Fab Castle, Great Golf and More on the Northumbrian Coast
A Coach and Horses in Northumbria and Another Royal Wedding
It had all the trappings of a typical Royal Wedding - groom's men in frock coats, adorable children, a regal coach with footmen (or are they footwomen?), a diamond tiara, a castle for the party after and even a Middleton girl on hand. When Lady Katie Percy, eldest daughter of the Duke of Northumberland, married Patrick Valentine in February 2011, at St. Michael's Church in Alnwick, locals in the Northumberland village got a bit of a jump on that other Royal Wedding set for Westminister Abbey on April 29.
Katie is a friend of Prince William and his fiancee Kate Middleton and rumors swept the crowds, some of whom waited two hours in the cold and rain to see the bride, that the Royal couple would attend, but only Kate Middleton's sister, Pippa, was spotted among the guests.
Still, it was splendid occasion with the Duke's own private piper (private piper!)Andrew Davison, piping the couple and their 300 guests to the reception at Alnwick Castle, seat of of the Duke of Northumberland and stand-in for Hogwarts in two Harry Potter films. The castle is open to the public and the antique coach, pictured here, is on display in the castle coachhouse.
By the way, if you are planning to head for Northumberland to see the castle and its environs, bring your fishing gear because we hear the salmon fishing is great there. According to the Sun newspaper, the groom went fishing on the morning of his wedding day and caught two salmon.
Alnwick Castle - Home of the Duke of Northumberland. Or Could it be Hogwarts?
If you think Alnwick Castle (pronouned An-ick) looks familiar, then perhaps you are a Harry Potter fan. The castle featured as Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter movies. Remember the flying lesson on broomsticks in Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone and the crash landing of the flying car in Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets? Those scenes and others were filmed at Alnwick Castle.
This is the second largest inhabited castle in England and today is home to the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland and their family.
More than 700 years old, Alnwick Castle has been much repaired, restored and extended over the centuries.
Plan to take a full day to explore all that Alnwick Castle and Alnwick Gardens have to offer.
Alnmouth - A Historic Seaside Village and a Fine Day Out
The historic village of Alnmouth (pronouned An-muth) sits on the Northumberland coast, facing the North Sea. In medieval times it was an important sea port, mainly for exporting grain. Several of the picturesque buildings in the village are former granaries.
Alnmouth hasn’t always been so peaceful. In 1779, during the American Revolutionary War, American naval hero John Paul Jones fired a cannon ball at the town and hit a farmhouse roof.
Then, in 1806, a great storm changed the course of the River Aln and ended Alnmouth’s time as a prosperous port.
Today, if you walk down the quiet main street to the Aln estuary, you can see long sandy beaches stretching for miles north and south, with only the occasional yacht at sea. There’s lots of good walking along this coast, and no shortage of pubs, restaurants and cafés when you get back.
Alnwick - Take a Day Trip to a Historic Market Town
The historic market town of Alnwick (pronounced An-ick) in Northumberland is sometimes referred to as the Windsor of the North. Its location made it a medieval power base – just one day's horse ride north to Berwick-upon-Tweed or south to Newcastle.
Day trippers from Newcastle can take the train to Alnmouth and then either catch the hourly bus service or enjoy a four-mile walk along the river Aln.
Imposing stone buildings still form the backdrop, but much of Alnwick's charm is in its narrow alleyways and cobbled streets.
On Thursdays and Saturdays, you can look around the busy Market Place – as bargain hunters have done for hundreds of years.
If it rains, everyone heads for Barter Books. This is one of the largest second hand book shops in England, with over 350,000 books. Based in what was Alnwick's Victorian Railway Station (Alnwick has no rail service now), its atmosphere is unique. Check out the model railway running above the bookshelves.The New Statesman called Barter Books, "The British Library of secondhand bookshops."
A Round of Golf by the Sea in Northumbria
Alnmouth Village Golf Club is England’s oldest 9-hole golf club. Established in 1869, it was designed and created by golfer Mungo Park, who was also the club’s first professional. It’s a windy spot, like so many links courses, with salty breezes blowing off the North Sea for much of the year.
