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Woodhorn & coast region

Visit Woodhorn & coast and you'll find an area that combines stunning coastal scenery with a proud sense of its own industrial heritage.

To the north you will find Cresswell, a famous spot for bird watching, and then Newbiggin-by-the-Sea - an attractive seaside town where you can still enjoy local, freshly caught cod in local restaurants. Newbiggin-by-the-Sea is also home to 'Couple' - the UK's first off shore art installation.

Inland you'll find tight-knit but friendly communities. There are traditional markets at Ashington and Bedlington and the picturesque harbour town of Seaton Sluice which marks the start of a famous woodland walk through the bluebells of Holywell Dene.

And try to fit in a visit to Seaton Delaval Hall, one of the region's greatest country houses, which the National Trust is currently campaigning to preserve for the nation.

Near Ashington you'll find Woodhorn, a former colliery that is now a thriving museum featuring exhibitions about pit life and treasured paintings composed by the Ashington Group or Pitmen Painters.

There's a big screen show employing state-of-the-art computer simulations to ‘rebuild’ the Colliery that flies you back to its sweat inducing, bone crunching heyday.

You can also explore the colliery buildings, hum along to a brass band, and even design your own miners' banner.

Woodhorn is also home to the Northumberland county archives giving you the chance to explore your family tree and really find out if you are related to one of the Border Reiver families.

If you want to stretch your legs, visit the nearby Queen Elizabeth II Country Park with its wetland wildlife and sailing and watersports lake.