The Area
Harelaw Cottages are next door to the Northumberland National park, 1km from the Scottish Border and just over half an hour from the incredible Northumberland coast. The area is also renowned for its castles and fortifications, priories and abbeys, historic towns and numerous other attractions.
Spoilt for choice? Here are a few ideas to help you decide what to do first.
Harestanes
With a huge multimillion pound play park, café, gift shop and stunning walks throughout the Teviot Valley, Harestanes is a must visit in the Scottish Borders.
Melrose
The picturesque town of Melrose with it’s ruined abbey is located next to the triple peaks of the Eildon Hills and is the birthplace of Rugby Sevens.
https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/melrose-p242311
Alnwick Gardens
The brainchild of The Duchess of Northumberland, The Alnwick Garden is a multi-award winning visitor attraction. There are 12 acres of Gardens, a Grand Cascade comprising 120 water jets and the worlds largest Treehouse Restaurant.
Alnwick Castle
The iconic Alnwick Castle is home to Harry Potter-inspired events, dragon quest and an exciting history.
Bamburgh Castle
Bamburgh Castle is England’s finest coastal castle towering 150 feet above the coast with outstanding sea views.
Cragside
Cragside House, Gardens and Woodland is a truly unique visitor attraction in the heart of Northumberland. Situated near Rothbury, it was the family home of Lord Armstrong, Victorian inventor and industrialist. Cragside was the first building in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity and a walk around the National Trust property reveals a wealth of ingenious gadgetry including fire alarm buttons, telephones, a passenger lift and a Turkish bath suite.
Kelso
The welcoming market town of Kelso, nestling in the heart of the Scottish Borders, offers so much to see and do in both the town and stunning surrounding countryside.
Ford and Etal
Home to the Joicey family for over 100 years, this large rural Northumberland estate offers a host of places to visit and things to do including exploring the corn mill, walking the Flodden battlefield, viewing the stunning pre-Raphaelite paintings in Ford, riding on the steam railway or enjoying home baking in one of the tearooms.
Northumberland National Park
Northumberland National Park was officially designated on the 6th April 1956 and covers an area of 1,049km, or 405 square miles. The park offers lots of walking opportunities including The Cheviot, the parks highest point at 815M.
The Hirsel Craft Centre
The Hirsel Arts & Craft Centre is situated on the beautiful Hirsel Estate on the outskirts of Coldstream which marks the border between Scotland and England
Warkworth Castle
Warkworth Castle is a ruined medieval building which along with Warkworth village occupy a loop of the River Coquet. Warkworth is less than a mile from the amazing Northumberland coast.
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/warkworth-castle-and-hermitage/
Holy Island of Lindisfarne
Holy Island lies just a few miles off the Northumberland coast, over a causeway. The Island is cut off twice-daily from the rest of the world by fast-moving tides. Both an island and a picturesque village, Holy Island carries a wealth of history within its tidal walls.
Farne Islands
The Farne Islands are one of the most exciting seabird colonies in England with unrivalled views of 23 species, including around 43,000 pairs of puffin. It's also home to a one of the top grey seal pupping sites in England, with more than 2,000 pups born every autumn. The islands can be accessed via boat trip from Seahouses Harbour.
