When you think of travelling to the UK do you immediately think London?
There is so much for everyone to do there and so many well-known sights to see it's the obvious choice.
However, if you're looking for somewhere less busy, why not try Northumberland?
It is home to picturesque fishing harbours, wide sandy beaches, the Northumberland coastal path, castles and Harry Potter filming locations to name just a few attractions.
Getting there
Northumberland is a county located in the north east of England. It covers the area of coast north of Newcastle and south of Edinburgh, Scotland. It can be reached from the Netherlands via an overnight ferry from Amsterdam which docks near Newcastle. Travelling north there are many towns and coastal villages to explore. The main towns are very well connected by a train line so if driving on the left hand side of the road is not for you, don't worry. Flying into Newcastle or Edinburgh will enable you to explore this fabulous area by rail.
Our experience
Northumberland is fantastic if you enjoy historical sites and walking. If theme parks and big cities are your go-to on holiday then this area is perhaps not for you.
We went as a mixed age group from a teenager to a pensioner. From eating fish and chips, flying a kite on the beach, surfing, wandering along the coast and sitting down with coffee and cake to admire the view there was something for all of us.
The market town of Alnwick is recommended for shopping and a visit to Alnwick Castle is a must for any Harry Potter fan. It was at Alnwick Castle that Harry, Ron and Hermione first learnt to fly their broomsticks. When we visited we were fortunate enough to enjoy a broomstick flying lesson which was fun for all ages.
Bamburgh Castle was used as a filming location for The Last Kingdom and even if you are not familiar with this film the view of the castle from the beach is spectacular. The beach itself is long and wide and very popular with dog walkers.
A very popular tourist attraction along the coast is Lindisfarne. This was the first place in western Europe to be attacked by the Vikings. It is an island reached by a causeway, which means visiting can only take place at low tide. The island hosts the beautiful ruins of Lindisfarne Priory as well as Lindisfarne Castle, art and souvenir shops, plus pubs and cafes. Plan your visit well by checking out the tide times.
If you are looking for a more adventurous activity then there are companies offering various water sports along the coast. Our teenager took part in a surfing lesson and had a fantastic time in the sea with a great instructor and group of fellow students.
The Pros and Cons of a holiday in Northumberland
Pros
The scenery is majestic. The views that keep going, the sky that constantly changes and of course the 100km of coastline and fabulous beaches. If you are a fan of the great outdoors this is a place for you. Given its tucked away position in the far north east of England it tends to be less well visited and so beaches are never full, even in the height of summer.
There are of course many places along the coast to enjoy fish and chips as well as crab sandwiches and fish pie. Don't worry if fish isn't your thing as there are plenty of great options around for vegetarians and vegans.
There is plenty of holiday accommodation available should you have a four-legged friend you want to bring along. With kilometres of walking available, you and your dog will sleep well at the end of the day.
Northumberland is also home to a national park of rolling hills, beautiful countryside and the remains of Hadrian's Wall, built by the Romans. Interested in star gazing? Then visit the Dark Sky Park, a specially dedicated area of Northumberland with low light level pollution. I have not yet visited this part of the county, but it is on my list for the next visit.
Cons
The weather. It has to be mentioned as we are talking about England. Most of the activities we took part in were focused on the outdoors and as we were very fortunate with the weather we were able to go out and walk every day.
A week in the rain would not have been as much fun and we had very few back-up activities other than waterproof trousers and a coat. If rain is in the forecast pack a good book and some travel games.
As I have mentioned, Northumberland is very accessible from the Netherlands by ferry. From the south of England it is connected via a motorway and good main road system, however it is a long drive at over 6 hours from London in good traffic.
The Final Word
This was my third visit to Northumberland and I have to say I found it as beautiful, tranquil and friendly as I remembered.
Approaching it from the Netherlands instead of driving up through England gave us a more relaxed feeling on arrival. I definitely recommend trying the DFDS ferry from Amsterdam to Newcastle as an experience at the start and end of your holiday.
There are many different types of holiday accommodation available from camping to five star hotels, from bed and breakfasts to holiday rentals. The good quality of food and friendly service everywhere we went certainly added to the charm of an already outstanding location.
Try something different on your next UK holiday and visit Northumberland.
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