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Alnwick & the Northumberland Coast

Land of wild beaches & mighty fortresses
 
Experience the tranquillity of the Northumberland coast on this self-guided, hotel-to-hotel walking holiday, with luggage transfers included. You stay in high-quality accommodation, and enjoy leisurely routes that visit iconic castles and unspoiled beaches. There’s even time to take a boat trip to spot wildlife on the Farne Islands.
Alnwick & the Northumberland Coast. 4 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Alnwick & the Northumberland Coast. 4 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday in Northumberland

Seabirds swirling above you, waves crashing in the distance and a broad sweep of golden sand glinting ahead – walking along the Northumberland coast is an uplifting experience.

This is a sparsely populated corner of the country where, away from the bustling fishing villages, the landscapes feel wild and remote. Enigmatic ruins punctuate the shoreline, and a great variety of wildlife can be seen off the coast – from waders and wildfowl in the summer months to the inquisitive grey seals of the autumn.
Our 4-night break combines superb walking along the Northumberland Coast Path with leisurely countryside trails – beginning in the medieval market town of Alnwick. Here, there’s a magnificent castle and garden to explore, while the neat landscapes of nearby Hulne Park provide a rewarding contrast with the coastal scenery that follows. From shimmering bays to atmospheric castles and the chance to enjoy a wildlife-spotting boat trip to the Farne Islands, there are highlights aplenty – one of which is the warm welcome you receive at our friendly and high-quality accommodation.

To complete your Northumbrian adventure, we recommend adding an extra night at the end of your holiday to visit the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.
 

Book with confidence

At present, we are only accepting bookings for English holidays for travel from 17 May onwards. Our flexible booking arrangements, commitment to safety and financial protection mean that you can book with confidence, despite the current restrictions in place.

What we’re doing so you can book and travel with confidence >

We will contact customers who have a holiday booking with us in spring nearer the date of departure.
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.

    East England is less prone to rain than the west, but you should always be prepared for wet weather. The breeding season for seabirds is from spring to late summer, with large numbers of puffins on the Farne Islands between April and late July.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 6 7 9 11 14 16 19 18 16 13 9 7
    mm 46 39 40 52 48 56 57 59 47 54 49 46
  • Arrival in Alnwick
    Night 1: at Greycroft (the first of two nights here). Alternatively, upgrade to The Cookie Jar.
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.
  • Choice of routes from Alnwick: 5 or 11km (3 or 7 miles)
    On your full day in Alnwick, we highly recommend visiting the magnificent castle, home to the Dukes of Northumberland and star of the silver screen – the castle has famously featured as Hogwarts in two Harry Potter films, and has played a part in many other productions.

    We also provide notes for two circular walks, each offering a different perspective of the surrounding countryside:

    The Alnwick Garden: 5km (3 miles), 2hrs
    Adjacent to the castle is The Alnwick Garden, an exciting and ambitious 21st-century garden planted on the site of a long-forgotten plot. The current Duchess of Northumberland led the redevelopment, and installed such popular features as the Poison Garden, where you can learn more about the world’s deadliest plants on a guided tour. From here, our route crosses the Aln and meanders through river pastures to the Lion Bridge, which enjoys an excellent view of the castle. Return to Alnwick via tranquil meadows.

    Hulne Park: 11km (7 miles), 3.5hrs
    For those who prefer a longer walk, we suggest a circuit through scenic Hulne Park, designed by the celebrated landscape gardener, Capability Brown, and the only one of the three parks that originally surrounded the castle to survive today. The neat landscapes of this former ducal hunting ground offer a fabulous contrast to the coastal scenery you will encounter later in the holiday, and within the park you will find the ruins of ancient Hulne Priory, and the Brizlee Tower, an elaborate folly which dates from the 1780s.
    Alnwick's mighty castle
    Explore the surrounding countryside
    The Alnwick Garden: 5km
    Hulne Park: 11km
  • Alnwick to Beadnell: 13km (8 miles), 4hrs
    Today, you journey to the coast, calling first at the famous ‘kipper village’ of Craster before joining the Northumberland Coast Path for one of its finest sections. The highlights now come thick and fast: atmospheric Dunstanburgh Castle – among the most photographed ruins in the country; the generous sweep of shimmering Embleton Bay; and the acclaimed Ship Inn at secluded Low Newton, renowned for its superb seafood and on-site microbrewery. At day’s end, you reach Beadnell Towers, a beautiful boutique hotel where you spend your final two nights.
    Embleton Bay
    Alnwick to Beadnell: 13km
  • Beadnell to Bamburgh Castle: 10.5km (6.5 miles), 3.5hrs; longer option: 14.5km (9 miles), 5hrs
    In keeping with the rest of the holiday, your last day is packed with interest. Our recommended walking route begins with a short stretch to the popular fishing village of Seahouses, from where you can choose to take a boat trip (weather dependent) to see the inquisitive seals and incredible seabird colonies of the Farne Islands. From Seahouses, our route continues to the Armstrong family’s impressive home, Bamburgh Castle. Once you have toured this imposing fortress – one of the largest inhabited castles in the country – it’s well worth calling into Bamburgh village to visit the small, modern museum which tells the inspiring story of local heroine Grace Darling. Return to Beadnell by bus or, for a longer walk, continue on foot to Budle Bay, whose seemingly endless golden sands are a paradise for wading birds. The return leg from Budle Bay to Beadnell is also by bus.

