3 Night Introduction to Nature Journaling in Northumberland
Love nature and looking to learn something new? Nature journaling is about taking the time to notice the tiny details and learning how to express them through a mixture of sketches, paintings and notes. This weekend will help you appreciate nature in new ways and transfer your observations onto the page. And where better to do it than the awe-inspiring Northumberland coast? No need for advanced artistic skills, just a love of nature and a willingness to have a go.
What you’ll love
- Learning nature journaling techniques from an expert tutor
- Expressing yourself through art
- Gaining confidence by using various techniques
- Completing your own nature journal to take home
- Developing your own style and technique, with our help
- A more personalised experience thanks to small group sizes (maximum 15 people)
What’s included
- Expert tuition
- Comfortable en-suite accommodation in our country house
- Cream tea on arrival day
- Cooked or continental breakfast every morning
- Daily packed lunches
- Three-course evening meals, plus tea & coffee
- Easy-to-follow routes, maps, and information available in our Discovery Point if you want to explore independently
Trip Notes
Easy to download as a PDF, our trip notes provide detailed information for every holiday. Please click below to find the trip notes for your departure date.
Check-in at the hotel is available from 4pm. Enjoy a complimentary cream tea on arrival.
We’ll begin with the basics and learn about the history of nature journaling, its different forms, and how the connections it helps create can be a form of mindfulness practise. Your tutor will share tips and tricks on how to get started on your own journal, inspiring you with their own work to give you ideas. They’ll use the area around our HF Country House to help you hone your observation skills.
Together, we’ll head into the outdoors, collecting things to study and draw, so please come prepared for sessions both outdoors and indoors.
In the mornings, we’ll learn skills and techniques and explore with your tutor before practising independently in the afternoon. There’ll also be time to meet up and review your creations again early evening before dinner.
By the end of your holiday, you’ll have learned to find joy in the small things and how to create memories of your connection to nature in your own journal.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home.
Nether Grange
You can tell that you’re in for something special at this former 18th century granary in the heart of Alnmouth – the postcard-pretty coastal village treasured for its colourful cottages, superb walking routes, and peaceful beach where the River Aln meets the North Sea (in its heyday, it was a working river-port, exporting grain, wool, coal, and even the odd pipe of Madeira wine). Not only will you be a 40-minute drive from Northumberland National Park, but also within easy travelling distance of several visit-worthy castles, including Alnwick, Lindisfarne, Dunstanburgh, and Warkworth. If the weather’s nice, a boat trip to the Farne Islands that lie just offshore midway between the villages of Seahouses and Bamburgh rewards with sightings of England's largest grey seal colonies.
Rooms
Designed with your comfort in mind, Nether Grange has 36 well-appointed guest rooms available in two categories: Classic and Premium.
Classic Rooms are comfortable en-suite guest rooms, ideal for a peaceful night's sleep. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, and shower gel), and a TV.
Premium Rooms are more spacious en-suite guest rooms*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.
We love: The sea-facing rooms are especially lovely.
The Choose Your Room service is available at our UK country houses, allowing you the option of choosing and confirming a specific room for an extra charge of £30 per room. This is subject to availability. Upgrade supplements apply.
Room supplements
| Premium single | Premium double/twin | Choose your room |
| £20 pppn | £20 pppn | £30 per room |
*Views and layout reflect each properties unique character and location
About your stay
A warm welcome
We want you to feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. You’ll find a welcome pack in your room with guest registration forms, menus, order forms for dinners and picnic lunches, the Wi-Fi password, and the front door code. Our houses are locked at night, so we recommend noting the Duty Manager’s number on arrival in case of an emergency (or getting locked out).
Evening entertainment
While evening entertainment varies from house to house, HF Holidays Inter-House Quiz night held after dinner on Wednesdays is a weekly staple. Your HF Holidays leader may be around for tips on guided and self-guided waking routes as well as visit-worthy local attractions.
Walks talks
Our HF Holidays walk leaders host guided walking information briefings before dinner on guided walking holiday arrival days. This is followed by a group Walks Talk for information on the following day’s guided walks (held before dinner every evening). Self-guided walking guests are, of course, welcome.
The walking day
Prior to setting off on guided walks, your HF Holidays Leader will run you through a short safety briefing. There’s also an up-to-date weather forecast on display at the house to ensure you have appropriate clothing and footwear. If you choose to do your own walks or are on a self-guided walking holiday, we ask that you please complete an Independent Walker Card each day. These can be found near the Discovery Point in the house.
Food & drink
Seasonal dining, tailored for you
Our team of skilled chefs design our dinner menus to showcase the best of each season, from warming winter comfort food to vibrant summer dishes, including vegetarian, vegan and high-protein options. We also source fruit and vegetables within a 40-mile radius of each house, open every break with a Chef’s Special menu inspired by dishes and flavours of the local area, and are able to adapt dishes to suit special dietary requirements.
