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 AONB 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
- 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
- Guided walking with experienced HF Holidays Leaders
- Choice of up to three different-grade daily walks
- 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.
You're welcome to check in from 4pm onwards. 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.
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, and comfortable mattresses.
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 |
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, the HF Holidays Big Pub Quiz held after dinner on Wednesdays is a weekly staple. Your HF Holidays Leader may be around for tips on guided and self-guided walking routes as well as visit-worthy local attractions.
Walks talks
Our HF Holidays Leaders host guided walking information briefings before dinner on arrival days. This is followed by a group Walks Talk for information on the following day’s walking delights (held before dinner every evening). Self-guided walking guests are, of course, welcome.
The walking day
Prior to setting off on 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 InformationEssential information
Please note
Admission fees are payable locally and aren’t included in your holiday price. Many of you have English Heritage (EH) or National Trust (NT) memberships already, which entitle you to free or reduced price entry to some of the attractions visited. Please see below, approximate totals for entrance fees, should you choose to visit all the highlighted attractions during your holiday. If you have National Trust or English Heritage membership – please make sure to bring your membership identification with you.
|
Approx cost of entrance fees |
3 night holiday |
4 night holiday |
7 night holiday |
|
NT & EH members |
£31 |
£37 |
£68 |
|
NT members |
£31 |
£47 |
£78 |
|
EH members |
£31 |
£58 |
£89 |
|
No memberships |
£31 |
£68 |
£99 |
Essential information
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, preferably insulated
- Comfortable clothing (jeans & waterproof capes are not suitable)
- Waterproof overtrousers
- Gloves and a warm hat (or sunhat)
- Rucksack
- Water bottle (at least 1 litre capacity)
- A small torch
- Sunscreen
- Mobile phone and portable charger
- Watch
- 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
- Spare pair of socks
- Energy snacks
- Waterproof pouch for valuables
- Rubbish bag (remember to always leave no trace)
- Wallet/purse
Optional extras
- Walking poles, useful for descents
- Flask for hot drinks
- Durable lunch box
- Gaiters
- Blister kit
- Waterproof rucksack liner
- Head torch
- GPS device
Nether Grange Calendar
- Guided Walking
- Self-Guided Walking
- Special Interests
- Unavailable to Book
Guest reviews
All holidays are subject to availability. Supplements may apply.
Non-member fee: £30 per person.
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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ||||||||
|
03 May - 06 May 2024 3 nights |
Gentle Walks
Single Call to Enquire
Double from £525 pp |
from £525 pp |
Call to Enquire | Trip Notes | Book Now | |||
|
05 Jul - 08 Jul 2024 3 nights |
Gentle Walks
Single Call to Enquire
Double from £525 £505 pp |
from £525 £505 pp |
Call to Enquire | Save £20 Per Person | Trip Notes | Book Now | ||
|
25 Oct - 28 Oct 2024 3 nights |
Gentle Walks Single from £499 £464 Double from £439 £404 pp |
from £439 £404 pp |
from £499 £464 |
Save £35 Per Person | Trip Notes | Book Now | ||