The great joy of hiring a motorhome or campervan for an epic road trip is that you can take your time to not simply see, but truly experience this wonderful country of ours. Over the years, perhaps the most popular regions for a motorhome adventure with us have been Gower, Cornwall, and the Lake District, but we’ve had more the a few regular customers who have taken the opportunity to spend a few months seeing the whole of the UK and, consequently, they’ve had the time to reach England’s northernmost county. It’s time for a Northumberland motorhome holiday.
Due entirely to its location in relation to Motorhome Holiday Company (it’s about 350 miles north of us), few seem to make that trek, though the rewards are immense for those who do head north. With stops for food and comfort breaks, it’s probably a seven- or eight-hour journey to the south border of Northumberland, but why not make the journey up there part of your holiday and stop off for a night or two? If you take the M5/M1/A1 route, you’ll have plenty of options just a short drive off your route, and we’ve tended to take a night each in the Peak District National Park and the North York Moors National Park, with maybe a night in Scarborough for a trip to the Stephen Joseph Theatre.
The obvious starting point is Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and once there a visit to Sir Antony Gormley’s Angel of the North is a must. Don’t just glance at it as you drive past on the A1, go and stand at its foot and look skyward to absorb the full majesty. At twenty metres tall and with a whopping 54 metre wingspan, it’s Britain’s largest sculpture, and a sight you’ll never forget.
One could spend many days in the city as there is so much to see and do even for non-football fans, though a tour around St James Park Stadium is well worth the effort – just make sure you bolt on a rooftop tour, too. Beyond football, if you time it right, you have two major rugby teams to watch and the Great North Run to experience, whether you run or observe.
Beyond the sport in Newcastle
There is an array of theatre, live music and clubs to while away your evenings, whilst daytime options include museums, galleries, a trip to the castle or a round or two of crazy golf. And you could consider an afternoon tour of one of the many independent and microbreweries in preparation for your night on the town.
Leaving Newcastle, it’s well worth spending some time driving north to enjoy the 30 miles of beaches that line the Northumberland coast. The first stop is Blyth, a bustling port town rich in history and gifted with its own lighthouse, golden sand, coloured beach huts and the rather grander National Trust’s Seaton Delaval Hall, an English Baroque country house and gardens that has, for 900 years, been a stage for drama, intrigue and romance.
Take a walk through history
There are countless spots to visit along the coast that we could detail here, but for now we’ll advance to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, where in 635AD Saint Aidan came from Iona to found his monastery. The island boasts a population of just 160, but that swells considerably with 650,000 global visitors annually. Though many come for the historical links to Christianity, even more visit for the ornithology, fishing, natural history, sailing, writing retreats, or in homage to a certain folk band.
Driving inland, you’ll swap the views across the North Sea for the spectacular scenery of the Northumberland National Park, starting with the Cheviot Hills. Formed from cooled lava millions of years ago, they have a distinctive rounded appearance that belie the dramatic delights within. If waterfalls are your thing, you’ll love the eighteen-metre drop of the Linhope Spout, and if your preference is for cooling hot feet in still waters, the tucked-away ponds of Wooler Common will be an absolute gift. It’s here in the Cheviot Hills that you can trudge along the Border Ridge and Pennine Way, taking in, of course, the views from The Cheviot, Northumberland’s highest point. We’d also recommend a stop at the remains of the region’s largest Iron Age hillfort at Yeavering Bell for an unspoilt place to roam peacefully.
Heading south-west
The Kielder Water and Forest Park is a delight, being home to Europe’s largest man-made lake and England’s largest forest. Mile upon mile of purpose-built trails will lead you through a haven of wildlife that reportedly includes almost half of England’s native red squirrels as well as ospreys, roe deer, pipistrelle bats, water voles and salmon otters.
The 26-mile Lakeside Way trail is multi-use and so you’ll share it with walkers, cyclists and horse riders whilst it’s also suitable for wheelchair users, ensuring the natural beauty is within reach of everyone. For the sporty motorhomer, it’s worth noting that the lake attracts waterskiing and sailing enthusiasts all year round and offers a wonderful challenge to trout anglers between March and October.
No trip to Northumberland is complete without a visit to Hadrian’s Wall
Though the 84-mile Hadrian’s Wall Path stretches coast to coast from Bowness-on-Solway in the west to Wallsend in the east, a fair portion runs through the south of Northumberland. We can’t recommend enough the full walk, but you’ll need to leave someone in the motorhome to meet you at the end of each day. But even for the casual walker, it’s an opportunity to walk even a small portion of the trail.
Depending on which section you sample, you’ll have the opportunity to experience bath houses, ramparts, live excavations, Roman forts and museums, spectacular landscapes, rare wildlife, exquisite solitude and cosy, welcoming pubs at the end of a day’s walking. You can also enjoy Hadrian’s Wall by bike along the Hadrian’s Cycleway, and a year-round bus route offers glimpses of the historical trail to those less able to walk or cycle.
Done with the hiking?
Why not drive east to Haltwhistle, the exact centre point of Britain? Naturally, there are plenty of walking options here, too, including 22 circular walks through historic countryside bordering the town, but Haltwhistle is a picturesque town to catch your breath, rest your feet and recharge with local produce and tipples in the many quirky pubs, teashops and restaurants.
Further east, on your way back to Newcastle, you might want to experience the imposing stone cube of Hexham’s Old Gaol, which was built in 1333 as England’s purpose-built first prison. Just steel yourself for four floors of the prison’s gruesome history and infamous inhabitants.
Fifteen miles further on, Corbridge offers a far gentler experience at the end of your road trip. Way back in 1827, Corbridge was rated as a shopper’s paradise. Though the shops are different now, the reputation remains, and its pretty high street offer a plethora of small shops with decorated fronts. And for those in the party not so keen on shopping, there’s yet more history to investigate and more than one local hostelry that will be delighted to entertain you. If you plan ahead, the Corbridge Festival in July offers visitors three days of music, street theatre, stalls and a beer tent offering a range of ale, cider and wine.
Wherever your motorhome takes you in Northumberland, it’s an experience you’ll wonder why you never had before.
Interested in availability?
Check your dates or find out more about how we can give you a great motorhome experience, simply enquire through the website here. Or you can get in touch with our team today!
+44 (0)117 290 9000
team@motorhomeholidaycompany.com
A370, Hewish, Bristol, BS24 6RT
Motorhome Holiday Company; your (Northumberland) adventure starts here.