STAY AT HOME
With seaside trails, castles and even a pilgrimage site, this coastal stretch of North East England warrants weeks of exploration
Why go?
Windswept and wild, the coastal stretch of Northumberland has a real sense of space and isolation. Due to its strategic location close to England’s border with Scotland, the county has more than 70 castle sites, too —some ruined, some still as grand as when they were built, many overlooking the sea. Highlights include Bamburgh Castle, dating back millennia, and Alnwick Castle, which featured as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. During spring or summer, a boat trip out to the Farne Islands offers the chance to see one of the UK’s largest puffin colonies; summer or autumn is the time to see grey seals. visitnorthumberland.com
What to do
The Northumberland Coast Path stretches for 62 miles from Cresswell to Berwickupon-Tweed. It is split into six stages, and tackling anything between six and 13 miles is realistic for most people. The 10-mile Craster to Seahouses section is regularly cited as one of the country’s best walks, with the ruins of 700-year-old Dunstanburgh Castle, sandy beaches and rocky foreshore. northumberlandcoastpath.org
Where to eat
The fishing village of Craster is famous for kippers and the smokehouses where North Sea herring is cured. L Robson & Sons has been operating for over a century, and the fourth-generation family shop remains popular. Across the road, the aptly named Jolly Fisherman is everything you could want from a pub —particularly on dark, stormy nights, when you’re greeted by a roaring fire. The menu is a cut above the average, with oysters and crab. kipper.co.uk thejollyfishermancraster.co.uk
