3 road trip routes around Northumberland
Northumberland is the perfect destination for a road trip. Discover 3 of the best routes in our local guide.
Road trips have always been a popular choice for holidaymakers. But did you know that they've been on the rise over the last few years?
Perhaps it's the freedom of having the wheel to yourself. Perhaps it's the variety that you can squeeze into a short space of time. Or perhaps it's that travel restrictions during the pandemic reconnected Brits to British landscapes.
Whatever the reason, road trips are a great way to see the sights – and Northumberland is the perfect destination.
Castles! Hills! Dales! Beaches! Pubs! Northumberland has it all – and because it's so sparsely populated, the roads tend to be nice and quiet.
So, without further ado, here are three of the best road trip routes in Northumberland. We hope you have a great trip!
Alnwick to Kielder Water
Kielder Water is the largest manmade lake in Europe and a popular spot for walkers, picnickers and boaters.
This varied, scene-packed route starts in Alnwick and runs for around 45 miles to Kielder Water.
It's a route that could have been designed with photo opportunities in mind. For a start, there's the panoramic view of the Northumberland coast, with Blyth and Tyneside to the south, the Farne Islands to the northeast and the Cheviot Hills to the northwest.
Then there are historical treats: Edlingham's 14th-century castle and Victorian viaduct. The magnificent and pioneering Craigside Estate. And a 13th-century Pele tower, where locals would seek shelter from border raiders.
As with all of these routes, there's a multitude of options for food, drink, hiking and sports.
The Northumberland 250
This is the big one. The Northumberland 250 is the closest you can get to an American-style road trip in Britain: 250 miles of picture-perfect villages, jaw-dropping countryside, beautiful beaches and historical treasures.
If it sounds like a big undertaking, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, it's a doddle to navigate – simply follow the brown Coastal Route signs.
Secondly, it's best enjoyed split into manageable chunks. Planned right, the Northumberland 250 can be a holiday in itself – just break up the drive with overnight stays in some of the finest villages in Britain.
It would be quicker to say what the Northumberland 250 doesn't include. You can take a look at the whole route
online. Here, however, are some of the highlights.
Druridge Bay Country Park offers three miles of peaceful beaches as well as Ladyburn Lake, a freshwater lake ensconced in woods and meadows.
Then there's Kielder Forest. Time your arrival for sundown and the 12-mile forest drive is quite literally golden.
Stop for a bite to eat at The Ship Inn in Low Newton – if you can get a seat. The pub's remarkable views mean this is a popular choice for locals and tourists alike.
Then there's Bamburgh Castle, the magnificent pile standing proudly on its crag. The views are so remarkable that a picnic bench overlooking the castle has won an award.
After checking out the castle, grab a cream tea and cake at the Copper Kettle before hopping in and driving on.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. If you want an adventure in the North East, look no further than the Northumberland 250.
Northumberland Coastal Route
The Northumberland Coast is one of the natural wonders of the world, so it's no surprise that the Northumberland Coastal Route road trip came third in a
list of top 20 scenic routes.
The route stretches 62 miles from Cresswell in the south to Berwick upon Tweed in the north. Along the way, your eyes can feast on Roman ruins, a handful of castles, picturesque villages and golden sands.
Every road trip needs a lunch break, so why not enjoy fish and chips or a pub lunch at Seahouses, Alnmouth or Craster?
There's always the possibility of combining your road trip with other activities. The stretch of beaches from Beadnell to Bamburgh is the perfect spot for surfing, sailing, diving and snorkelling.
And like all road trips, the Northumberland Coastal Route can be sliced and diced into smaller chunks with ease. There's a 30-mile version that takes you from Alnmouth to Holy Island via Bamburgh Castle.
This version of the route needs a bit more planning. To access Holy Island, you need to sync up your journey with the tide times or face disappointment.
What to do on Lindisfarne
The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is a place that reverberates with echoes from the past. There's the castle built in the region of Henry VIII. There's the abbey where monks wrote the Lindisfarne gospels. Even the gift shop smacks of the past, with its bottles of mead brewed and bottled on the island.
But if the Holy Island is on your agenda, planning is everything. Every day, the North Sea sweeps in and floods the causeway. You need to make sure you arrive at low tide. The alternative is to be unable to cross – or to waste the lifeboats' time by getting stuck.
The Farne Islands
If your road trip takes in the village of Seahouses, why not venture out to the Farne Islands? Three of the 28 islands are accessible: Inner Farne and Longstone all year round, Staple from May to July.
The islands have been dubbed the "Galapagos of Europe" thanks to their remarkable colonies of seals and puffins.
So, if you want a break from the wheel, park up at Seahouses and book a boat trip from the harbour.
Final thoughts
Road trips are a great way to get a better look at the landscapes all around us. In the case of Northumberland, it's a remarkably beautiful, peaceful and diverse landscape.
And if you're looking to hire a car for the occasion,
explore your options at MVH Rental. As a leading name in
Tyne and Wear car hire, we're sure to have a suitable vehicle in stock to get you on the road in no time.
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