Northumberland coast? (1 Viewer)

[The Cruisers]

Having recently spoken to a couple about taking 2 to 3 weeks in west Scotland at end July and beginning of August, we have changed our minds. Apparently there are swarms of midges at that time of year and both of us prime candidates for being bitten. He suggested that the Northumberland coast is beautiful but we have never ventured over that way. Can anyone tell us what it's like please? Are there places we can just park up or is it all campsites? Any information will be gratefully received. Many thanks.

 

[Hils and Glenns]

Northumberland is stunning.

 

[old-mo]

"Fantastic" part of the county....

And will be more so when we move up that way.....

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[MrsMac59]

It's beautiful. Have a look at Bamburgh Castle, Lindisfarne and Tynemouth Priory for starters.

 

[WillH]

Good choice, though the midges are not that bad on the West coast.

 

[Foxy1956]

Alnwick Castle is worth a visit and the poison garden. As for midges, Avon so soft and simple works for us. The SAS use it. You can tell an SAS man because he smells nice.

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[Wildbill]

We wer thare last year and the east cost of Scotland found lots of places to park up with verry little problems
Bill

 

[Puddleduck]

Northumberland is lovely - as it the south of Scotland. There are places you can park overnight if you are discrete and don't leave a mess - but not on Lindisfarne, check the tides so you don't get stranded. I am not sure what they could do if you were stranded and had to sleep in the MH though - maybe a fine????

 

[glenn2926]

Northumberland is beautiful. We go at least once every year. The west of Scotland does have a lot of midges. As above Avon skin so soft, works well to keep them away. You could continue up the East coast from Northumberland. Scotlands East coast whilst less dramatic than the West is still beautiful. There are some great beaches and small harbours to visit. Have a great trip.

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[laird of Dunstan]

The area is beautifull ,we stayed at a cl site with EHU ,cant remember the name of it ,but we travelled around the area looking at the sites, there are lots of castles and lovelly sea side towns suc as seahouses ,the best part of our trip was when we went to Dunsanburgh castle ,it was about 4 oclock and the castle shut at 5 ,i was not going to pay the entrance fee for an hour so we walked along the castle wall and down to the sea ,i then spotted a fin and upon closer inspection it turned out to be a pod of pilot whales and it looked like the adults were teaching their young ,there was about 16 in the pod,adults and juveniles ,it was a magical moment

 

[MR. FUSION]

The area is beautifull ,we stayed at a cl site with EHU ,cant remember the name of it ,but we travelled around the area looking at the sites, there are lots of castles and lovelly sea side towns suc as seahouses ,the best part of our trip was when we went to Dunsanburgh castle ,it was about 4 oclock and the castle shut at 5 ,i was not going to pay the entrance fee for an hour so we walked along the castle wall and down to the sea ,i then spotted a fin and upon closer inspection it turned out to be a pod of pilot whales and it looked like the adults were teaching their young ,there was about 16 in the pod,adults and juveniles ,it was a magical moment

Agreed, Dunsanburgh castle is a must see.....

 

[MR. FUSION]

Northumberland is lovely - as it the south of Scotland. There are places you can park overnight if you are discrete and don't leave a mess - but not on Lindisfarne, check the tides so you don't get stranded. I am not sure what they could do if you were stranded and had to sleep in the MH though - maybe a fine????

I nearly was.....the tide was starting to lap up to the causeway, it's really fast sometimes, many an unfortunate driver has been caught

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[wiljoy]

"Fantastic" part of the county....

And will be more so when we move up that way.....

Didn't know you loved the north east so much to move here. I live near Durham City and really love Northumberland. I'll give you a reference when you apply for your passport! !! Where are you fancying?

 

[CWH]

Lovely area.
Try to fit in a boat trip to the Farne Islands.
Maybe a day or two around Kielder Water/ Forest.
You'll be spoilt for choice with castles, market towns, gardens, wildlife, excellent walks of all levels...

 

[Granjan]

Coast or countryside Northumberland is fantastic, as are the Scottish Borders and coast, we spend lots of time there and really love it, castle after castle, beach after beach, not mentioned before are Warkworth and Alnmouth, Berwick on Tweed where you should walk the ramparts, St Abb's for its quaint harbour and Coldingham Bay, inland wonderful border towns, Kelso is a favourite with Floors Castle, and the stunning Cheviots. If you want a laugh go to Chillingham Castle. Try The Ship Inn at Newton By The Sea for real ale and The Joiners Arms nearby for the biggest fish (and chips) the boat could safely land. Can't really advise you about wild camping except we do see people parked up out of season. Lots of sites all up the coast, if you like sea food park up near Berwick Shellfish at the side of the tweed and treat yourself to some crab and lobster. The weather there is pretty good lots of grain grown up there, often a few degrees cooler but usually bright, just occasionally you can see the sea fret roll in from the coast though!

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[TerryL]

NO, DON'T DO IT. GO AWAY!

We don't want hordes of motorhomers invading our beautiful peaceful country!

(Yep, we live here and love it.)

 

[Granjan]

You are right this thread needs removing!

 

[glenn2926]

You are right this thread needs removing!

No no, keep it going. It might make a few go there instead of Yorkshire. That way we get to enjoy a more peaceful trip round our own county.

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[MR. FUSION]

Lovely area.
Try to fit in a boat trip to the Farne Islands.
Maybe a day or two around Kielder Water/ Forest.
You'll be spoilt for choice with castles, market towns, gardens, wildlife, excellent walks of all levels...

