Guidebook for Northumberland Country Retreats
Where to eat?
A few of our favourite places...
Great food in an informal setting. Four branches now!!! One in Longframlington (5 mins drive), one in Felton (5mins drive) and another in Shilbottle (15 mins drive) Longhoughton ( 30 mins drive) You can use the outside area at the first two but dogs welcome indoors in Shilbottle and Longhoughton Always book if you want to go for lunch. Earlier in the morning and into the afternoon they are quieter. Home cooked food, amazing bread and reasonably priced. See you there!
31 locals recommend
The Running Fox
2-4 RiversideGreat food in an informal setting. Four branches now!!! One in Longframlington (5 mins drive), one in Felton (5mins drive) and another in Shilbottle (15 mins drive) Longhoughton ( 30 mins drive) You can use the outside area at the first two but dogs welcome indoors in Shilbottle and Longhoughton Always book if you want to go for lunch. Earlier in the morning and into the afternoon they are quieter. Home cooked food, amazing bread and reasonably priced. See you there!
Great any time but scrumptious Sunday lunch - booking advisable.
Around a 15 minute drive north.
33 locals recommend
The Cook and Barker Inn
Great any time but scrumptious Sunday lunch - booking advisable.
Around a 15 minute drive north.
A traditional Northumbrian Coaching Inn, 5 minutes drive away at Weldon Bridge. Always a warm welcome, great food but beware the desserts - they have been my downfall on many an occasion!
A beer garden, river walk and dog friendly in the bar.
11 locals recommend
Anglers Arms
Weldon BridgeA traditional Northumbrian Coaching Inn, 5 minutes drive away at Weldon Bridge. Always a warm welcome, great food but beware the desserts - they have been my downfall on many an occasion!
A beer garden, river walk and dog friendly in the bar.
An old coaching inn offering great food in the bar and restaurant (dog friendly in the bar)
23 locals recommend
The Northumberland Arms
The PethAn old coaching inn offering great food in the bar and restaurant (dog friendly in the bar)
Our perfect day out: A pint (brewed on the premises) at The Ship, a beach walk with views to Dunstaburgh Castle and then a meal at The Joiners (gluten free fish and chips). Bliss.
All dog friendly!
29 locals recommend
The Joiners Arms
B1340Our perfect day out: A pint (brewed on the premises) at The Ship, a beach walk with views to Dunstaburgh Castle and then a meal at The Joiners (gluten free fish and chips). Bliss.
All dog friendly!
A firm favourite of all of the family! Fantastic atmosphere. Great food. Entertainment most Friday nights!
34 locals recommend
Lollo Rosso Italia
40 Bridge StA firm favourite of all of the family! Fantastic atmosphere. Great food. Entertainment most Friday nights!
Have a walk along the estuary and beach and head here for a bite to eat. Often busy and don't take bookings so avoid busiest times. Around 30 minutes drive.
Dog friendly.
21 locals recommend
The Red Lion Inn
22 Northumberland St Have a walk along the estuary and beach and head here for a bite to eat. Often busy and don't take bookings so avoid busiest times. Around 30 minutes drive.
Dog friendly.
A beautiful spot with views out to sea. We usually book a table the walk to Dunstaburgh castle (90 minute walk along the coastal route) and have a well earned meal. Can get very busy.
Dog friendly in the bar.
17 locals recommend
The Jolly Fisherman
9 Haven HillA beautiful spot with views out to sea. We usually book a table the walk to Dunstaburgh castle (90 minute walk along the coastal route) and have a well earned meal. Can get very busy.
Dog friendly in the bar.
Just yummy! Call in on your way back from Walkworth. 15 minute drive.
Tip- pop behind the shop to meet the cows providing the milk for your ice cream
19 locals recommend
Morwick Dairy Ice Cream
Just yummy! Call in on your way back from Walkworth. 15 minute drive.
Tip- pop behind the shop to meet the cows providing the milk for your ice cream
Bear left at the end of the drive (and left again at the junction if heading out from The Dairy). Walk along the roadside for ten minutes and when you come to the sharp left hand bend in the road (toward Bywell) turn right and you will find a public footpath to the left of the gate. keep walking for 10 minutes between fields and the golf course and you will come out at the back of Linden Hall. We usually walk around the grounds and then head in to The Linden tree pub (dog friendly) for a light lunch and some liquid refreshment. The hall offers more formal dining as well as Spa treatments and Golf.
9 locals recommend
Macdonald Linden Hall Golf and Country Club
Bear left at the end of the drive (and left again at the junction if heading out from The Dairy). Walk along the roadside for ten minutes and when you come to the sharp left hand bend in the road (toward Bywell) turn right and you will find a public footpath to the left of the gate. keep walking for 10 minutes between fields and the golf course and you will come out at the back of Linden Hall. We usually walk around the grounds and then head in to The Linden tree pub (dog friendly) for a light lunch and some liquid refreshment. The hall offers more formal dining as well as Spa treatments and Golf.
