want to leave.
2) RNLI Grace Darling Museum, Bamburgh
Here we talk to informative volunteers Sally, and Bill who’s proudly wearing his medal for 20 years of RNLI service.
Head to this top museum to learn about Grace Horsley Darling and her family, before visiting the Farne Islands.
You may be surprised to see Grace’s coble - which she rowed with William, her father, on September 7, 1838, to save survivors from the wrecked SS Forfarshire. Later, Grace and William received medals.
Our favourite item is a Longstone Lighthouse model, showcasing rooms.
Give yourselves time to view artefacts, including Grace’s christening robe (1815) and cradle, William’s netting needle, telescope, and a music book of folk songs - he was a great fiddle player. Also, find Captain Humble’s box.
Climb upstairs to view St Aidan’s Church opposite, where Grace is buried in its churchyard. Visit this to see the impressive Monument to Grace Darling (1844), seen by seafarers.
3) Farne Islands
Skipper John, and Eric crew for our Grey Seal and Seabird Cruise on ‘Farne’s Maiden’, from Seahouses Harbour.
John’s commentary distracts us from the North Sea’s liveliness, as we head towards the islands, two to three miles away. We see gannets, but sadly no puffins as they left in August. Growling cow seals are the highlight. About 1000 pups are born each autumn. John steers up to the rock, almost at touching distance to future mums. An exceptional experience.
You’ll see Longstone Lighthouse, Grace’s home from the age of ten. The area can be treacherous and has seen many shipwrecks, so it’s popular with divers, who also interact with seals. You may also view Big Harcar, where the steam ship ran aground. Expect to see about 14 out of 28 islands. Returning, you’ll face Dunstanburgh Castle, Lindisfarne Castle and The Cheviots. Bonus? Maybe a peregrine falcon.
4) Alnwick Castle
Daniel Watkins, Head of Learning, gives us a top guided tour.
We begin in the spectacular library, a must-see. You can view results of the 2024 conservation project, and be impressed by 14,000 books, some from the 15th century, the chandelier, and the ceiling’s gold leaf.
Admire the carving - carvers from Glasgow and Sunderland were taught by a master carver from Florence.
The State Dining Room’s impressive, and if you meet Brian, who has 50 years of experience, he may regale you with measuring distances for items placed on the 40ft Cuban mahogany table. Take a breather in Alnwick’s glorious grounds, and recall Quidditch, filmed there for ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’. Find your inner Harry and book a Broomstick Training session.
5) Wydon Farm, Haltwhistle
Linda Ogle, owner at Wydon Farm, gets the accolade for the most tourist information for guests.
Wydon Farm is a National Trust Working Farm, where you’ll enjoy delightful, bed and breakfast accommodation.
It’s comfortable and cosy and you’ll eat a substantial, well-cooked breakfast, with lots of choice, to give you a hearty start for visiting Hadrian’s Wall and easily accessible, Roman attractions.
You’ll love the folder in your bedroom, bursting with information, and many ‘Linda recommends’, including Captivating Castles, Gorgeous Gardens and Top 15 Attractions for Kids.
Ask Linda to give you a tour of the area. Proudly, she’ll point out acres of farmland, animals, the lambing shed, nearby Bellister Castle and Featherstone Castle, and the field where Haltwhistle Carnival takes place. She adds, ‘I’m probably doing my dream job.’ She likes meeting guests - many researching family history.
6) Chesters Roman Fort and Museum
If the Romans hadn’t visited Northumberland, there’d be a lot less tourism!
You can imagine how they lived by visiting several attractions, including Chesters Roman Fort (Cilurnum), where we meet Arnie, who walks us down to the impressive site.
Try and take a tour to learn about this. You’ll explore the military bath house, including its changing room, sudatorium and stoke-hole. You can consider soldiers’ choices, to enjoy heat or cold. It’s believed that local women also visited the bath house. Head to the Commandant’s House, then claim the bench near the river North Tyne, to relax and contemplate Roman life.
