Short breaks in Northumbria

Rich in history and natural beauty, Northumberland makes an ideal holiday getaway if you only have a few days to spare. From award-winning sandy beaches to peerless coastal and hill walks, and unrivalled historical treasures - there’s a lot to fit into a few days. If you don’t fit it all in, simply make a date to return for another short break to magical Northumberland.

Be sure to visit at least one of these superb attractions during your short break in Northumberland…

Hadrian’s Wall:

Stretching 80 miles from the east to west coast, nearly half of Hadrian’s Wall is in Northumberland. Visit Chesters Roman Fort and Museum or Housesteads Roman Fort and Museum to get a sense of what life was like here 2,000 years ago.

Alnwick Castle:

Built by the Normans in the 11th century, the castle is still lived in by the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland and their family. Kids can explore Knights and Dragons Quest, and see where some of the key scenes from the first two Harry Potter films were shot. They can even take a broomstick flying lesson.

Boat trip to the Farne Islands:

The Farne Islands lie a couple of miles off the Northumberland coast and are one of Europe’s most important bird sanctuaries. Between April and July, the islands are home to over 20 species of seabird including thousands of puffins. Thousands of Grey Seal pups are born here each year too. Take one of the many boat tours from Seahouses harbour and you may even spot a dolphin.

Lindisfarne:

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is only accessible by a causeway near Bamburgh, and it’s cut off twice a day by the tide - so plan your trip carefully! This is the site of bloody raids by marauding Vikings, the creation of heart-stoppingly beautiful religious manuscripts, and the rise of the cult of St Cuthbert, the monk, bishop and hermit. See the 16th century castle, the remains of the 12th century priory or simply soak up the atmosphere before heading back to the mainland.

St Cuthbert’s Cave:

Known as Cuddy’s Cave, this is where monks are thought to have stopped with the body of St Cuthbert as they took it on its final journey to Durham. The mysterious large overhanging rock supported by a single pillar of stone can be found in woodland just outside the village of Belford. There are some lovely walks here too.

Northumberlandia:

This 46 acre park is home to the ‘Lady of the North’, a unique landscape sculpture created by Charles Jencks in the form of a reclining woman. The sculpture is 100 feet high and a quarter of a mile long, and 1.5 million tonnes of rock, clay and soil were used to create the figure. You can walk the footpaths on and around the landform.