Masons Arms
3 Dial PlGreat food and dog friendly!
The Ship Inn
A beautiful, quaint location!
We head here several times a week for a coffee and bite to eat following a dog walk on Cresswell beach - watch out it can get busy at weekends
11 locals recommend
Drift Cafe
We head here several times a week for a coffee and bite to eat following a dog walk on Cresswell beach - watch out it can get busy at weekends
Arts & Culture
Theatre Royal
100 Grey StA beautifully restored Theatre voted Britains friendliest!
An amazing place to visit with astounding acoustics. Around 40 minutes drive from here.
Most recently we saw Beverley Knight covering the Stevie Wonder Songbook with a surprise guest ... Dave Stewart. Wow!
67 locals recommend
Sage Gateshead
Saint Mary's SquareAn amazing place to visit with astounding acoustics. Around 40 minutes drive from here.
Most recently we saw Beverley Knight covering the Stevie Wonder Songbook with a surprise guest ... Dave Stewart. Wow!
The Great North Museum
Barras BridgeShopping
Huge second hand bookstore set within a Victorian train station. Great food served in the waiting room!
83 locals recommend
Barter Books
Huge second hand bookstore set within a Victorian train station. Great food served in the waiting room!
A range of independent and high street stores. Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Lidl's, Aldi.
85 locals recommend
Alnwick
A range of independent and high street stores. Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Lidl's, Aldi.
Independent shops interspersed with high street favourites.
M&S, Morrisons, Next, Monsoon, Laura Ashley,
71 locals recommend
Morpeth
Independent shops interspersed with high street favourites.
M&S, Morrisons, Next, Monsoon, Laura Ashley,
I love Warkworth for it's independent shops in the village just below the castle. Try the river walk and take the rowing boat over to the Hermitage (National Trust). Lunch at The Masons is dog friendly but also a lovely chocolatier in the village too.
Around 20 minutes drive from here.
44 locals recommend
Warkworth
I love Warkworth for it's independent shops in the village just below the castle. Try the river walk and take the rowing boat over to the Hermitage (National Trust). Lunch at The Masons is dog friendly but also a lovely chocolatier in the village too.
Around 20 minutes drive from here.
Entertainment & Activities
Gallery 45
45 Main StUnique/local Gifts, Art, Coffee, Crafts, and 'how to' courses.
A stones throw from us and hosts international competitions so if you want to learn to shoot clays from the experts now is your chance!
Bywell Shooting Ground
A stones throw from us and hosts international competitions so if you want to learn to shoot clays from the experts now is your chance!
Macdonald Linden Hall Golf and Country Club
Golf and Spa Treatments!
Great for dog walks but also lots of water activities including kayaking, sailing, paddle boards - all pre booked. The beach is nearby too.
45 locals recommend
Druridge Bay Country Park
A1068Great for dog walks but also lots of water activities including kayaking, sailing, paddle boards - all pre booked. The beach is nearby too.
Todburn Equestrian Centre
One of many equestrian centres in our area.
Northumberland Country Zoo
Ten minutes away!
We had an amazing trip over the coast and castles of Northumberland with Purple Aviation. 5 mins drive from us!
Eshott Airfield
We had an amazing trip over the coast and castles of Northumberland with Purple Aviation. 5 mins drive from us!
An interesting landscape with great views at the tip of the nose! Dogs on leads welcome and easily navigable. A small cafe on site too.
21 locals recommend
Northumberlandia (Visitor Centre)
Fisher LaneAn interesting landscape with great views at the tip of the nose! Dogs on leads welcome and easily navigable. A small cafe on site too.
Sightseeing
We are near to a couple of light aircraft fields - we can highly recommend a tour of the castles, coast and countryside by air!
I love this and re visit every few years. Fascinating.
8 locals recommend
Chillingham Wild Cattle Association
I love this and re visit every few years. Fascinating.
A quirky, apparently haunted building that the children in your group will find particularly interesting. Can be done in conjunction with a visit to the famous cattle.
49 locals recommend
Chillingham Castle
A quirky, apparently haunted building that the children in your group will find particularly interesting. Can be done in conjunction with a visit to the famous cattle.
The Hauxley nature reserve is a wonderful place to visit if you love nature and bird life. Situated right next to the beach around a huge natural inlet, there are hides in abundance and a fab viewing gallery in the cafe! Not dog friendly inside the reserve/cafe but water dishes and picnic tables are usually located near the entrance. Local tip - head to the beach - turn right/head south and after 10 minutes walk you will find the remains of an ancient petrified wood in the bank side!