Don’t miss Chesters Museum, a fine building housing The Clayton Collection. Artefacts include pottery, coins, statues and jewellery. Also unmissable is ‘Shells, Shores and Beyond’ - Bridget Atkinson’s worldwide, shell collection.
Suggest you buy English Heritage’s excellent, Hadrian’s Wall guidebook, useful also for:
7) Corbridge Roman Town
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/corbridge-roman-town-hadrians-wall/
Leave time between Chesters and this attraction to appreciate both.
At Corbridge Roman Town (Coria), guide Neil may welcome you, saying, ‘We could run a week’s conference on this site and still only scratch the surface.’ Neil delivers a detailed, extensive tour of the Northernmost town in the Roman Empire. The Roman Army marched as far as Inverness, sailed around our island and returned to establish Coria.
You’ll stand on the Roman road stretching from Carlisle. Coria was thought to have been a supply base. Traffic brought business and trade, resulting in a prosperous town.
Don’t miss the expensive fountain signifying wealth; also some perplexing, wavy ground, and sloping walls.
Head to the museum to see items including The Corbridge Lion, sculptures and the replica of a gold ring with Greek writing. Finish with a short drive/walk to Corbridge village, to see its bridge, The Vicar’s Pele, shops and eateries. A short distance away is:
8) Aydon Castle
We meet Yvonne, Site Manager, who is enthusiastic about Aydon Castle, a 13th Century English manor house, significant in Scottish history.
Suggest you talk to Yvonne and buy the guidebook, before heading to the castle - there are no guides there to help.
If not, like Ron and me, you may be bewildered, as you explore this attraction, with its dearth of signage.
Nevertheless, you’ll be fascinated by the space, preservation, great hall, windows, medieval fireplaces, latrine tower, window seats and dressing up box. Don’t miss the grounds and delightful, walled orchard with its busy, apple trees. Leave time to walk on the battlements and pause awhile. Despite its drawbacks, it’s an intriguing and mysterious attraction, a brilliant place to spark your imagination.
www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/aydon-castle/
9) Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum
At this splendid, 13th Century Grade 1 listed building, we meet curator Anne Moore.
She learnt to play bagpipe when she started working here and proudly shows us her set of bagpipes.
The building also hosts a craft centre and tourist information centre, and is the place to buy quality souvenirs.
The souvenir guide is excellent, as is other literature including the family trail.
You’ll learn how bagpipes are made and admire displays including magnificent Highland bagpipes, Northumbrian small pipes and Irish bagpipes. Seek out the 17th Century, musette de cour from Lyons.
In the background, you may hear a recording of the Windy Gyle Band.
You’ll read ‘bagpipes had the reputation of being rather crude, bawdy instruments’.
Maybe, but I guarantee you’ll be mesmerised by this museum - a must-see, Northumberland attraction. Leave sufficient time to inspect all, including forthcoming events. Afterwards, explore Morpeth.
https://www.bagpipemuseum.org.uk/
10) Berwick-upon-Tweed - walk Town Walls
This is an excellent attraction to expertly familiarise you with the history and essence of the town.
There are only parts left of the walls begun by Edward l. However, the Elizabethan walls (1558) are complete.
Head through one of the four black gates - these display descriptive signs. There are plenty of descriptive boards too on your walk. The ramparts ring the town. Sights you’ll see while walking may include Scots Gate, Cumberland Bastion, cannons, Berwick-upon-Tweed Barracks and Main Guard, Coxon’s Tower, the River Tweed, the old and new road bridges and viaduct. Look out to the pier and 19th Century, red and white lighthouse.
There’s also The Lowry Trail - LS Lowry (1887-1976) was a frequent visitor to the area, and painted and drew Berwick. Look out for The Lions (1807), the house that it’s believed he was interested in buying.
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/berwick-upon-tweed-castle-and-ramparts/
Before planning your memorable journey, go to visitnorthumberland.com
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