Northumberland, The Wild Coast: A Perfect 2 Day Itinerary
I’ve not been able to take much annual leave yet this year, so I’ve tried to see and do a bit more at weekends for a change of scene. It’s meant that I’ve explored more of England, and one of my absolute highlights was a trip to the north of England with my Mum and Dad last month. It’s so lovely to explore new areas of the country I call home, and it never ceases to amaze me how much there is to see and do here!
So, to Northumberland we go – a northern English county bordering Scotland. It’s filled with historical sights, gorgeous walks and some of the most beautiful coastline in the country. We had a great time, and my next few posts will take you through our trip.
Let’s start with a perfect 2 day weekend itinerary to this awesome area of the country!
Itinerary Day 1: Alnwick & Dunstanburgh Coast
Alnwick Castle & Gardens
Start your visit to Northumberland in one of the county’s major towns, Alnwick. Alnwick is home to a number of lovely things to see and do, but by far its most famous resident is its castle.
Alnwick Castle has been the residential home of the Percy family since the 1300s, and remains so today, with Ralph Percy (the 12th Duke of Northumberland). The family have played a huge role in the history of England, especially during the Wars of the Roses.
It’s quite special to look around the castle, where there has been so much history over the years. It’s also home to a small museum, state rooms, and a military museum – as well as offering broomstick lessons due to it having been a filming location for Harry Potter.
The Alnwick Castle Garden has been hugely renovated over the last 20 years, and is now a destination in and of itself. It’s home to a gorgeous formal garden, huge cascade water feature, and lots of lovely walking trails.
In total, I recommend allocating 3 hours to the Castle and Gardens.
Alnwick Town
Top Tip: If you’re looking for a special lunch spot, try The Treehouse restaurant for something unique, or Dirty Bottles for a traditional old English pub.
After visiting the Castle and Gardens, you can head in to Alnwick to explore some of the sights in the small town.
Barter Books is a glorious second hand bookshop where you can find some bargains, or just stroll the shelves with a toy railway going on above your head.
You could also visit The White Swan Hotel which is super special as it has a formal dining room which is lined by the original panels from HMS Olympic, the Titanic’s sister ship. If you visit during the day, you can just have a look inside and then have a drink in the separate bar.
Dunstanburgh Castle & Embleton Bay Coast Walk
After exploring Alnwick, it’s time to drive the short 15 minute distance to Craster, on the Northumberland Coast. Craster is a small coastal town (with a cracking pub), and the perfect place to park up and take the quick 1.5km walk along stunning coastline to get to Dunstanburgh Castle.
Dunstanburgh is a gorgeous coastal castle ruin dating back to 1313, with sweeping views out to the sea. It is only small site, so only needs 30 minutes or so to explore. Despite being small, it’s well worth making the trip and was one of the highlights of my weekend.
From the castle, head another 20 minutes or so northwards up the coast to stunning Embleton Bay to end your day with a view on a sandy beach, before turning back and walking to Craster to finish your day. The entire walk and castle visit will take 2-3 hours.
Top Tip: Aim to start the walk by around 3pm to give yourself time to go in the Castle before it closes at 5pm, and then be at the beach for late afternoon/early evening.
Itinerary Day 2: Lindisfarne & Bamburgh
Lindisfarne (Holy Island)
Start Day 2 off by visiting Northumberland’s most visited tourist attraction – Holy Island. This island is one of the most important historic Anglo Saxon sites in the entire country and is a gorgeous wind swept island, cut off from the mainland, other than by a causeway that appears at low tide.
You will need to check safe crossing times before arriving, but come early in the day and then head to the Castle, Priory and do a walk around the island. In total you’ll likely need 2-3 hours to do so.
Bamburgh Castle & Beach
After finishing up at Lindisfarne, drive 10 minutes down the coast to gorgeous Bamburgh. This was easily one of my favourite castles to visit, but we didn’t have much luck with the weather, getting absolutely drenched while exploring the grounds.
Regardless, it’s a lovely historic building dating back over 3,000 years, with really interesting state rooms. They take you through the castle’s history from the Anglo Saxon age to the present, including its role in the War of the Roses as Margaret Anjou’s base, and the history of the very interesting family that now own it (a family of engineers who effectively founded Land Rover and BAE Systems). You may also recognise the Great Hall from The Last Kingdom on Netflix, and there’s a little exhibit on it which I found interesting. I recommend spending 2 hours exploring.
After visiting the castle, head down to the beach to get some absolutely stunning photos of one of Northumberland’s iconic images to end your stay.
Other Options
Northumberland is a huge county with so much to see and do. Here are some other options if the above don’t take your fancy, or if you have longer.
- The Farne Islands – if you’re visiting during Puffin season (April – July), then be sure to book on a boat trip from Seahouses out to the Farne Islands to see them! I would love to do this one day, and regular boat trips run from Seahouses harbour (home to another lovely pub or two).
- Warkworth Castle – for another historical gem if you want to overdose on castles.
- Northumberland National Park – head inland for a gorgeous day hike in the local National Park.
Where to stay in Northumberland
There are lots of hotels and B&Bs in Northumberland, and I really recommend a cosy coastal cottage to make the most of your stay. We stayed in the beautiful Brunton House & Cottages, which I couldn’t recommend more highly.
If that’s not your thing, you could also have a look at some other options in the same area – consider Doxford Hall Hotel & Spa, The Tempus or The Lord Crewe Arms.
And that’s a wrap on wonderful Northumberland. It really is a beautiful part of England, and not often explored by tourists visiting from abroad. I think it’s well worth considering on an itinerary if you’re planning a visit though, as it has so much to offer away from the main tourist trail. What do you think? Let me know in the comments.
Stay safe and happy travelling!
