Explore
Northumberland has so much to offer that you could visit for years and never manage to do everything. From Castles to Coast, Hadrian’s Wall to Kielder water you will never be short of inspiration for a memorable day out.
Hadrians Wall
Stretching 73 miles across northern England, Hadrian’s Wall was built to guard the wild north-west frontier of the Roman Empire. Today you can explore the Wall’s rich history and its dramatic landscape at over twenty English Heritage sites or walk the 53 mile National Trail from Coast to Coast.
Discover the remains of the forts, towers, turrets and towns that once kept watch over the Wall. See rare Roman artefacts, get hands-on in museums and take in spectacular views of the rugged landscape to find out what life was like for the men, women and children on the edge of Roman Britain.
Hadrian’s Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Northumberland Coast
With more than 30 miles of beaches, a galapagos of islands, hidden coves and a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Northumberland coast is simply spectacular.
From stretches of hard, flat sand, perfect for sandcastles, tiny sheltered gems ideal for cosy picnics or vast breaker-blasted expanses for invigorating walks with the dog, Northumberland has the beach for you.
Hailed as the jewels in Northumberland’s crown, iconic castles stand guard along the coast. Few sights compare to drinking in the view of Bamburgh Castle at dusk, a vista recently voted one of Britain’s finest.
Dogs are allowed on all Northumberland’s beaches throughout the year, except for Newbiggin.
Kielder Water
Home to northern Europe’s largest man-made lake and England’s largest forest, Kielder Water & Forest Park is one of Northumberland’s best attractions. It is perfect for individuals or families who love nature, water sports, exploring, walking, cycling and much more.
Kielder Water & Forest Park features mile upon mile of purpose-built trails including forest walks for all the family and dedicated mountain bike tracks. The Lakeside Way is a 26-mile multi-user trail, suitable for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users, that encircles the shoreline of Kielder Water.
Visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to spending a day trip, weekend break or holiday in what the Campaign to Protect Rural England calls the most tranquil spot in the country.
Hexham &
Corbridge
Only a short drive from Stay On The Hill is the historic market town of Hexham. At the heart of this attractive and delightful town is the iconic Hexham Abbey, an excellent range of specialist and independent shops to explore, along with a cinema, arts center, walks along the Tyne, fishing, golf, and many other activities.
There are many excellent pubs and restaurants serving a wide variety of cuisines. The town also benefits from a direct train service east to Newcastle and beyond, Carlisle to the west. Just East of Hexham, is Corbridge sitting on the bank of the River Tyne, known for its independent shops selling boutique fashions, books, gifts, antiques, interiors and much more.
There is an excellent choice of beauty salons and hairdressers and for the foodies, there are many cafes, historic pubs, a deli, a butcher and a wine bar and a number of great restaurants.
Newcastle-
Upon-Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne, also known as Newcastle is one of the largest and most exciting places to visit in the UK thanks to its rich history, bustling nightlife, cultural hot spots and plenty of shops, bars and restaurants to while away the hours. Finding good restaurants in Newcastle is incredibly easy as there are so many great places to eat. From fine dining experiences to street food, the Newcastle food and drink scene is electric, varied and one that excites and inspires.
Running along both sides of the River Tyne is the Metro rail system that connects Newcastle with various historic attractions and the sandy beaches at Whitley Bay and Tynemouth, in our opinion the beaches here are no comparison to the quality of beaches up the Northumberland coast if you had time to hear a little further north. We do recommend a stroll along the Quayside over the Millennium bridge and a visit to the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.
Anwick Castle
& Gardens
The highly acclaimed and multi award winner visitor attraction Alnwick Garden is well worth a day trip to see first hand the incredible transformation of the 12 acres of garden. There is plenty of things for the family to peruse, visit the worlds largest treehouse restaurant / watch the grand cascade comprising of 120 water jets / meander through the worlds largest cherry orchard.
There are additional catering options and children are encouraged to run freely throughout the garden.
