North East Road Trip

[moonsi til]

I’m off to Glasgow in camper on Friday then Edinburgh on Monday then back to West Mids over the week via North East England.

Suggestions please of where to visit / places to eat / to camp would be fab.

Have joined National Trust for first time ever & will be packing St Julian’s Modern Antiquarian.

 

[neonwilderness]

What sort of stuff are you interested in? Cragside and Wellington are the two big NT places up here, both worth a look.

Chips at the coast is a must

 

[moonsi til]

When I think of North East I think of castles & beaches!

Will check out your places & there will definitely be chips!

 

[planetgeli]

Berwick-upon-Tweed I've always loved. Lindisfarne?

 

[StoneRoad]

When you go to Lindisfarne, take very close notice of the crossing times and how high the high tide is ... that causeway does get covered, as do some areas of what look like nicely grassed camping patches.

 

[StoneRoad]

Seahouses is good for chips and kippers ...

 

[Steel Icarus]

Rievaulx Abbey. Been meaning to go there since I was a kid. Haven't got round to it yet.

 

[StoneRoad]

Hadrian's Wall - most of the central area can get very busy, but should be OK for a while yet.

Kasteale is a good café in Haltwhistle (best parking is opposite the war memorial or in the car park outside Sainsbury's) Most of the shops are shut afternoons on Wednesday & Saturday.

 

[neonwilderness]

Some other stuff that might be of interest off the top of my head:

Barter Books

Dunstanburgh Castle | English Heritage

Hadrians wall

High Force/Cauldron Snout waterfalls

 

[not-bono-ever]

Yes, high force

Dunstanborogh castle
The road over the moors to Alston if you like a drive
Craster kippers
The beaches up Bambara way
Pub crawl in the toon
The otter caps and the otter burn route to the borders

 

[Fez909]

High Force/Cauldron Snout waterfalls

High Force is very impressive, but don't forget Low Force. Lots of rocks to jump about on and a nice area to walk around

 

[souljacker]

Some other stuff that might be of interest off the top of my head:

Barter Books

Yes! This is a fantastic bookshop.

Go to the Falkirk wheel whilst crossing from Glasgow to Edinburgh.

 

[StoneRoad]

High Force is very impressive, but don't forget Low Force. Lots of rocks to jump about on and a nice area to walk around

rock jumping (my bold) can be great fun ...

Take extra care - some of the rocks are worn very smooth and/or be covered in algae, both of which can be incredibly slippery.
(I know because I've ended up wet or in the water more than once ! and IIRC people have been badly injured / drowned around these places)

 

[StoneRoad]

I have lived in this area for over 35 years, and I still have plenty of places to visit ...

 

[StoneRoad]

If you are into museums and the like, there are plenty of those as well.

To do it justice, Beamish really needs more than one day ...

 

[not-bono-ever]

Pretty sure that a ticket to beamish actually lasts a year....last time it was anyway

 

[Supine]

Farne Islands - swimming with seals

 

[pogofish]

Rievaulx Abbey. Been meaning to go there since I was a kid. Haven't got round to it yet.

Well worth it - go and ensure you take-in the Terrace on the hill behind it (NT Property) - that's where you get the "classic" view of the Abbey.

To my memory, it isn't far away from Mount Grace Priory - which is the best preserved Carthusian house in the UK and also very mich worth a visit.

 

[pogofish]

This thread is making my resolve to go to Assynt next week waver. its a long time since I've spent time in the North East and I maybe have time to change my mind..!

 

[moonsi til]

Hi, we are by Craster. So far have not had to pay for camping due to pub & lay-bys. Photo of where we have just been walking. I have fallen in love with Puffins & been freaked right out by Artic Terns!

 

[mauvais]

I'll second Farne Islands (discount for NT members) from Seahouses, and Cragside.

 

[moonsi til]

Have now been to the wonderful Barters Books & Cragside. Currently resting legs in micro brewery in Rothbury as walked 20km today.

In Barters books there is a honesty filter coffee pot for 35p a cup & baked on site cookies & ginger parkin for 65p! Both were lush. Left with 2 books.

 

[planetgeli]

Have now been to the wonderful Barters Books & Cragside. Currently resting legs in micro brewery in Rothbury as walked 20km today.

In Barters books there is a honesty filter coffee pot for 35p a cup & baked on site cookies & ginger parkin for 65p! Both were lush. Left with 2 books.

Christ, this afternoon? My brother was in their this afternoon. About 2.30pm.

Am in Barter Books. Jpeg of grinning pig in shit to follow

 

[moonsi til]

Now in Runswick Bay & will head to Whitby later. Still managing to wild camp.

 

[planetgeli]

Now in Runswick Bay & will head to Whitby later. Still managing to wild camp.

I’ll try and keep my brother away. (He’s doing what you’re doing, road tripping NE).

 

[Fez909]

Ohhh, forgot all about Barters. I went there when at a wedding in Alnwick. What a great shop

Now in Runswick Bay & will head to Whitby later. Still managing to wild camp.

Robin Hood's Bay if you want fish'n'chips. Fewer crowds than Whitby and as good/better.

 

[neonwilderness]

Staithes is worth a look too

 

[moonsi til]

Thanks for all the suggestions, we have had a fab time. Whitby was also far lovelier than expected.

Now heading inland, will prob stop around Harrogate tonight (hopefully free camping & be near a pub) then do last leg tomorrow.

Hope your bro is having a fab time planetgeli

 

[moonsi til]

Change of plan - it was tipping it down so we drove till rain stopped & now sat in a Indian restaurant in Bakewell in Derbyshire.

 

[moonsi til]

And now home - got in about 6.30pm via a final NT house & stone circle at Arbor Low. In all we did 900 miles, thankfully camper runs on LPG & petrol. Fuel was around £300 but we saved by wild camping & only ate out properly once bar when we went to chip shop.

It has been a fab week, we have seen some beautiful parts of the UK & had good chats with very friendly folk- esp the NT volunteers.

Thanks again for all your suggestions - being able to post threads like this is why I love urban75.