Nothumberland - Places of Interest

Hi Everybody

I am taking the family up to the Northumberland coast for a week on Saturday.

Other than Linsifarne, the obvious castles and the Farn Islands - are there any 'must see' gems that I should not miss?

Thanks
Carl

...and as usual I am typing too fast - that should of course say "Lindisfarne"

Crab sandwiches in Craster.

Kielder Water and Forest there is a scenic drive.

Thanks Doug - will be sure to check them out but not sure the Pentax will be needed

Thanks Barrie - had forgotten about Kielder Forest - I once took a brand new company car for a spin around there and had to keep telling myself I was not in the RAC Rally

I'm not into gardens but people say Alnwick Castle garden is worth a look.

Shall look forward to some shots Barrie, have been there many times, and never taken anything away , not even photographs
Perhaps one needs to know the country code to get the joke.

Davex.

A good long walk along Beadnell Bay (part Nature Reserve) to Low Newton-by-the-Sea taking in Football Hole on the way.

To capture the look of joy and satisfaction on eating the 2nd best crab sandwich in the UK and the pleasure of a half pint of Best to help digest it.

Sounds like we may end up with a complete crab sandwhich conversation Doug - my favourite crab sandwich destinations of choice are Newlyn or Cromer...

and point taken about the need for the camera

Cragside House just outside Rothbury. It's National Trust property. The house was the home of Lord Armstrong, the 19th century Tyneside industrialist, of Vickers Armstrong fame, and was the first home in the country to be lit by electricity. Cragside has superb gardens. Also in National Trust ownership is Wallington Hall, near Scotsgap, Its an older house, 18th century, than Cragside and also has beautiful grounds but on a smaller scale.
You might find one of the the towns of Hexham, Rothbury, Alnwick or Morpeth are worth a visit.
David.

I think Farne Islands are off the menu....The National Trust closed access to Staple Island a week early and there was not much going on on Inner Farne 4 weeks ago....

Berwick upon Tweed and Tweeddale are very nice.

thanks david as a NT member - I will be sure to check them out

Thnaks for the info Peter - that will be a big dissapointment as it was one of my reassons for heading to that part of the world - oh well we will see

Having lived in Ripon, Seahouses is only a 2.5 hour slog up the A1 fritz...we used to do the trips regularly from Ripon Camera Club...

The National Trust and the operators of the boats that go to the Islands will tell you closer to the time what you might expect to see if you tried to go to the Islands - early June to early July are the best times for the breeding season. I was in Reykjavik 2 weeks after travelling to Seahouses and even there the Puffin season was more or less over.

Thanks Peter - lesson learned - I moved to this part of the world from London not so long ago and only heard of the Farne Islands fairly recently.

Maybe next year for the Puffins - but may still have a look - I can not resist a boat trip of any description anyway