If you walk out of the cottage and turn left past Branton Church House, on the bend in the road is the entrance to a wonderful nature reserve. There are two large lakes, a bird viewing hide, footpaths around the lakes in a figure of eight and a massive array of birds, flowers, trees and wildlife – blackberries in abundance too. Dogs can be off lead but MUST be kept near the path and never in the water, so as to protect the birdlife.
If you have a pram or a wheelchair to push, the walk to Fawden and back is perfect, great views, smooth tarmac road which is a cul de sac so very few cars pass, and barely a soul to be seen. The road to the River Breamish from Branton (also a cul de sac, unless you’re in a tractor or 4WD and happy with deep ford!) is rather more pot-holed, so a tusky pram might be Ok, but it can be a bumby ride.

The village of Warkworth is situated one mile west from the North Sea and Amble harbour and 7 miles south east of Alnwick. It is surrounded on three sides by the Coquet river and is dominated by the impressive Warkworth Castle. Warkworth village itself has one main street leading up to the castle, with nice pubs, shops and tearooms along it, as well as private houses.

The castle is owned by English Heritage, and is worth visiting, being very ‘castle like’ as a result of Victorian and earlier restoration, so children enjoy it very much. A walk along the river is easy going and picturesque.

Pronounced “Aln – mouth” (unlike Alnwick, the “L” is sounded) this popular but peaceful coastal resort has superb sandy beaches and two golf courses. The red roofed and pastel coloures houses which flank the estuary of the River Aln are particularly eye-catching from a distance.

Alnmouth has an interesting history as a trade port of some repute. In 1799, during the War of Independence, this reputation led to an attack on the port by the American privateer, John Paul Jones. One of the cannon balls from this attack has been preserved. A few years after this event Alnmouth harbour was left high and dry when a storm caused the river to change its course, forcing a new route through to the sea. This cut off Church Hill making the town’s church inaccessible and leading to its eventual destruction. The church’s position is now marked by a wooden cross. Beyond Church Hill the ruins of a long, low building between the dunes and the fields, indicates the area in which the port was originally located. Now used as a shelter by farm animals, this was formerly a guano shed, probably built here to store what was once a valuable commodity, on a spot which was an acceptable distance from the town. After the loss of the port, the town was revitalised with the coming of the railway in the 1840’s. It became a popular holiday resort and remains so to this day.

The village is very popular with visitors as in addition to its soft, golden sands it has several high quality hotels, bed & breakfasts, restaurants and gift shops. Don’t miss the amazing ice cream shop!

“Alnmouth for Alnwick” railway station is on the London-Newcastle-Edinburgh East Coast mainline and is served by 13 trains a day (in both directions). A “Bus Meets Train” service connects directly to Alnwick town. A “Plus Bus” ticket, purchased when you buy your rail ticket gives tou a full day’s unlimited travel on busses from the station to Alnwick or along the coast to Amble, Warkworth and Craster.

The best route is to join the A1 via Alnwick, then go via Preston tower (worth a visit) through Chathill and on to the coastal route, through Beadnell. Seahouses has gift shops galore and fish and chips served all day. The Ship Inn is great for a drink, with an outdoor area to sit if you have children, although the best bar is adults only. Market Day is Friday. You can walk to Seahouses from Bamburgh, along the beach all the way, about 4½ miles each way.

The Farne Islands are one of Europe’s most important seabird sanctuaries, home to more than 20 different species, including puffins, eider ducks and four species of tern. There is also a large colony of seals. St Cuthbert died on Inner Farne in 687 and the chapel built in his memory can be visited. There are 30 small islands in total, all are in the care of the National Trust and two, Staple and Inner Farne, permit landing, daily, in April – September (2005). Be sure to take a hat with you! Some of the terns will “dive bomb” visitors to protect their young. Tel: 01665 721099 for further information.

The 3 main boat companies operating trips to the Farnes out of Seahouses harbour are: Billy Shiel, tel: 01665 720308; Hanvey’s (St Cuthbert Farne Island Boat Trips), tel: 01665 720388 and Golden Gate, tel: 01665 721210. It’s essential to arrange your boat tickets as soon as you arrive in the town, as they can get booked up, better still book the day before. Wear warm and windproof, clothing even on a hot summers’ day, as out on the sea it is always chilly and once you’re out there, there’s no going back to get a fleece, screaming toddler or otherwise!

There is a 2 mile “there and back” route, and a 3 mile round route. The start is the same for both routes. The footpath from Branton takes you across fields with great views of Titlington pike, Glanton hill and pike, and Crawley fortified farmhouse.