However, it is usually playable all the year round and visitors are very welcome. In summer 2010, green fees were just £20 per day, or £60 per week.
Less than a mile north, the Alnmouth Golf Club, founded the same year, proudly describes itself as the fourth oldest course in England, though the existing course was designed and created in the 1930s.
Such histories may not compare with centuries of golf in Scotland, but are reason enough for a bracing round by the sea.
Northumberland Beach Walk - Part I
This walk north from Alnmouth to Boulmer (pronounced Boomer) is a gentle introduction to coast walking in Northumberland.
From the Aln estuary at Alnmouth, turn left along the wide (and often windy) shore, past the Alnmouth Village Golf Club, for a gentle three mile stroll. That will probably take an hour and a half at a gentle pace.
Like all coastal walks, it’s wise to check the tides before you leave.
The beach is wide and flat, with some rocky stretches. Seabirds wheel and flutter around and if the tide is out, there are rock pools to investigate.
Boulmer itself is tiny, but there’s food, drink and accommodation at The Fishing Boat Inn before you retrace your steps to Alnmouth – perhaps along the dunes this time - or head further north towards Craster.
Northumberland Beach Walk - Part II, Boulmer to Craster and Dunstanburgh
As you leave Boulmer behind on the coastal walk towards Craster, the craggy ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle come into view in the distance. Eight miles north, it provides a great focus for a longer walk. The coastal path here is more rocky and dramatic than the soft, sweeping section from Alnmouth to Boulmer.
Craster is famous for its kippers, and fishing boats still come in to the rather ugly little concrete harbour.
If you do try kippers, take a bottle of water for the rest of your walk because the taste can surely linger.
The close-up view of Dunstanburgh Castle, perched on volcanic rock, is as dramatic as its own history. The largest of the Northumberland castles, Dunstanburgh was a hot spot in the Wars of the Roses, the focus of fighting between King Edward II and Earl Thomas of Lancaster. Lancaster began building it in 1313 but failed to reach it when his rebellion collapsed. He was executed in 1322 and the castle passed to John of Gaunt. A National Trust property, the castle is managed by English Heritage and open to the public - a turnabout since for most of its early history it was heavily defended in order to keep people out.
Coastal castles are Northumberland’s local speciality and another impressive fortress, Warkworth Castle and Hermitage, is an easy four mile walk south from Alnmouth.The castle is owned and managed by English Heritage and open to the public.The Hermitage, across the river and a short walk from the castle, is a tiny 14th century chapel, carved out of rock, with the remains of the hermit's house, chapel, confessional and dormitory.
Walkers from Alnmouth must cross the River Aln using the road bridge. The river may look deceptively easy to wade at low tide but this isn’t safe enough to recommend. After that, there are several routes, either along the beach or using well marked inland paths.
Warkworth Castle was first recorded as having been captured by the Scots in 1173. After some 500 years of continued turmoil, battle and fortification, it was badly damaged in 1648 during the English Civil War. For many years it was home to the powerful Percy family (who now live in Alnwick Castle).
After seeing the castle, the pretty village of Warkworth is also well worth a visit.
It takes around three and a half hours to reach Alnmouth by train from London’s Kings Cross station or about half an hour from Newcastle by train. Although the train schedules only list Alnmouth as the destination, make sure you watch for the station sign that says Alnmouth for Alnwick (pronounced Anmuth for An-ick). It's about a mile outside the village of Alnmouth.
The walk into the Alnmouth village is a gentle, downhill stroll – fine for hardy backpackers – but anyone with less portable luggage will need a taxi - available at the station.
This is also the nearest station for Alnwick, which is about 15 minutes away by road. The dramatic viaduct pictured takes the train over the River Aln on its journey north towards Berwick upon Tweed and Scotland. Walkers taking the river route from Alnmouth to Alnwick pass under this viaduct.