Whilst in the town, make an effort to visit the 2nd largest inhabited castle in the UK. Standing, tall and proud overlooking the attractive market town, the castle is steeped in rich heritage and history and for you “Harry Potter” fans will be able to recall that that the castle featured as “Hogwarts” in the first two Harry Potter films and made an appearance in Downton Abbey.
Dark Skies
Look up at the night sky and marvel at up to 2000 stars at any one time. The Northumberland International Dark Sky Park is one of Europe’s largest, stretching across 1470 square kilometres of breath-taking scenery combining Northumberland National Park with Kielder Water & Forest Park.
Due to its unspoiled skies and minimal light pollution it was awarded gold tier designation by the International Dark Sky Association, making it officially the best place in England for people to go to enjoy the night sky.
Autumn offers the prime viewing time; the nights are longer and darker, the Milky Way can be seen overhead and you might even be lucky enough to spot mesmerising Meteor showers. As the temperatures drop during the crisp winter months, the sky becomes more transparent, making it even easier to see the glittering skies above us.
Lake District
The Lake District was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017. As well as being famed for its 16 lakes, there is also so much more on offer, mountains, forests, museums, breweries, historic stately homes, boat & trains rides and castles to name but a few.
With so much on offer, it is clear to see why the lakes is such a popular designation for the 16 million tourists that travel there each year. There is something for everyone from scaling Scarfell Pike (the highest mountain in England) to fell walks that range in difficulty. Agricultural shows, music and beer festivals to the world of Beatrix Potter with its magical tales of Peter Rabbit, it is an enchanting attraction for the whole family.
Along with mountains and walking the water based activities are endless. Canoeing and sailing to windsurfing and diving. Rent your equipment and off you go or find a quiet spot of a bit of wild swimming and dive in.
VINDOLANDA
Vindolanda is one of Europe’s most important Roman archaeological sites. It is situated on the Stanegate Road, one mile south of Hadrian’s Wall and is managed and owned by The Vindolanda Charitable Trust.
The site itself comprises nine forts built on top of each other. Soldiers from all over the Roman Empire, including Belgium, Germany and France were garrisoned here. The visible stone fort dates to the third century and the impressive remains include the fort walls, the headquarters building, the Commanding Officer’s house, granaries and barracks. Extensive remains of the extramural settlement lie just west of the fort with buildings lining a main street. These include houses, shops, a tavern and a bath house.
Excavations take place on the site every year and attract hundreds of volunteers from all over the world. The site has oxygen free conditions (anaerobic), which preserve the artefacts in an amazing condition.
Activities
Whether you’re out with the family, with your friends or on your own, discover an activity to get stuck into.
Fishing
Blessed with fishing on our doorstep, the River Tyne is renowned as the best river system for salmon and sea trout in England and Wales, whilst starting to challenge some of the more famous Scottish rivers.
The season begins in February with beautiful fish often caught in the opening few days, fishing is available right through until the end of the season in October.
Warden Fishing consists of 4 miles of fishing over 4 beats covering both the North and South Tyne. Further information and bookings can me made clicking on the following link.
Walking
Northumberland has so much to offer when it comes to walking. 39 miles of its coast from Berwick to the Coquet Estuary was designated Area of Outstanding Beauty in 9158 and offers some of the UK’s best coastal walking. Inland is no disappointment either, with the rolling Cheviot Hills and the Northumberland National Park, there is a suitable walk for everyone.
The accommodation at Stay on the Hill sits conveniently on many public footpaths giving you a wide choice of fantastic local walks exploring the magical local countryside right in the heart of Hadrian’s Wall country.
Cycling
Cycling is an excellent and efficient way to get around Northumberland. With the county being largely rural and a network of lightly trafficked roads, it is a gem for cyclists of all ability.
Wild open spaces make cycling in Northumberland very popular and there is over 100 miles of purpose-built trails. Bring your own bike or rent one locally.
For the more advanced cyclist there are several long-distance cycling trails including: Hadrian’s Cycleway / The Coast & Castles / Pennine Cycleway and the UK’s most popular route, The Sea to Sea (C2C)
Golf
Northumberland is home to a vast range of excellent golf courses, located in some of the most stunning and dramatic landscapes in Britain. Some of our personal favourites are Goswick, Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh and Close House.
