Attractions
There cannot be many more impressive sights than that of Bamburgh
Castle with its magnificent red sandstone, as it towers over the sea
and the little village below.
Bamburgh was founded in 547 by King Ida and the village has a fine
Norman Church dedicated to St. Aidan, who died in the village in 654
The village was given by King Ida’s grandson to his wife Bebba and
became known as Bebbanburgh from which the modern name derives.
In 1838 the paddle steamer ‘Forfarshire’ was wrecked on the Farne
Islands across from Bamburgh. Grace Darling with her Father rescued
9 men in a small rowing boat.
Grace Darling is buried in St. Aidans Churchyard and a museum in the
village commemorates her.
Bamburgh boasts reputedly one of the finest beaches in
Northumberland with its vast expanse of sands at low tide, and Budle
Bay, a few miles up the coast is a renowned bird watching area with
many unusual and interesting species of waders.
Our self catering Bamburgh Cottages on this coast are ideally
situated to enjoy a variety of interests, and for those wishing to
tour the whole of Northumbria.
• A short stroll to the quaint village of Bamburgh with its
magnificent red sandstone Castle towering above.
• Scramble across sand dunes to the miles of spectacular golden
Bamburgh beach.
• Visit the newly rebuilt Grace Darling Museum with fantastic views.
• See the fine Norman Church of St. Aidan. Where Grace is buried.
• Take a boat trip from nearby Seahouses to the spectacular sea bird
colonies on the Farne Islands.
• Try a round of golf on the stunning Bamburgh links golf course.
• At low tide take a trip to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne home of
Christianity and where the Lindisfarne Gospels were written.
• Bird watch at Budle Bay and the Lindisfarne nature reserve.
• Roam the many beautiful beaches at: Ross Sands, Beadnell Bay,
Newton by the Sea, Embleton Bay, and Dunstanburgh.
• Tour the many lovely villages and market towns including the
fishing village of Craster home of the famous ‘Craster Kipper’
Warkworth with its Castle, Norman Church and Hermitage,
Alnwick,Wooler, Rothbury, Chatton and Coldstream.
• Stroll the tranquil and natural garden of Howick Hall and finish
with a delicious tea in the grand Earl Grey tea house.
• Enjoy the magic of Alnwick Castle a location of the Harry Potter
film and see the exciting contemporary Alnwick garden where children
delight in the interactive water jets of the fountain.
• The Northumberland National Park provides a wealth of picturesque
and fascinating countryside which undulates beneath the Cheviot
Hills, and the Lindisfarne Nature trail all make for ideal
exploring.
• An amazing variety of Castles and Country houses in the area
belonging to The National Trust bring history to life, see:
• The ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, Warkworth Castle, the mysterious
medieval fortress of Chillingham Castle, (take an escorted walk to
glimpse the unique wild cattle of Chillingham) Ross Castle, Etal and
Ford Castles and the majestic Floors Castle.
• The historic market town of Berwick upon Tweed with its Tudor
walls encircling the town, has one of the earliest purpose built
barracks in the country and also houses 3 museums.
• Cragside House and garden- Rothbury, once home of the Victorian
inventor and landscape genius Lord Armstrong. The first house in the
world lit by hydro electricity.
• Preston Tower- Chathill, step back in time to imagine life around
1400, then enjoy a woodland walk.
• Heatherslaw visitor centre and Mill where you can see the working
mill and sample the delights from the café or shop.
• Visit Lady Waterford Hall in Ford and see her paintings depicting
local people as characters from biblical scenes.
Day Trips
• Edinburgh with its fine Castle and Royal Mile are approx. 1.30 hrs
drive or 40 minutes on the train from Berwick upon Tweed
• Newcastle upon Tyne approx. 1 hour drive visit Newcastle Quayside
and walk across the millennium bridge or ‘blinking eye’ as it is
fondly referred to and visit The Baltic a contemporary arts centre.
Then shop till you drop in Eldon Square shopping Mall or Gateshead
Metro Centre.