Plan your train journey with National Rail Enquiries
It had all the trappings of a typical Royal Wedding - groom's men in frock coats, adorable children, a regal coach with footmen (or are they footwomen?), a diamond tiara, a castle for the party after and even a Middleton girl on hand. When Lady Katie Percy, eldest daughter of the Duke of Northumberland, married Patrick Valentine in February 2011, at St. Michael's Church in Alnwick, locals in the Northumberland village got a bit of a jump on that other Royal Wedding set for Westminister Abbey on April 29.
Katie is a friend of Prince William and his fiancee Kate Middleton and rumors swept the crowds, some of whom waited two hours in the cold and rain to see the bride, that the Royal couple would attend, but only Kate Middleton's sister, Pippa, was spotted among the guests.
Still, it was splendid occasion with the Duke's own private piper (private piper!)Andrew Davison, piping the couple and their 300 guests to the reception at Alnwick Castle, seat of of the Duke of Northumberland and stand-in for Hogwarts in two Harry Potter films. The castle is open to the public and the antique coach, pictured here, is on display in the castle coachhouse.
By the way, if you are planning to head for Northumberland to see the castle and its environs, bring your fishing gear because we hear the salmon fishing is great there. According to the Sun newspaper, the groom went fishing on the morning of his wedding day and caught two salmon.
Alnwick Castle - Home of the Duke of Northumberland. Or Could it be Hogwarts?
If you think Alnwick Castle (pronouned An-ick) looks familiar, then perhaps you are a Harry Potter fan. The castle featured as Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter movies. Remember the flying lesson on broomsticks in Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone and the crash landing of the flying car in Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets? Those scenes and others were filmed at Alnwick Castle.
This is the second largest inhabited castle in England and today is home to the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland and their family.
More than 700 years old, Alnwick Castle has been much repaired, restored and extended over the centuries.
Plan to take a full day to explore all that Alnwick Castle and Alnwick Gardens have to offer.
Visitor Essentials
- Address: Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland NE66 1NQ, England
- Phone: 24-hour information line +44 (0)1665 511 100
- Open: April to October
- Admission: Entrance charges apply
- Getting there: Almouth railway station is 15 minutes away and served by an hourly bus service. Taxi's are also available at the railway station.
- Visit their website
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Alnmouth - A Historic Seaside Village and a Fine Day Out
The historic village of Alnmouth (pronouned An-muth) sits on the Northumberland coast, facing the North Sea. In medieval times it was an important sea port, mainly for exporting grain. Several of the picturesque buildings in the village are former granaries.
Alnmouth hasn’t always been so peaceful. In 1779, during the American Revolutionary War, American naval hero John Paul Jones fired a cannon ball at the town and hit a farmhouse roof.
Then, in 1806, a great storm changed the course of the River Aln and ended Alnmouth’s time as a prosperous port.
Today, if you walk down the quiet main street to the Aln estuary, you can see long sandy beaches stretching for miles north and south, with only the occasional yacht at sea. There’s lots of good walking along this coast, and no shortage of pubs, restaurants and cafés when you get back.
Find this and more on a zoomable map
Alnwick - Take a Day Trip to a Historic Market Town
The historic market town of Alnwick (pronounced An-ick) in Northumberland is sometimes referred to as the Windsor of the North. Its location made it a medieval power base – just one day's horse ride north to Berwick-upon-Tweed or south to Newcastle.
Day trippers from Newcastle can take the train to Alnmouth and then either catch the hourly bus service or enjoy a four-mile walk along the river Aln.
Imposing stone buildings still form the backdrop, but much of Alnwick's charm is in its narrow alleyways and cobbled streets.
On Thursdays and Saturdays, you can look around the busy Market Place – as bargain hunters have done for hundreds of years.
If it rains, everyone heads for Barter Books. This is one of the largest second hand book shops in England, with over 350,000 books. Based in what was Alnwick's Victorian Railway Station (Alnwick has no rail service now), its atmosphere is unique. Check out the model railway running above the bookshelves.The New Statesman called Barter Books, "The British Library of secondhand bookshops."
- Read more about visiting Alnwick
- See what's happening in Alnwick's markets
- Compare Prices for the White Swan in Alnwick
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A Round of Golf by the Sea in Northumbria
Alnmouth Village Golf Club is England’s oldest 9-hole golf club. Established in 1869, it was designed and created by golfer Mungo Park, who was also the club’s first professional. It’s a windy spot, like so many links courses, with salty breezes blowing off the North Sea for much of the year.