Welcome Cream Tea
What better way to start your stay than with a cream tea, served fresh on arrival to make you feel instantly at home. A quintessentially English tradition, our scones are baked in-house and served with preserves and clotted cream, providing the perfect opportunity to meet fellow walkers.
A hearty breakfast to start the day
Start the day with a freshly-prepared cooked breakfast and a wide choice from our continental buffet, including hot drinks, juices and fresh fruit. Our team offer a quick and friendly service, leaving you fuelled and ready for your day’s adventures.
Our famous picnic lunch
Our personalised picnic lunches are perfect for a day out walking, ready to enjoy when hunger strikes. Choose from a large selection of fresh sandwiches and salads, freshly baked cakes and snacks, including the ever-popular Freddos chocolate bar! Everything is designed to fit neatly into your rucksack, and all of the packaging we provide is recyclable or compostable.
3-course evening meals
Our à la carte evening menus feature a wide choice of starters, mains, and desserts, made with seasonal ingredients and, wherever possible, herbs and vegetables from our own gardens. Shared around sociable tables, dinners are relaxed occasions, with drinks available to order at the table or from the bar, and a traditional Sunday roast to round off the week.
Accessibility
For accessibility and assistance information, please contact our expert team on 020 3974 8865 or view the accessibility information online for Nether Grange
Getting to Nether Grange
Find out more about this location including travel details and room types.
More InformationAddress
Nether Grange
Alnmouth
Alnwick
Northumberland NE66 2RZ
Tel: +44 (0)1665 830431
By train
The nearest station is Alnmouth, on the main east coast line between Newcastle and Edinburgh.
The station is 1.3miles from Nether Grange. Approximately 30minutes walk, with footpath all the way.
Check National Rail for train times and routes.
By taxi
The 1.5-mile journey from Alnmouth railway station to Nether Grange is about five minutes by taxi. Taxis are in limited supply in Alnmouth, so we recommend pre-booking as early as possible.
For pricing, please contact the taxi company directly.
Taxi companies in the area include:
Sovereign Taxis*
Tel: +44 (0)7553 360662
Wizard Taxis*
Tel: +44 (0)1665 663709
AA Taxis*
Tel: +44 (0)1665 606060
Some taxi companies have school runs so taxis may be in short supply between 9:00am and 10:00am. It is advisable to book your return taxi when you book your arrival taxi.
*HF Holidays does not own or manage any of the above taxi companies.
By car
Before travelling by car, note that there is no car park at Nether Grange and there’s very limited on-street parking.
Exit the A1 onto the A1068 towards Alnwick. At the roundabout turn right (it’s not well signposted), following the A1068 towards Alnmouth. Go straight ahead at the first roundabout then left at the second roundabout onto the B1338.
As you approach Alnmouth, turn right at the next roundabout, then left into The Wynd. Follow to Marine Road into Northumberland Street. After 100 yards turn right into Pease’s Lane. You’ll find Nether Grange on the left.
By air
The nearest airport is Newcastle International Airport. Take the metro to Newcastle Central station, then the train to Alnmouth - a straightforward journey taking just over an hour.
What to Bring
- We will provide you with your own blank nature journal along with your own nature journalling guide, and fine liner pens so you can carry on your journalling during and after your holiday. We’ll also provide an additional blank journal for you to take home to continue your journalling.
- Your leader will also have other materials with which they can demonstrate and offer personalised tutoring so you can build your own kit to suit your methods of drawing.
- We will have watercolour sets for use during your guided sessions.
- You may wish to bring your own materials such as watercolour, coloured pencils, sketch book, note books but this is not essential.
Nether Grange Calendar
- Guided Walking
- Self-Guided Walking
- Special Interests
- Unavailable to Book
Steve Pardue
Steve is an artist and designer, living and working in Northumberland. He combines his love of walking and nature with art and fills his notebooks with observations on nature and the world around him. He has delivered workshops and tuition to a wide variety of organisations including the National Trust, Groundwork North East, Tyne Rivers Trust, Natural History Society of Northumberland, Wetlands Trust, Rural Highlights, and The Baltic Art Gallery.
Steve looks forward to sharing his love of the natural world with you as he introduces you to the world of nature journalling.
Guest reviews
All holidays are subject to availability. Supplements may apply.
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All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take an alternative route, or vary the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.
Holiday prices
| Date (Start - End) | Itinerary | Double / Twin Room | Single Room | Notes / Offers | Trip Notes | Book | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | ||||||||
|
29 May - 01 Jun 2026 3 nights |
Itinerary Single from £599 Double from £569 pp |
from £569 pp |
from £599 |
Trip Notes
|
Book Now | |||
|
14 Aug - 17 Aug 2026 3 nights |
Itinerary Single from £629 Double from £569 pp |
from £569 pp |
from £629 |
Trip Notes
|
Book Now | |||
|
23 Oct - 26 Oct 2026 3 nights |
Itinerary Single from £444 Double from £519 pp |
from £519 pp |
from £444 |
Trip Notes
|
Book Now | |||
3 nights
from
£519pp
£444pp
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