Things to do while staying at the Tower
Northumberland is blessed with an enormous wealth of things to do come rain or shine. Coast and castles, beaches, islands and water-sports, hiking & biking, exploring magnificent National properties or pretty local villages - the county has a lot to offer. There are so many things to do in Northumberland, it would be impossible to for us to provide a comprehensive list without creating a website just dedicated to that, but here are some of our favourites and some useful links & references for you to explore.
Castles, History & the Coast
Some say Northumberland is defined by its coast and the castles that sit upon it, but there are a lot of other castles and historic sites that are worthy of a visit too! Most are familiar in name at least with the imposing Bamburgh Castle, which has acted as a sentinel over the North Sea since the 12th century. It’s origins go way before that to Celtic times and it has been the scene of multiple Viking invasions. Lindisfarne Castle (National Trust) sits atop Holy Island, and the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle offers a more spooky atmosphere, especially in the mist. Alnwick Castle was used extensively in the filming of the Harry Potter films, and is well worth a visit with The Alnwick Gardens a real favourite. There are other great castles at Chillingham (just down the road and very much worth a visit) and Warkworth (English Heritage) both of which you can spend some hours at. Other Castles of note we have visited are those at Norham, Ford & Etal. We can also recommend Cragside (National Trust) for a full day of activity & history, and beautiful gardens. Very much worth the 40 minute drive.
Walks & Hikes
There are truly epic walking & hiking trails in Northumberland. From the latest 38 mile stretch of the King Charles III England Coast Path that takes hikers along the enchanting Northumberland coast via imperious castles, eerie mudflats and a tidal holy island, to strolls in the historic and quirky towns of Wooler, Alnwick and Hexham. There is a good list of 17 different walks here from exploring the coast to easy village strolls, most of which we have done and can recommend. An old section of railway has recently been re-opened as a walkway between Alnwick and Cornhill. We’ve yet to try it out ourselves, but it looks great. There are also great walks out on Hadrians wall, and plenty of local paths a google search will reveal. We can also recommend the Simonside area near Rothbury (above) for a good hike.
Other Activities
This area of Northumberland has even more to offer from a spot of fly fishing - we recommend Chatton Trout Fishery, or whether you take in the local villages and towns for some shopping and browsing - Alnwick has a fantastic book shop - Barter Books, and Seahouses has some great independent retailers too. You musy try Crasters famous kippers if you get the chance. Amble, a town that hosts the UK’s only Puffin festival is also worth a visit, as is Berwick, England’s most Northerly outpost for cup of coffee and a slice of cake! For those of you that like the night skies, Keilder Obsevatory is world class. The hounted Chillingham Castle offers a quirky day out, as does Paxton House near Berwick for a day right on the Border.
The Woodland @ Bellshill Tower
Not forgetting of course the special woodland at the Tower itself, which you are free to explore at your leisure. A large part of the middle part of the woodland was destroyed by Storm Arwen in 2021, and so we are actively managing its recovery through a mixture of replanting and heathland development. The woodland has some tracks that you can walk along to access different parts. There are some amazing views to be had of Bamburgh castle (far eastern gate), Holy Island/Lindisfarne (mid woodland), and you are bound to see abundant wildlife in it’s element - from hares, to stoats, to owls & deer and if you are very lucky red squirrels (as well as the greedy greys). There is also a large active badger set on the North Western boundary. Please take care around this area as the badgers have dug deep holes. You can see evidence of their activity in small tracks, latrines, and the network of tunnels they have constructed.
Note: Please stick to paths. We are rewilding and replanting various sections of the woodland, and there are sensitive and rare plants and fungi to protect. There are no BBQs or open fires allowed in the woodland. Please also leave only footprints - all litter is to be taken back to the Tower. Dog owners please clean up after your pets. This is a pristine environment and we want to keep it that way.
(Please also note that you use the woodland at your own risk)
Bird-Watching
The woodland at Bellshill Tower is teaming with birds, and hence is a birdwatchers paradise. We recommend using the Merlin App (download for free from Apple/Google appstores) and taking a slow walk through the woodland to see what you can identify. We have Owls, Buzzards, Whitethroats, Red Crossbills, Woodpeckers, Garden & Common Grasshopper Warblers, Skylarks, Yellowhammers, Redstarts, and a host of other woodland birds too numerous to mention here. (please let us know what you spot during your stay in the guestbook!). If seabirds are your thing, we have the fabulous Farne Islands within easy reach, (and visible from the Tower). This website about the Birds of the Farne Islands is good, and a decent information source on travel to them also. Razorbills, Little Auks, Ruddy Turnstones and of course Atlantic Puffins abound. Andy Howey’s Birds of Prey centre is also a must.
Cycling
Cycle enthusiasts are spoilt for choice. NCN Route 1 is nearby, and the roads out towards & beyond Wooler offer some decent climbs and descents. Kielder forest has some brilliant gravel trails also (I can recommend, having done the Dirty Riever race a few times), and there’s a great 26-mile ‘round the reservoir’ gravel route packed with interesting stop-off points and artwork, offering tremendous views.
Other Resources
There are some other resources for you to explore here;
Visit Northumberland website offers a great set of resources
Lonely Planet’s take on Northumberland, and another from Anywhere we Roam cover similar
This website offers its top 20 ideas for days out with kids in Northumberland