I went SCUBA diving in the seas around the Farnes years ago, the local seals were playfully nibbling at our fins, and swimming around us, those teeth looked very big close up underwater, great experience

 

[funflair]

If you are in the National trust Cragside near Rothbury is well worth a visit,there is a very basic CL a few miles away at as otter and you can cycle to Cragside over the moor tops and Lord Armstrong's carriage drives if you have off road bikes or carefully on hybrid bikes.

Martin

 

[old-mo]

Didn't know you loved the north east so much to move here. I live near Durham City and really love Northumberland. I'll give you a reference when you apply for your passport! !! Where are you fancying?

Don`t really know much about the North East.... visited a few times..

The wife comes from Durham area.... so thought change of scenery and luck and all that...

Not actually looking at Northumberland...

More North Yorkshire.... Northallerton and the Leeming Bar area..

Near enough for the misses to pop up and see her relatives..

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[wiljoy]

Don`t really know much about the North East.... visited a few times..

The wife comes from Durham area.... so thought change of scenery and luck and all that...



Not actually looking at Northumberland...

More North Yorkshire.... Northallerton and the Leeming Bar area..

Near enough for the misses to pop up and see her relatives..

North Yorkshire is also very nice. Durham and the surrounding area is a wow for us as we've experienced many part of the UK but up here there's so much to see from seaside to remote countryside within a very short drive. Very good luck with your search and decision. If I can help in anyway please let me know.

 

[ambulancekidd]

Lovely area.
Try to fit in a boat trip to the Farne Islands.
Maybe a day or two around Kielder Water/ Forest.
You'll be spoilt for choice with castles, market towns, gardens, wildlife, excellent walks of all levels...


A little word of caution here, Kielder's midges rival the west of Scotland & them some, I guess no-one told the Kielder midges that their area is not in Scotland tis bloody close.
Northumbria is stunning though, I've never tried wild camping there but I presume it'd be easy enough to find nice spots to camp. So go for it, you won't regret it.

 

[GeriatricWanderer]

Check these out on Google Earth.

BEADNELL - Clifftop car park 55.55222 -1.62916
RADCLIFFE - Beachside spot 55.30666 -1.55889
SEAHOUSES 55.59253 -1.6742
WOOLER 55.53895 -2.0383

I've used a couple for overnighting in the past but not sure what rules are in force now.

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[Viennese]

Having recently spoken to a couple about taking 2 to 3 weeks in west Scotland at end July and beginning of August, we have changed our minds. Apparently there are swarms of midges at that time of year and both of us prime candidates for being bitten. He suggested that the Northumberland coast is beautiful but we have never ventured over that way. Can anyone tell us what it's like please? Are there places we can just park up or is it all campsites? Any information will be gratefully received. Many thanks.

It's awful, don't go there. The food's rubbish, the scenery's pathetic, and it's not surprising there's no one on those miserable cold windy beaches. Several castles are ruined - just look at Dunstanburgh, derelict or what? Stay in Sussex, it's much more civilised and it's not really overcrowded. Leave Northumberland and North Yorkshire to those who can't think of anywhere else to go...
(And as for you lot giving recommended places, stop it!)

 

[golly]

No, the beaches are far to crowded

Can't get near the Roman Wall for people

and absolutly no interesting houses to visit

 

[TUCANO]

I AM doing the West Coast of Scotland, the NC 500, immediately after the rally at the bus museum. If the midges are too bad then I shall reconsider and drive further inland. Northumberland, my home county is stunning with more castles than any other county.
I always wildcamp respectfully, the beaches are stunning but you just need to get the weather right, however that applies to most of the UK.
Have a great trip.

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[Rapido925M]

I wrote this in "Scotland the long way up" last year:-

It depends what floats your boat: N Yorks moors has excellent steam railway, lovely seaside resorts (inc Scarboro, with marine parade, peasholm park; Whitby; Sandsend; Staithes; (try Skinningrove for "off beaten track?) Saltburn; Redcar (vertical pier?)

Hartlepool marina and historic docks are worth investigating; Crimdon Dene; Blackhall; Seaham are all much improved Durham seasides with easy, free parking.

And why would you not visit Durham City?

We exited Tyne Tunnel and soon turned eastwards to visit Newbiggin by the Sea (free parking by museum) then little coast road from Lynemouth to Cresswell, Amble (lovely Britstop - no 766; park on quayside for good views at 50p per hour), Warkworth castle. Free parking by coast at Beadnell, cheap parking in Seahouses (1st hour free), free parking at Bamburgh (THE best castle in the world?), excellent Britstop (no 768) only a few miles away.

IF you prefer inland activities, don't miss Wallington (Nat Trust), Cragside (Nat Trust), Alnwick Garden (take out fresh mortgage/bank loan?). Or why not experience Kielder Forest (£4.50 for all day parking transferable amongst all carparks)?

Don't forget that Hawick has a free camperstop.

Enjoy - Gordon"

Coming from "Down South", you might consider turning right near Doncaster to visit Hull (City of Culture) either along the motorway or across the Humber Bridge. From there you could go to Spurn Head and along the coast to Bridlington/Filey/Scarboro'.
Alternatively, you could get to Scarboro via York or Thirsk, or if on the A170 take a main road to Stokesley (from Helmsley) or Whitby (from Pickering). Or cross some of the wilder parts of the Moors through Rosedale or Goathland.

Why not cross the Tees in Middlesbrough using the transporter bridge, one of only 4 in UK?

The 2017 Britstop numbers are 785 & 787.

Gordon

 

[StitchesnFluff]

Try 'Eat & Sleep Lindisfarne' for a stopover near the Holy Island

 

[Clarky]

Try 'Eat & Sleep Lindisfarne' for a stopover near the Holy Island

Can you stay overnight on their car park?
Looks like a very handy stop-over if you can.
Just had a look on their website and there is no mention of motorhomes.

Richard.

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