Lee Westwood as the attached tour professional and the North East’s only PGA Academy, Close House provides two 18-hole golf courses situated in the Tyne Valley with stunning views of the River Tyne. The British Masters was hosted here on the prestigious “Colt Course” for a 2nd time in July 2020.
There is also a driving range here and we recommend booking into Number 19 for a bite to eat.
Family
Northumberland has so much to offer families with children of all ages. There is guaranteed to be something for everyone to enjoy. Some of our favourites include a trip to Whitehouse Farm to feed the animals. Walby farm in Cumbria is also excellent for this and includes a soft play area for a rainy day. Other wet day adventures include Inflate Space, the UK’s largest indoor inflatable theme park, Airbox bounce is the ultimate trampoline experience for kids and adults or head for one of the 4 clip n climb venues.
If swinging through trees is your thing, look no further than GO APE in Matfen. There are many National Trust properties in Northumberland we love to take a picnic and hang out at Wallington or Gibside as both have excellent playgrounds and facilities
Water Sports
There are excellent opportunities for water sports all year round in Northumberland. It is great kayaking and canoeing territory, and its long stretches of sandy beaches make it a popular destination for surfing and bodyboarding, kitesurfing and diving.
You can head out to the Farne Islands and dive in the company of grey seals or go inland to Europe’s largest man-made lake – Kielder Water has so much to offer from Windsurfing to sailing, water-skiing to open water swimming.
There are adventure sport opportunities though-out Northumberland for even the most diehard enthusiasts.
EATING OUT
In Northumberland we really are spoilt for choice with fantastic places to eat from traditional country pubs to gourmet restaurants and seaside eateries. Don’t forget the kippers.
The Boatside Inn, Warden
The Boatside Inn is a traditional country pub, situated in the quiet hamlet of Warden, where the North and South Tyne rivers meet.
The pub has a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere with a good varied menu and a great selection of local ale’s on tap. Pets are also welcome.
The Heart of Northumberland
Set in the heart of the historic market town of Hexham (hence the name), emphasis on locally sourced produce and hearty (excuse the pun) portions..
Remember to book a table for Sunday Lunch. Roast beef or the root vegetable wellington come highly recommend.
The Rat Inn,
Anwick
An award winning pub overlooking the Tyne Valley, renowned for traditional British cooking, fine wines and friendly atmosphere.
Recently ranked number 17 in the top 50 gastropubs in 2019. A great selection of Ales on tap and a tempting menu that changes daily.
THE BEAUMONT HOTEL
A bistro style restaurant with lounge and bar offering a cosy, informal space opposite Hexham Abbey.
The chef offers a different level of fantastic food from an excellent seasonal changing menu and locally sourced ingredients.
The perfectionist barman makes excellent cocktails.
HJEM
Just up the road is the highly acclaimed HJEM restaurant, Northumberland’s only Michelin star restaurant. A fine dining experience serving eclectic Scandinavian cuisine in a tasting menu format.
It is an absolute must, but table reservations must be made well in advance.
BOUCHON BISTRO
Bringing authentic French cuisine to the market town of Hexham.
A delightful cosy restaurant with a traditional French themed menu, offering evening specials, live music and alfresco dining in the recently created roof terrace.
A hidden gem and one of our local favourites.
The Angel of Corbridge
A traditional Northumbrian pub steeped in history with great British hearty pub grub, local real ales, roaring log fires and dog friendly dining.
Fresh, local, homemade food all cooked to order.
Restaurant Pine
With an onsite kitchen garden and a focus on local, seasonal ingredients Restaurant Pine is an exquisite restaurant. Sourcing most of their ingredients from their own kitchen garden and foraging the spectacular Northumberland landscape it is know wonder Restaurant Pine deserve their Michelin Star.
Well worth a visit for hungry diners after exploring Northumberland.
Stalida Greek Taverna
A vibrant and extremely popular family fun Greek taverna, serving excellent fresh Greek cuisine in the market town of Hexham.
Enjoy traditional dishes such as moussaka and kleftiko, Greek ‘