9 locals recommend
Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre
Hauxley Lane The Hauxley nature reserve is a wonderful place to visit if you love nature and bird life. Situated right next to the beach around a huge natural inlet, there are hides in abundance and a fab viewing gallery in the cafe! Not dog friendly inside the reserve/cafe but water dishes and picnic tables are usually located near the entrance. Local tip - head to the beach - turn right/head south and after 10 minutes walk you will find the remains of an ancient petrified wood in the bank side!
Cragside
Privately owned with private apartments and well worth a visit. Bamburgh is a pretty village but can get busy during peak periods due to its popularity.
235 locals recommend
Bamburgh Castle
40 The WyndingPrivately owned with private apartments and well worth a visit. Bamburgh is a pretty village but can get busy during peak periods due to its popularity.
A lovely walk from Craster to Dunstaburgh takes around 45 minutes. Unusually you can use a National Trust Card or English Heritage to explore and find out all about its fascinating history. Dogs are allowed in the grounds and the views are great. Walk back and enjoy a meal at The Jolly Fisherman.
68 locals recommend
National Trust - Dunstanburgh Castle
Dunstanburgh RoadA lovely walk from Craster to Dunstaburgh takes around 45 minutes. Unusually you can use a National Trust Card or English Heritage to explore and find out all about its fascinating history. Dogs are allowed in the grounds and the views are great. Walk back and enjoy a meal at The Jolly Fisherman.
Easy to get to, around 20 minutes to drive. The castle often has activities to bring alive its rich heritage.
49 locals recommend
Warkworth Castle
Castle TerraceEasy to get to, around 20 minutes to drive. The castle often has activities to bring alive its rich heritage.
Its quite pricey on the pocket so plan to spend a whole day here and tour the gardens too. Well worth it with lots to interest all ages. No dogs allowed though!
281 locals recommend
Alnwick Castle
Its quite pricey on the pocket so plan to spend a whole day here and tour the gardens too. Well worth it with lots to interest all ages. No dogs allowed though!
Wallington is a beautiful house with gorgeous gardens (make sure you cross over the road to the walled garden to be sure not to miss anything). Also a two large play area in the woods for the children.
Dog friendly apart from inside the house.
42 locals recommend
National Trust Wallington
Wallington is a beautiful house with gorgeous gardens (make sure you cross over the road to the walled garden to be sure not to miss anything). Also a two large play area in the woods for the children.
Dog friendly apart from inside the house.
Beaches, Woods and Walks
This is our favourite beach. with views to Dunstaburgh Castle, a Square surrounded by National Trust Cottages and a pub 'The Ship' with its own micro brewery and dog friendly.
9 locals recommend
Newton-by-the-Sea
This is our favourite beach. with views to Dunstaburgh Castle, a Square surrounded by National Trust Cottages and a pub 'The Ship' with its own micro brewery and dog friendly.
Thrunton Wood
Phil can be found here most mornings with our dogs and he generally finishes with a breakfast and a cup of tea at The Drift Cafe. A fifteen minute drive and dog friendly.
15 locals recommend
Cresswell Beach
Phil can be found here most mornings with our dogs and he generally finishes with a breakfast and a cup of tea at The Drift Cafe. A fifteen minute drive and dog friendly.
We love to walk along the estuary and onto the beach usually followed by a lunch or dinner at The Red Lion
36 locals recommend
Alnmouth Beach
We love to walk along the estuary and onto the beach usually followed by a lunch or dinner at The Red Lion
Rothbury is a 15 minute drive west of here and has lovely riverside walks. Combine with a trip into Coquetdale or to Cragside
47 locals recommend
Rothbury
Rothbury is a 15 minute drive west of here and has lovely riverside walks. Combine with a trip into Coquetdale or to Cragside
There are lots of walks around Felton but a regular for us is to walk from the southern end of the bridge in an easterly direction along the riverside. You can make this part of a longer walk but we tend to turn around after 20 minutes or so and head to The Running Fox or The Northumberland Arms.
6 locals recommend
Felton
There are lots of walks around Felton but a regular for us is to walk from the southern end of the bridge in an easterly direction along the riverside. You can make this part of a longer walk but we tend to turn around after 20 minutes or so and head to The Running Fox or The Northumberland Arms.
Twenty minutes south on the A1 towards Cramlington is a huge land sculpture in the shape of a reclining female figure. Great exercise for adults and children alike - dogs must be kept on leads.
21 locals recommend
Northumberlandia (Visitor Centre)
Fisher LaneTwenty minutes south on the A1 towards Cramlington is a huge land sculpture in the shape of a reclining female figure. Great exercise for adults and children alike - dogs must be kept on leads.
A beautiful lakeside walk with lots of wildlife. Around 30 minutes south west of here.
10 locals recommend
Bolam Lake Country Park
A beautiful lakeside walk with lots of wildlife. Around 30 minutes south west of here.