The towns and villages dotted around Alnwick span a scale of contrasts from cosy coastal hamlets to remote hillside communities.
Head eastwards to the sea and you'll feel like you've travelled back in time to traditional fishing villages where a warm welcome always awaits.
There's Embleton and Newton-by-the-Sea - two geographically close but distinct communities. Embleton's beach still sports old-fashioned wooden beach huts while Newton is owned by The National Trust and boasts a lively and popular pub The Ship Inn (originally known as the Smack Inn) that has its own micro-brewery with real ales brewed on the premises.
There's picturesque Craster, home of the famous kipper and also renowned for herring fishing. You can also walk or cycle a mile north to ancient Dunstanburgh Castle, which was last occupied during the War of the Roses.
The Alnwick coastline also takes in Warkworth Castle, noted for its arts and crafts, while nearby Alnmouth boasts superb sandy beaches and a memorable golf course nestling just next to the dunes. Further South there is Amble - a traditional fishing port with a modern marina and a busy seafront.
Remember, this stretch of the Northumberland coast is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and you can see grey seals, dune flowers, over-wintering birds and summer seabird colonies.
Inland, you'll find the Alnwick countryside is a great area for walking, short and long hikes, cycling, fishing, and in fact every kind of country pursuit. There are untouched hamlets and villages like Ingram and Glanton nestling on the edge of the picturesque Northumberland National Park while to the South of Alnwick you can experience the quiet hamlet of Guyzance that boasts one of the finest 18th Century dams in England.
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