You can enjoy  walk to Powburn, grab an ice cream at penny Petroleum and browse in Cheviot Antiques. The Plough Inn is due to re-open August 2024, after a decade closed, and will be selling our very own Cullercoats Brewery ales. Children will enjoy the fabulous new playground just in the village near the bridge, with it’s ‘flying fox’ ride, swings and climbing apparatus. You can come back the same way enjoying view of a line of hills (Fawdon, East and West hills). The longer round route takes you over the Breamish river and along fields via Brandon, with amazing views of Hedgehope, Dummoor hill, Brough Law and the Breamish Valley.

Walk a short distance from the cottage along the road directly in front of the cottage and take the footpath to the left (over a stile), waymarked for Powburn. You go past the farm, straight through a gate and up a track with a gentle incline to another gate. Go straight through the gate and into a field with “leaning trees” (in the direction of the prevailing westerly wind) to your left and to another gate which is next to a horse jumping fence. From here you can see Powburn and Hedgely. Go straight through the gate and head down the gentle descent (with a fence to your right) to the junction of the field and the small road where there is a fence and a waymarker for Branton (pointing the way you have come). Walk along the small road towards Powburn, and when it reaches the A697, cross the main road, and turn right. The Plough (pub in process of being refurbished – Nov 2023) is 200 metres along the road.

Return the same way or for a longer (3 miles in total) route walk back along the A697(on the same side as the Plough), past Hedgely Services and the road to Branton to the bridge over the Breamish river. Cross the road at the bridge and continue along the road for 50 metres to a waymark to Brandon at a gate to your left. Follow the path straight through the field to a stile, again straight through another field to another stile, again go staight through the field to another stile. At this point there is a small copse on your right. Head straight after the stile for a short distance, to a ditch with a bridge. Go over the bridge and head half right to a stile. Go straight ahead at the stile for a couple of hundred meters and then head half left to a stile at the top of a small bank in the field. Go straight over the stile to the wall of a disused cemetery. Follow the wall round, through a gate and to a further gate at the road. Go through the gate and turn left along the road passed the pretty hamlet of Brandon. Follow the road to the left, and instead of continuing along the road, carry on, along a track to a footbridge over the river Breamish. Once over the bridge follow the lane for half a mile to the junction with another road, at the Bosk Bistro. Turn left along the road and within a few metres you are back in Branton.

To get there, take the A1 from Alnwick, north as far as the B6347, off to the right, through Falloden and Christon Bank, and east to the coast. You can’t park in the village as it is too small, but there is a National Trust Car park a few minutes walk away.

Low Newton village and much of the surrounding stretch of beach is almost entirely owned by the National Trust. This small, 18th century fishing village is in the shape of an “open square” with cream-washed cottages set around a green and looking out to sea across the beach of Newton Haven. The Ship Inn is the popular local pub, serving delicious food and cask ales, ice lollies and Sunday papers! Many walkers enjoy eating and drinking outside on the village green, where children enjoy ball games, a stone’s throw from the beach. A great start or finish to a walk to Dunstanburgh castle.

By bike, this is an easy, virtually flat route, along the meandering road alongside the River Breamish. The route is easy to pick out by road, taking you across the footbridge at Brandon. The road then takes you all the way to Ingram Village. You can park your bikes in the car park, sited on the edge of the road before the village, then walk via the footpath signposted through a small wooded area directly, to the National Park Visitor centre, which is open daily all year but shorter winter hours. The coffee is great, lovely cakes and sandwiches and a marvelous gift shop of local crafts. Even in the low season, it’s a nice place to sit outside and have a picnic, or a flask of coffee.

Coming on foot, you walk along the lane towards Brandon, but way before the footbridge, you take the signed footpath left across the fields towards East Hill , then walk around the base of the hill, and parallel to the road below, towards Ingram. The path takes you through a farm and along the farm track towards the church and visitor centre. For the more energetic among you, you can go via the top of East Hill to enjoy the view from there, before heading off towards Ingram. In the spring East Hill and the fields beyond it are covered in blue bells, creating a blue haze against bright green grass, and in the autumn the brown bracken covers the hill completely. It’s windy at the top, so be prepared!
Another route to Ingram is to walk straight ahead out of Branton towards Fawden, up the road (it’s a cul de sac so rarely has cars) and at the farm turn right up and over the top of East Hill, and down into Ingram that way. If you do this route one way and back around the base of East Hill you have a lovely circular walk, of about 4 miles.
If you have a pram or a wheelchair to push the walk to Fawden and back is perfect, great views, smooth tarmac and barely a soul to be seen.

Drive up the A697 to Wooler then cross the moor on the B6525, to Lowick. Then take the B6353, to take you to the A1 at Fenwick. Cross the A1 to the causeway at Beal. It’s a good day out incorporating Berwick (north on the A1) if you have time.

