In & around Alnwick

Alnwick, voted 'Best Place in Britain to Live' by Country Life magazine, is renowned for shopping, a lively events calendar and farmers' markets. It's also home to The Alnwick Garden and Alnwick Castle, rising dramatically above the town and famous among Harry Potter fans as the setting for Hogwarts. Don't miss Alnwick's 'Barter Books' either, one of the largest second hand bookshops in Europe.

The many towns and villages dotted around Alnwick span a scale of contrasts from cosy coastal hamlets to remote hillside locations. Amble is a traditional fishing port with a modern marina and interesting seafront, with the coastal Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty beginning just north of the town. The coastline embraces Warkworth Castle, which towers over the picturesque streets of Warkworth, noted for its arts and crafts, while nearby Alnmouth boasts superb sandy beaches and the historic Foxton Golf Course. Picturesque Craster, renowned for herring fishing and world famous Craster kippers lies nearby. Walk or cycle a mile north to ancient Dunstanburgh Castle, perched high above the rippled sands of Embleton Bay and last occupied during the War of the Roses.

Follow the Coquet Valley from Warkworth and discover postcard-pretty Coquetdale villages including Longframlington, Rothbury, Thropton and Sharperton. Rothbury, the 'Capital of Coquetdale,' is a picturesque town in a beautiful setting, home to unique shops and a great base for exploring the great outdoors. Close by, Cragside Country House and Gardens is a historic home and marvel of Victorian ingenuity set among spectacular rocky scenery. Thrunton Woods, Edlingham Castle and Brinkburn Priory are wildlife-rich spots well worth packing a picnic for, contrasting with the rugged uplands at Harbottle and Alwinton on the eastern fringes of Northumberland National Park. North lies the Breamish Valley with cold Cheviot streams and gorse-covered hill country cradling the charming villages of Powburn and Ingram.

Useful Links

Visit Alnwick Website

Visit Rothbury & Coquetdale Website