However, it is usually playable all the year round and visitors are very welcome. In summer 2010, green fees were just £20 per day, or £60 per week.
Less than a mile north, the Alnmouth Golf Club, founded the same year, proudly describes itself as the fourth oldest course in England, though the existing course was designed and created in the 1930s.
Such histories may not compare with centuries of golf in Scotland, but are reason enough for a bracing round by the sea.
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Northumberland Beach Walk - Part I
This walk north from Alnmouth to Boulmer (pronounced Boomer) is a gentle introduction to coast walking in Northumberland.
From the Aln estuary at Alnmouth, turn left along the wide (and often windy) shore, past the Alnmouth Village Golf Club, for a gentle three mile stroll. That will probably take an hour and a half at a gentle pace.
Like all coastal walks, it’s wise to check the tides before you leave.
The beach is wide and flat, with some rocky stretches. Seabirds wheel and flutter around and if the tide is out, there are rock pools to investigate.
Boulmer itself is tiny, but there’s food, drink and accommodation at The Fishing Boat Inn before you retrace your steps to Alnmouth – perhaps along the dunes this time - or head further north towards Craster.
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Northumberland Beach Walk - Part II, Boulmer to Craster and Dunstanburgh
As you leave Boulmer behind on the coastal walk towards Craster, the craggy ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle come into view in the distance. Eight miles north, it provides a great focus for a longer walk. The coastal path here is more rocky and dramatic than the soft, sweeping section from Alnmouth to Boulmer.
Craster is famous for its kippers, and fishing boats still come in to the rather ugly little concrete harbour.
If you do try kippers, take a bottle of water for the rest of your walk because the taste can surely linger.
The close-up view of Dunstanburgh Castle, perched on volcanic rock, is as dramatic as its own history. The largest of the Northumberland castles, Dunstanburgh was a hot spot in the Wars of the Roses, the focus of fighting between King Edward II and Earl Thomas of Lancaster. Lancaster began building it in 1313 but failed to reach it when his rebellion collapsed. He was executed in 1322 and the castle passed to John of Gaunt. A National Trust property, the castle is managed by English Heritage and open to the public - a turnabout since for most of its early history it was heavily defended in order to keep people out.
Find this and more on a zoomable map
Coastal castles are Northumberland’s local speciality and another impressive fortress, Warkworth Castle and Hermitage, is an easy four mile walk south from Alnmouth.The castle is owned and managed by English Heritage and open to the public.The Hermitage, across the river and a short walk from the castle, is a tiny 14th century chapel, carved out of rock, with the remains of the hermit's house, chapel, confessional and dormitory.
Walkers from Alnmouth must cross the River Aln using the road bridge. The river may look deceptively easy to wade at low tide but this isn’t safe enough to recommend. After that, there are several routes, either along the beach or using well marked inland paths.
Warkworth Castle was first recorded as having been captured by the Scots in 1173. After some 500 years of continued turmoil, battle and fortification, it was badly damaged in 1648 during the English Civil War. For many years it was home to the powerful Percy family (who now live in Alnwick Castle).
After seeing the castle, the pretty village of Warkworth is also well worth a visit.
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It takes around three and a half hours to reach Alnmouth by train from London’s Kings Cross station or about half an hour from Newcastle by train. Although the train schedules only list Alnmouth as the destination, make sure you watch for the station sign that says Alnmouth for Alnwick (pronounced Anmuth for An-ick). It's about a mile outside the village of Alnmouth.
The walk into the Alnmouth village is a gentle, downhill stroll – fine for hardy backpackers – but anyone with less portable luggage will need a taxi - available at the station.
This is also the nearest station for Alnwick, which is about 15 minutes away by road. The dramatic viaduct pictured takes the train over the River Aln on its journey north towards Berwick upon Tweed and Scotland. Walkers taking the river route from Alnmouth to Alnwick pass under this viaduct.
Plan your train journey with National Rail Enquiries
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