Originally known as Lindisfarne and often described as the Jewel of the Northumberland Coast, Holy Island is a beautiful island community about ¾ hour’s drive from Branton. With its castle, abbey, pub, shops, nature reserve and glorious sandy beaches it is well worth a visit. The island is accessed via a causeway which is only passable at low tide; safe crossing times are displayed at each end or ring the Tourist information centre for these (01665) 510665. Do not venture onto the causeway outside these times, as the tide comes in very quickly!

In the 7th century it was one of the great seats of Christian learning in Western Europe and was where the beautiful Lindisfarne Gospels were written. Adjacent to the ruins of the Benedictine Priory, destroyed by Henry VIII, is a Visitor Centre commemorating the life of the monks. The stones from the Priory were used to build the unforgettable Lindisfarne Castle.

The Lindisfarne Gospels were written in the late 7th century to celebrate the life of St Cuthbert. Housed in the British Library, they are quite simply the greatest European artwork from that time. A facsimile version is on display in the Lindisfarne Heritage Centre on the island. There is an active campaign for the permanent return of the Gospels to the North East

As well as its many historic attractions, Holy Island is situated at the heart of the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve. Extensive dunelands, intertidal sand and mud flats, saltmarsh and ancient raised beaches support a wide variety of plant life and attract vast numbers of birds. Like Norham and Bedlington, Holy Island (Islandshire) was part of the Palatinate of County Durham and controlled by the Bishop of Durham from medieval times. The final transfer back to the County of Northumberland was not completed until 1844.

The castle was built on the orders of Henry VIII in 1550 (using stones taken from Lindisfarne Priory) to protect Holy Island from attack by the Scots, and it was converted into a private home by architect Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1903. The rooms are filled with a fine collection of antique furniture, mostly oak, of the early 17th century.

You can cycle to the start of the walking part, or take your car. You will need a map and compass in case of bad weather (Hedgehope is about 2,500 feet, and the second highest peak in the Cheviots).

If cycling, from the cottage front door you turn right, and after about 2 hundred meters turn right again and follow the lane to the river. At the river, use the ford or the bridge to cross, and once on the other side of the river, turn left along the road to ingram. Go through ingram and carry on the road up the Breamish Valley, past the farms at Greenside and Hartside and to the few houses at Linhope. When you find the waymark to Linhope Spout (waterfall), park the bike and by foot follow the signs to the waterfall. The Cycle trip (each way) is around 7 hilly miles.

The waterfall is a beautiful spot for a picnic. By this time you are part way up Hedgehope, and you follow the track up the hill. It is a steep and long walk to the top, but the reward is a stunning view. Return the same way.

If going by car, you have to drive to the A697, turn left, and take the left turn to Brandon and Ingram. You drive down the road along the Breamish Valley, past Ingram and to the point at Hartside where there is a sign saying you cannot take your car further. Park the car near the sign, continue along the road by foot to Linhope, and follow the same route as the cycling option.

If you head north on the A697 towards Wooler, past the turnings to Lilburn, Chillingham and Ilderton, take a left hand turn towards South Middleton, heading westwards. Keep going on this road, taking the right hand fork, then through Middleton (an estate farm of red paintwork) and down hill to the Ford. If it isn’t too deep you can cross the river and park in the car park on the other side, but there is usually space to park before the river crossing, on the side of the road.

The footpath starts at the footbridge over the river, then bears left into the woods. These are full of bluebells and wild flowers in the spring. The wooded bit is negotiable with a push chair, and lasts about a mile, before a stile and the path opens into grassland along the river. You can go as far as you like and return the same route, or using a map, you can walk up the river, then cross at the bridge. You then follow a route up hill, onto the ridge coming back on the other side, via a tarn (small lake on the hillside), where you’ll find lots of frogs at the right time of year. There is a waterfall near the end of the walk which ultimately descends to the estate farm, which you drove past to get to the start. This walk is about 4-5 miles, round trip.

This is quite an energetic ride but worth the effort so you can cycle down hill on the way back. The blackberries are best at Middle Steads, a farm about ½ mile from Branton, but are also good just outside Glanton village. Head out of Branton, following the sign post, then up and up to the junction at the top and go left, towards Glanton. The road is quite steep getting up the side of Glanton Hill but very pretty going along the top, with great views towards Whittingham and the Simonside Hills. If the Queens Head pub is open in Glanton you can reward yourself with some refreshment, before heading back the way you came (advisable if you’re with young children) or via Powburn, which means a few hundred yards along the main A697 before you get to the lane taking you back to Branton. A longer cycle ride can take you from Glanton out towards picturesque Whittingham and back again, before returning home, about 4 miles.