Birmingham to Northumberland

Oh, I forgot about Seaton Delaval; that's National Trust. And I love Seaton Sluice as well.

My second son was born rather quickly at home, and I had to go to a maternity home in Seaton Sluice to make sure we were both okay.
We were, but the only doctor who could say I could go home was an old dodderer who could never be prevailed upon to sign the form for a week.

What's good about Seaton Delaval Hall is that the local population were asked how it should be conserved, and what they wanted to be there.
There are bats in the tower, and you can watch the batcam.

Tegan mentioned the mining museum at Ashington, called Woodhorn.
If you are interested in family history and have any Northumbian forebears, it has the Northumberland archives there as well, with friendly archivists.

Pleased somebody else agrees number, just as well it is fastened down as it would be pinched for scrap if they could get it away

Are you insinuating that we are a load of thieves up here, harrigran?

I don't think anyone's mentioned Northumberlandia near Morpeth. My DH and I took a walk around her just after she was completed. Great views from the top. By the way, she is an earthwork in the shape of a woman with pathways winding around. It's a fabulous county, loads to see and do. I think everyone else has covered it all.

Well not youdurhamjen obviously but there are people who even pinch the metro cable.

Oh and Gibbside. It's one of my favourite places.

Don't forget Newbiggen by the Sea! A fishing/ ex mining village with Victorian highlights! The Church is The headland, almost in the sea. x

Northumberlandia is brilliant especially if you have kids and the pub next door is good too. It is nearer Cramlington than Morpeth though. The coast line is fabulous and very empty unless of course we are encouraging too many others to come to the fabulous north !!

There's a little pub at Newton by the Sea. You can park up nearby and walk towards Dunstanborough Castle and back again. If, like me you love old churches everywhere you go you find beautiful ones; again Warkworth has a lovely old church. Newton by the Sea has one of those little corrugated iron ones which is delightful.

Thank you so much everyone. (Tegan - yes we do love churches). I think we had better extend our week to two weeks with all these delightful places to visit

The road works on the A1 are a nightmare for anyone who doesn't know the road. The speed limits change from 40 to 30 within a few metres and of course the speed cameras are there just watching and waiting. Tyne Tunnel might not be the most interesting route but by far the easiest and quickest. But don't forget to have your £1.60 to hand when you get through to the other end.

I love the Angel of the North. Like durhamjen I pass it regularly and it never fails to make me smile. I do hope your enjoy your visit into Northumberland KatyK I am sure you will not be disappointed as we have so much to offer and such wonderful unspoilt landscapes.

Oh I love that pub Tegan I believe Robson Green plays there sometimes too.

......and DH loves Woodburnmining museum too durhamjen.

I can't wait now gilly.

It`s a good few years since we visited Low Newton -by-the-sea, but I remember it as being very pretty, and so peaceful feeling, even though the pub was packed out. Seahouses still remains my all time favourite place up there though, always feel at home there. KatyK, you must take a boat trip out to the Farne islands as well, June is an ideal time to go.

The House of Hardy fishing museum is interesting if you have an interest in fly fishing; not far from Alnwick. Even though I don't fish I find the art of fly fishing fascinating.

As gillybob says, watch out for speed cameras...they are all over the place on the A1 north of Newcastle. And, without wishing to alarm you, be careful on the A1 because there are some really idiotic drivers on it. Oh, and watch out for the roadsign for 'Shilbottle' which is often changed to something else . Naughty as that is it always makes me chuckle....

'Shilbottle' could be useful for anyone stuck in those roadworks Tegan !!

Thank you everyone. I will pass the info re the A1 to DH. Must keep his blood pressure down as much as possible!

Lots of my husband's ancestors are buried in that churchyard, J52.
There's a statue of a couple standing on a platform looking out to sea at Newbiggin which has been called the worst example of public sculpture in the country.
We quite like it. The art critic who said that had never seen it in real life. He said it spoiled the beautiful coastline. Nobody who saw it could call that bit of the coastline beautiful, so he obviously had no idea. As you said, it's a fishing village/mining village/next to Alcan which has been closed down.
There's an interesting art trail going through the village. Lots of the houses have panels of cobles and seascapes.

Well we've been and we LOVED it. What a beautiful place. We did lots of the things you suggested above (and visited some of the pubs mentioned . Not many traffic problems to speak of. We stayed at Alnwick, loved the castle, the garden (with its Treehouse restaurant) and Barter Books. Loved the beach at Bamburgh, the Jolly Fisherman Inn at Craster for delicious crab sandwiches, the little pub at Low Newton, Cragside (stunning), Wallington, had fish and chips at Seahouses,visited Holy Island and much, much more. Thank you everyone for all the suggestions and a couple of pms. I rather liked the Angel of the North

Oh and the people were lovely.

Glad you liked it! We've just come back from Middleham, the racing centre of the north. The most dog friendly place I've ever been to [and we'd left the dog at home ]. Horses everywhere [woke up to the sound of their hooves on the cobbled street going up onto the moors each morning]. Can't wait to go back.

Just re read the thread. Glad you had a good time KatyK.

DJ my grandparents and father are also in that graveyard. Lots of relatives in the village, although I do not know them. Dad retired there and everyone appeared to be a cousin! x