Great question! Whether you’re touring the coast, heading into the hills, or soaking up centuries of history, Northumberland is full of amazing places to stop, explore, and stay a while.
Here’s a guide to the best places to stop in Northumberland, depending on your route and interests:
🌊 1. Bamburgh – For Coastal Beauty & Castle Views
- Home to the majestic Bamburgh Castle
- A gorgeous village with a wide sandy beach, local pubs, and cafes
- Perfect for a relaxing stop, a beach walk, or a romantic meal with a view
🏖️ Great for: Couples, photographers, families
🏰 2. Alnwick – For Castles, Gardens & Books
- Explore Alnwick Castle (a.k.a. Hogwarts!)
- Visit The Alnwick Garden and dine in the magical Treehouse Restaurant
- Pop into Barter Books, one of the UK’s best second-hand bookshops
📚 Great for: Families, history lovers, Harry Potter fans
🕯️ 3. Holy Island (Lindisfarne) – For History & Peace
- Accessed via a tidal causeway—check tide times!
- Explore Lindisfarne Castle and Lindisfarne Priory
- A peaceful, spiritual place with stunning views and wild coastal beauty
✨ Great for: Spiritual seekers, nature lovers, slow travellers
🐟 4. Craster – For Smoked Kippers & Seaside Walks
- A tiny fishing village known for Craster Kippers
- Start the scenic walk to Dunstanburgh Castle here—one of the best in the UK
- Great little pub (The Jolly Fisherman) with sea views
🥾 Great for: Walkers, foodies, couples
🛍️ 5. Morpeth – For Shopping & a Historic Market Town Feel
- Lovely town centre with independent shops, cafes, and riverside walks
- Ideal for a lunch stop or a gentle browse
- Great base for exploring inland Northumberland
🛍️ Great for: Shoppers, families, casual strollers
🌲 6. Rothbury – For Countryside Vibes & Cragside Estate
- A peaceful market town on the edge of the Cheviots
- Visit Cragside, the Victorian mansion powered by hydroelectricity
- Great for hikes, cycling, and riverside walks
🌿 Great for: Nature lovers, walkers, couples
🧱 7. Hexham – For Abbeys & Roman Ruins
- Explore Hexham Abbey and wander historic streets
- Close to Hadrian’s Wall sites like Chesters Roman Fort
- A great western stop for combining town and history
🏛️ Great for: History buffs, road-trippers, day trippers
🐑 8. Kielder – For Stargazing & Forest Adventures
- Deep in the Northumberland National Park, near Kielder Water
- Home to the Kielder Observatory and some of the darkest skies in Europe
- Great for walking, biking, and spotting wildlife
🌌 Great for: Adventurers, stargazers, off-grid escapes
🧭 Planning a Route?
Here’s a classic Northumberland driving loop with great stop-offs:
Alnwick → Bamburgh → Seahouses → Holy Island → Craster → Rothbury → Hexham → Hadrian’s Wall → Kielder