3 Night Northumberland Gentle Guided Walking Holiday
A land of rugged beauty, Northumberland rewards with marshes, meadows, sweeping beaches, wide-open spaces, and all manner of Roman, Viking and Anglo-Saxon relics. Perfect for discovering the county’s charms at a more relaxed pace, this holiday rewards with breathtaking trails, big-name historic attractions, picturesque villages, market towns, comfortable accommodation, and more. You’ll also enjoy a choice of up to three different-grade daily walks, including a gentle walk of three to four miles.
What you’ll love
- Discovering the stunning landscape of Northumberland on foot
- Keeping your eyes peeled for interesting wildlife
- Soaking up dramatic views of the countryside and National Landscape coastline
- Spending time with like-minded people in the great outdoors
- Finding new routes and places to explore with your HF Holidays Leader
- Staying at a former 18th century granary in the heart of Alnmouth
What’s included
- En-suite accommodation in our 4-star country house
- Cream tea on arrival day
- Cooked or continental breakfast every morning
- Daily packed lunches
- Three-course evening meals, plus tea & coffee
- Guided walking with experienced HF Holidays Leaders
- Choice of up to three guided walks (on walking days)
- All transport to and from walks where necessary
- Easy-to-follow routes, maps, and information 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.
All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take alternative routes or adapt the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.
See Dates, Prices & Trip Note tab to check which itinerary is running
Check-in at the hotel is available from 4pm. Enjoy a complimentary cream tea on arrival.
Option 1 - Denwick & Alnwick
Distance: 4 miles (6½km)
Total ascent: 260 feet (80m)
In summary: A beautiful riverside walk treats us to one of the best views of historic Alnwick Castle as we approach Alnwick. The afternoon is free to discover some of this charming market town's sights - including "Harry Potter's" Alnwick Castle, the stunning castle gardens with their treehouse café, the tranquillity of Hulne Park, or explore the many independent shops (including the famous Barter Books) or relax in one of the many tea shops in the town.
Highlight: A fabulous panorama of Alnwick Castle from the perfect vantage point as we approach the town.
Option 2 - Ramble to Alnwick
Distance: 6 miles (9.5km)
Ascent: 540 feet (165m)
In summary: Starting from Denwick this walk passes through the Northumberland Estates belonging to the Dukes of Northumberland. There are varying landscapes from the Pastures below the Castle, the Deer Park to moorland west of the town.
Highlight: This walk shows the different aspects of Alnwick including views of the Castle from the Pastures, Alnwick Abbey in Hulne Park, Alnwick Moor and the town itself.
Option 3 - Along the Aln to Alnwick
Distance: 8 miles (13km)
Ascent: 600 feet (185m)
In summary: Starting from Nether Grange House this walk skirts the River Aln salt marsh teeming with wildlife, then passes through historic Lesbury to follow the Aln through the Northumberland Estates to reach Alnwick.
Highlight: The spectacular view of Alnwick Castle from The Pastures in the Northumberland Estate before reaching the iconic Lion Bridge
Option 1 - Howick Hall to Craster
Distance: 4.5 miles (7km)
Ascent: 280 feet (80m)
In summary: We start our walk and the ancestral home of Earl Grey, where we’ve time to explore the gardens and arboretum, or to enjoy a cuppa in the café and to spot some of the resident red squirrels, before heading north along the coast path to Craster. Please note entrance to Howick Hall & Gardens is not included in the price of your holiday, please allow £8-9 for entrance fees
Highlight: Explore the atmospheric harbour at Craster, and let your nose lead you to famous kipper smokehouse.
Option 2 - High Newton to Craster
Distance: 5.5 miles (8.5km)
Ascent: 290 feet (90m)
In summary: Walk from High Newton via Embleton Bay to the iconic ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, then follow the path along the beautiful Northumberland Coast to to the pretty fishing village of Craster
Highlight: Dunstanburgh Castle occupies a glorious cliff-top position. Look out for fulmars, razorbills and kittiwakes nesting nearby.
Option 3 - Beadnell to Craster
Distance: 7.5 miles (12km)
Ascent: 350 feet (120m)
In summary: Starting further north at Beadnell this grand coastal walk takes in the sweeping arcs of Beadnell and Embleton Bays, the pretty National Trust village Low Newton-by-the-Sea and atmospheric Dunstanburgh Castle before finishing in Craster.
Highlight: A glorious opportunity to see the best of the Northumberland Coast. With luck you may see seals, as well as the rich array of birdlife.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home.
See Dates, Prices & Trip Note tab to check which itinerary is running
Check-in at the hotel is available from 4pm. Enjoy a complimentary cream tea on arrival.
Option 1 - Alnwick
Distance : 3 miles (5 km)
Total Ascent: 285 feet (85 m)
In Summary: This walk begins at Alnwick Gardens with the unique Treehouse
Restaurant visible through the trees. We’ll descend to the Denwick Bridge and walk
over pastures, accompanied by iconic views of Alnwick Castle. We visit the entrance
to Hulne Park and then pass through Pottergate, past the statue of Harry Hotspur to
reach Alnwick Market place. We’ll finish the walk by heading through Bondgate back
to Alnwick Gardens.
Highlight: Fabulous views of Alnwick Castle and the chance to enter and leave the
town through the old town gates.
Option 2 - Ramble to Alnwick
Distance: 6 miles (9.5km)
Ascent: 540 feet (165m)
In summary: Starting from Denwick this walk passes through the Northumberland Estates belonging to the Dukes of Northumberland. There are varying landscapes from the Pastures below the Castle, the Deer Park to moorland west of the town.
Highlight: This walk shows the different aspects of Alnwick including views of the Castle from the Pastures, Alnwick Abbey in Hulne Park, Alnwick Moor and the town itself.