• Hadrian’s Wall, see Vindolanda,Housteds and Chesters Roman sites
and walk The Hadrians Wall National Trail. Approx. 1.30 hrs.drive
• Keilder Water the largest man made lake in Europe with rare birds
and wildlife. Watersports,Fishing,walking and cycling. Approx.
2hrs.drive
Activities all nearby the Self catering cottages in Bamburgh
*Birdwatching at Budle Bay, The Farne Islands, Holy Island, & Newton
by the Sea.
*Walking & cycling the many glorious beaches, country lanes and
tracks, the Cheviot Hills, the Northumberland National Park,
moorland and forest park.
*Fishing-Sea and river
*Golf- Links courses at Bamburgh Golf Club, Seahouses Golf Club,
Dunstanburgh Castle Golf Club and Warkworth Club. Rothbury Golf Club
& Belford golf Club and driving range are also nearby. Further
afield the international Golf Course of Slaley Hall and Matfen Hall
accommodate the more challenging golfer
*Horseriding from nearby Seahouses and Kimmerston.
*Leisure facilities in Seahouses, Leisure pool in Alnwick and
Berwick upon Tweed.
*Heatherslaw light railway where a two mile train ride takes you to
Etal village and the only thatched roof pub in Northumberland The
Black Bull.
*Film and live acts can be seen at The Maltings Theatre in Berwick
and The Alnwick Playhouse.
Northumberland and the Scottish Borders are also home to numerous
creative craftspeople here are a few excellent galleries and craft
centres, all within easy reach of Bamburgh’s self catering cottages.
*Belford craft Gallery
*Lindisfarne scriptorium on Holy Island
*Celtic Crafts in Berwick
*Hirsel Arts Centre next to the lake in the Hirsel Country Park,
Coldstream.
*Pot a Doodle Doo a farm based hands on pottery experience with pony
trekking and fishing great for children.
*The Fenton Centre with interactive ‘green issues’ based around a
working farm.
*Conundrum Farm, trail and fishery for both children and adults.
*Lowick studio gallery and coffeeshop
*The Chatton Gallery
*Barter books in Alnwick’s old railway station, the largest second
hand book shop in England, cosy fire and coffee too.
Watering holes and Eating Places
This area has a number of places to eat and drink, some within
walking distance of our self catering holiday cottages in Bamburgh
some a car drive away.
The following are our personal favourites but may be very different
to yours, enjoy exploring and deciding for yourselves. Leave a note
with any new restaurants you can recommend. Please be aware that
many restaurants are closed on Mondays!
Bamburgh:
Blacketts, a small family run restaurant serving excellent home
cooking and a great wine selection.
The Lord Crewe Hotel and The Victoria Hotel, good bar and restaurant
food.
The Castle Hotel, good quick bar food.
Seahouses:
The Olde Ship near the harbour, not to be missed full of charm and
atmosphere with excellent service, good food and real ale.
The Links, a pleasant venue for a good choice and reasonably priced
bar food. Pool table.
The Seafield Restaurant.
Several fish and chip shops.
Beadnell:
The Towers, Excellent bar and restaurant food a little more
expensive. Pool table
Craster Arms, bar food and pool table.
Low Newton, The Ship Inn
Embleton, The sportsman
Craster, Robsons Fish Restaurant.
Boulmer, The Boatman
Alnwick:
The treehouse in Alnwick Garden, The Sanctuary part of Alnwick
Castle, Blackmores Restaurant, Hardy’s bistro in The White Swan
Hotel.
Newton on the Moor, The Cook and Barker good restaurant and bar
meals.
Good Food Shops
Bamburgh:
Carters butcher excellent ‘Bamburgh bangers’ and local meat.
The Pantry, delicatessen with good choice of local cheeses and
foods.
Clarkes, grocers.
Seahouses:
Swallows, fresh fish shop excellent fish, home made kipper pate,
crab and kippers.
Northumbrian Hamper, delicatessen with a good selection of local
produce.
Co-op
Craster:
Robsons smokery, famous kippers.
Berwick:
garden centre off bypass, good selection of fresh and frozen local
food.
Morrisons.
Belford:
Co-op
Alnwick:
Sainsbury, also several good delicatessen shops.
