Perfect spots for a picnic basket
Picnic beside a crumbling castle and follow up your feast with some exploration. Dine out on the beach, where the sand is your cushion and the soothing sound of the waves is your soundtrack. And, where-ever you choose to eat your picnic, make sure it packs a punch with local, Northumberland produce.
Castles such as Warkworth, Etal and Bamburgh all have grounds that make stunning picnic spots, or park up at Craster and bundle your picnic together for a stroll to Dunstanburgh Castle. Druridge Bay, Alnmouth beach, Warkworth beach and Lindisfarne Island are all excellent options, and at Lindisfarne Priory you have the option to buy some local mead for a post-picnic treat.
If you want to reconnect with nature and listen to the silence of Northumberland’s landscape, then there are many places to stop along Hadrian’s Wall and Kielder Water & Forest Park. Breamish Valley in Northumberland National Park is also a particularly scenic spot for an outdoors meal, and you could then walk to Linhope Spout Waterfall to see the crashing water and, if you’re lucky, some red squirrels and other rare wildlife.
Make sure your basket is brimming with local foods, from a salad made with locally-produced cheese, to fresh crab harvested from the sea in front of you. Need to make a stop to pick up some of the essentials? Head to SPAR Thropton near Rothbury and Cragside.