    Visit Lindisfarne
    Alternatively, Beadnell lies within easy reach of Lindisfarne, which – tides permitting – you can access by car or taxi. The ‘Holy Island’ is home to a number of places of historic interest, not least of which are the ruins of the priory founded by St Aidan and St Cuthbert, and the museum dedicated to the famous Lindisfarne Gospels (now in the British Museum). We provide notes for a circular walk (7.5km/4.5 miles, 2.5hrs) around the island, passing the medieval castle (redesigned by Sir Edwin Lutyens) and the gardens (laid out by Gertude Jekyll) before heading on to see the wildlife that inhabits the dunes of the northern coast.
    Bamburgh Castle
    The Holy Island of Lindisfarne
    Beadnell to Bamburgh Castle: 10.5km
    Beadnell to Budle Bay: 14.5km
 

Accommodation

Both of our hand-picked places to stay offer a typically warm Northumbrian welcome.

We offer an upgrade option in Alnwick. Please indicate your preference at the time of booking. Whichever accommodation you choose, we recommend an extra night here for time to visit both Alnwick Castle and Garden, and to enjoy our walking route in Hulne Park.
 

Extend your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 4 nights: 01 March 2021 - 31 October 2021

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 Mar - 30 Apr 2021 £545 £250
    1 - 31 May 2021 £570 £265
    1 Jun - 31 Aug 2021 £595 £295
    1 - 30 Sep 2021 £570 £265
    1 - 27 Oct 2021 £545 £250
    3rd & 4th person discount -£20
    Single traveller supplement £20

    Please note: dogs are not permitted on Inntravel holidays

    Included travel: transfer Beadnell-Alnwick (if driving) OR from Alnmouth railway station to Alnwick

  • 4 nights, staying at The Cookie Jar: 01 March 2021 - 31 October 2021

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 Mar - 30 Apr 2021 £645 £450
    1 - 31 May 2021 £670 £465
    1 Jun - 31 Aug 2021 £695 £495
    1 - 30 Sep 2021 £670 £465
    1 - 27 Oct 2021 £645 £450
    3rd & 4th person discount -£20
    Single traveller supplement £20

    Please note: dogs are not permitted on Inntravel holidays

    Included travel: transfer Beadnell-Alnwick (if driving) OR from Alnmouth railway station to Alnwick

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Beadnell Towers, Beadnell
    'Delightful': 01 Mar - 31 Oct 2021 £20
    'Heritage': 01 Mar - 31 Oct 2021 £40

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Greycroft, Alnwick (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Mar - 31 Oct 2021 £75 £100
    Beadnell Towers, Beadnell (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Mar - 31 Mar 2021 £140 £230
    01 Apr - 31 May 2021 £145 £245
    01 Jun - 31 Aug 2021 £160 £270
    01 Sep - 31 Oct 2021 £145 £245

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Beadnell Towers, Beadnell
    'Delightful': 01 Mar - 31 Oct 2021 £20
    'Heritage': 01 Mar - 31 Oct 2021 £40

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    The Cookie Jar, Alnwick (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Mar - 31 Oct 2021 £125 £250
    Beadnell Towers, Beadnell (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Mar - 31 Mar 2021 £140 £230
    01 Apr - 31 May 2021 £145 £245
    01 Jun - 31 Aug 2021 £160 £270
    01 Sep - 31 Oct 2021 £145 £245
  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Connecting travel options - via Alnmouth

    Outward route Price per person Latest train
    arrival time
    taxi Alnmouth station to hotel (0h15) included flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest train
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Alnmouth station (0h30) £10 flexible

    Connecting travel options - via Berwick

    Outward route Price per person Latest train
    arrival time
    Berwick not recommended for outward travel
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest train
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Berwick station (0h45) £20 flexible
What is included
  • 4 nights
  • 2 dinners
    4 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • taxi between first and last hotels (if driving)
 
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FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • We sincerely hope that your holiday experience will be as enjoyable as it would have been before the pandemic – walking holidays are ideal in these times of social distancing, and we’re not operating holidays if the key highlights can no longer be delivered – but, naturally, there will be some changes to ensure your and other people’s safety.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. If/when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation, meaning that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

    For more detailed information, see our walking holidays in Europe page.
  • Yes, absolutely. Over the years, we have arranged a great many walking holidays in the UK for customers living in the USA, Canada, Australia and beyond.

    If you've never travelled with us before, it's worth reading the web pages which explain how we can cater for customers who live outside the UK. The main thing to bear in mind is that our tour operator's licence doesn't allow us to book flights that originate outside the UK, and nor are we able to book rail travel in the UK, so we can't make travel arrangements for you, other than pre-arranging taxis between the local railway station and the accommodation – see the ‘prices & travel options’ section for the options available.

    As regards entry requirements, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. Our essential travel information page provides links to websites where you can find out about the applicable requirements, along with general official travel advice.
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to take out our recommended travel insurance policy (if you live outside the UK you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    We'll ask you for the details of your policy (insurer, policy number and medical emergency phone number) so that we can help out if the worst happens while you are on holiday. It's up to you, though, to check that your policy covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs; we don't check alternative policies.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
  • Unfortunately not. The Inntravel team includes many dog owners, but the extra considerations – such as whether taxi firms accept dogs for transfers to the start of walks, whether routes cross private land on which dogs are not allowed, and proximity to a vet’s – would add another layer of complexity to what are already quite complex holidays.
Last fetch time is : 3/5/2021 9:15:26 AM