Option 3 - Along the Aln to Alnwick
Distance: 8 miles (13km)
Ascent: 600 feet (185m)
In summary: Starting from Nether Grange House this walk skirts the River Aln salt marsh teeming with wildlife, then passes through historic Lesbury to follow the Aln through the Northumberland Estates to reach Alnwick.
Highlight: The spectacular view of Alnwick Castle from The Pastures in the Northumberland Estate before reaching the iconic Lion Bridge
Option 1 - Craster and Dunstanburgh
Distance : 2.5 miles (4 km)
Total Ascent: 195 feet (60m)
In Summary: Explore the picturesque village of Craster, before enjoying an out and
back walk to the dramatic ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, perched on a remote
headland. The route was recently voted the most impressive in the UK.
We haven’t included the entrance fees for the castle as many of you are already
English Heritage members – please bring your membership card with you for free
access to the castle. For anyone not an English Heritage member, entrance will be
payable locally. If you don’t wish to visit the castle, bring your binoculars and enjoy
time watching the birdlife as others explore.
We return to Alnmouth where you’re free to spend the afternoon exploring
independently or relaxing at Nether Grange. Alternatively, our coach can drop you at
Howick Hall & Gardens (payable locally) – the ancestral home of Earl Grey, where
there’s beautiful gardens and an arboretum to explore. There’s also a café where
there’s a good chance of spotting red squirrels on their feeders outside. The coach
will then return for you later in the day
Highlight: Snapping shots of Dunstanburgh Castle perched on the headland.
Option 2 - High Newton to Craster
Distance: 5.5 miles (8.5km)
Ascent: 290 feet (90m)
In summary: Walk from High Newton via Embleton Bay to the iconic ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, then follow the path along the beautiful Northumberland Coast to to the pretty fishing village of Craster
Highlight: Dunstanburgh Castle occupies a glorious cliff-top position. Look out for fulmars, razorbills and kittiwakes nesting nearby.
Option 3 - Beadnell to Craster
Distance: 7.5 miles (12km)
Ascent: 350 feet (120m)
In summary: Starting further north at Beadnell this grand coastal walk takes in the sweeping arcs of Beadnell and Embleton Bays, the pretty National Trust village Low Newton-by-the-Sea and atmospheric Dunstanburgh Castle before finishing in Craster.
Highlight: A glorious opportunity to see the best of the Northumberland Coast. With luck you may see seals, as well as the rich array of birdlife.
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.
Check in & check out
You are welcome to check in from 4:00pm at the earliest. On arrival, you’ll enjoy a complimentary cream tea and get to meet your fellow guests, our HF Holidays Leaders, and the rest of the friendly team.
On the day of departure, we kindly ask all guests to check out by 10:00am. You’ll be asked to settle your bill prior to leaving. You may, of course, make a charitable donation to our HF Holidays Pathways Fund if you wish. Please note that we only accept card payments.
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
Led by experienced chefs, we serve a wide range of dishes made with fresh and seasonal ingredients. We always aim to source the best produce available and use home-grown herbs and vegetables from our own gardens whenever possible. Additionally, we have a licensed bar with beers, soft drinks, and a superb selection of spirits. Full-board comes as standard and includes a cream tea on arrival and a hearty breakfast on departure day.
HF Holidays understands the importance of managing allergens effectively to ensure food is safe for guests with food allergies. Whilst we are always able to confidently inform guests which allergens are present in our ingredients and dishes, we are unable to guarantee absolute freedom from the 14 main allergens in our kitchens. Vegetarian and vegan menu choices are available. If you have allergies, food intolerances, or any special dietary requirements, please inform our reservation team at the time of booking.
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.
The UK has a famously unpredictable climate so it's best to be prepared for weather that’s sunny one minute and raining the next. To make it easier, here’s a list of items you should consider packing.
Essentials
- Suitable footwear such as waterproof walking boots that provide ankle support and good grip
- Waterproof and windproof jacket
- Comfortable clothing (jeans & waterproof capes are not suitable)
- Mid-layer(s) to keep you warm. Fleeces make a good choice
- Waterproof overtrousers
- Gloves and a warm hat
- Rucksack with waterproof liner
- Flask for hot drinks
- Water bottle (at least 1 litre capacity)
- Sunscreen
- UV sunglasses
Recommended
- Several base layers (long-sleeve or short-sleeve)
- Cushioned walking socks to avoid blisters
- First aid kit, including plasters and insect repellent
- Sit mat
- Waterproof pouch for valuables
- Rubbish bag (remember to always leave no trace)
- Wallet/purse
- Camera
- Walking poles
Nether Grange Calendar
- Guided Walking
- Self-Guided Walking
- Special Interests
- Unavailable to Book
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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ||||||||
|
03 Oct - 06 Oct 2025 3 nights |
Itinerary 2025
Single Call to Enquire
Double from £555 pp |
from £555 pp |
Call to Enquire |
Trip Notes
|
Book Now | |||
| 2026 | ||||||||
|
15 May - 18 May 2026 3 nights |
Itinerary 2026 Single from £649 Double from £619 pp |
from £619 pp |
from £649 |
Trip Notes
|
Book Now | |||
|
03 Jul - 06 Jul 2026 3 nights |
Itinerary 2026
Single Call to Enquire
Double from £619 pp |
from £619 pp |
Call to Enquire |
Trip Notes
|
Book Now | |||
|
16 Oct - 19 Oct 2026 3 nights |
Itinerary 2026 Single from £619 Double from £589 pp |
from £589 pp |
from £619 |
Trip Notes
|
Book Now | |||
114Kg of CO₂e
Average carbon footprint per person Learn More