GREAT THINGS TO DO – BROCHURE
There are so many wonderful things to do in the area around Alnmouth. Going for long walks on the beautiful beaches or visiting the many attractions locally. Alnmouth Cottages are just 10 minutes drive to Alnwick and the many wonderful attractions there. Further up the coast there is Bamburgh Castle and then Holy Island.
Here are a few suggestions.
ALNWICK CASTLE
Discover Alnwick Castle, one of the largest inhabited castles in Europe – home to the Duke of Northumberland’s family, the Percys, for over 700 years. Recently the backdrop to the Harry Potter movies.
ALNWICK GARDENS
These world famous beautiful gardens have unique features – including a Tree house and the Poison Garden – and magnificent architecture, all brought to life with water. The cherry blosson trees are wonderful when they are in bloom around the end of April.
BAMBURGH CASTLE
Spanning nine acres of land on its rocky plateau high above the Northumberland coastline Bamburgh is one of the largest inhabited castles in the country.
BARTER BOOKS
The New Statesman magazine called Barter Books ‘The British Library of secondhand bookshops’. The bookshop is based on the swap system and is located in Alnwick’s magnificent old Victorian railway station.
CRAGSIDE
(National Trust)Enter the world of Lord Armstrong, a Victorian inventor, innovator and landscape genius. Cragside house was truly a wonder of its age. Discover the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity.
DARK SKIES
Northumberland’s night skies are renowned as offering you one of the very best opportunities to see the stars and planets so often blotted out elsewhere. In 2013 Northumberland National Park was officially designated as a Dark Sky Park.
Northumberland Zoo
Home to over 80 species from tiny Harvest Mice to fluffy Snow Leopards, Northumberland Zoo is the perfect place to visit on a day out. NE65 9QH
https://www.northumberlandzoo.co.uk/
HOWICK HALL AND GARDENS
Howick was the home of the Grey family from 1319 and Charles 2nd Earl Grey is the most distinguished member. Howick Hall Gardens has been rated by the BBC Gardener’s World Magazine as one of the top 5 coastal gardens in the country.
LINDISFARNE / HOLY ISLAND
Holy Island is a beautiful tidal island off the coast of Northumberland. In 635AD St. Aidan came from Iona and chose to found his monastery on Lindisfarne. The magnificent castle was renovated by the Arts and Crafts architect Edwin Lutyens.
FARNE ISLANDS
The Farne Islands are possibly the most exciting seabird colony in England with views of 23 species, including 37,000 pairs of puffin.
It’s also home to a large grey seal colony, with more than 1,000 pups born every autumn.
WARKWORTH CASTLE
(English Heritage)
Warkworth was and remains one of the largest and most impressive fortresses in North East England. It was once home to ‘Harry Hotspur’, hero of many Border ballads and the bane of Scots raiders.
Hauxley Nature Reserve
One of the best places to view wildlife in the North East. Located on the coast near Amble and Hauxley beach.
https://www.nwt.org.uk/nature-reserves/hauxley
Aln Valley Railway
The railway is open at weekends from Easter to September and Wednesdays during the summer holidays, and on other dates during the year. Try out the steam trains with an afternoon tea!
Puffin Cruises to Coquet Island with Dave Gray
A sea bird paradise is situated about a mile from Amble harbour, the island is the home to 40,000 nesting sea birds such as; Puffins, rare Roseate Terns, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Artic Terns, Kittiwakes and Eider ducks which all nest here in the summer months.
https://www.puffincruisesamble.com/
Whitehouse Farm
Animal feedings, tractor rides & a cafe, plus adventure playgrounds & an indoor soft play zone. NE61 6AW
https://www.whitehousefarmcentre.co.uk/