3 Night Northumberland Discovery Tour
Some of the best bits of Northumberland are packed into this discovery tour. One of the biggest highlights is Cragside – a Victorian mansion fitted with the latest technology of its time. Marvel at the retro gadgetry of this 19th century smart home and stroll through the ornate gardens and grounds lined with rare North American trees. There’s also time in Alnwick, the showstopping market town famous for its namesake castle that doubled as Hogwarts in two Harry Potter movies.
What you’ll love
- Spending time in the historic market town of Alnwick
- Visiting Alnwick Castle, home of the 12th Duke of Northumberland
- Exploring Cragside Hall, the world's first smart home
- Admiring sweeping views over Northumberland’s National Landscape coastline
- Learning about the history of the region
- 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 sightseeing with an experienced HF Holidays Leader
- All transport to and from sites of interest
- Easy-to-follow routes, maps, and information in our Discovery Point if you want to explore independently
Please note - Entrance fees are not included. See Essential Info tab for details.
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.
A visit to the Lord Armstrong’s magnificent estate, famous for being the first house in the world to be lit by hydraulic electricity. The house is surrounded by gorgeous gardens and woods and has over 30 miles of footpaths and lakeside walks. There are five lakes, a large rock garden and around seven million trees and shrubs including some made into a rhododendron maze.
This afternoon we spend time in Alnwick where the choice is yours of what you wish to explore. There’s magnificent Alnwick Castle (also home to the Fusiliers museum), the award winning Alnwick Gardens, the Bailiffgate Museum, or quirky Barter books, as well as Hulne Park, or the town’s coffee and craft shops to choose from.
Transport yourself back 2,000 years with our visit to the World Heritage site of Hadrian's Wall. Our journey takes us along almost half its length, visiting its top visitor attractions to give us an insight to the stories and histories of this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Our first stop is a visit to the Roman Army museum, with the option of heading into Walltown Country Park if you want to stretch your legs and see the Wall up close. We then visit the fascinating archaeological site of Vindolanda. This is an active archaeological site so you’ll see ongoing research and conservation first hand, as well as experiencing world class visitor displays at the museum on site.
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, the approximate totals for entrance fees 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 |
£25 |
£38 |
£63 |
|
NT members |
£34 |
£50 |
£84 |
|
EH members |
£42 |
£63 |
£105 |
|
No memberships |
£50 |
£76 |
£126 |
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, sturdy footwear with a good grip. You’ll be on your feet for much of the day
- Waterproof jacket
- Waterproof overtrousers
- Sunhat
- Rucksack
- Water bottle (at least 1 litre capacity)
- Sunscreen
- Mobile phone
- UV sunglasses
Recommended
- First aid kit, including plasters
- Sit mat
- Waterproof pouch for valuables
- Rubbish bag (remember to always leave no trace)
- Wallet/purse
Optional extras
- Walking poles,
- Flask for hot drinks
- Durable lunch box
- Waterproof rucksack liner
Nether Grange Calendar
- Guided Walking
- Self-Guided Walking
- Special Interests
- Unavailable to Book
Patrick Norris
Patrick Norris might just be Northumberland’s number one fan. Not only is he chair of the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty partnership, but he can proudly boast of having walked the entire length of the Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail 17 times. A certified Hill and Moorland Leader, Patrick has been wowing HF Holidays guests with his knowledge of Northumbria’s history, wildlife and remote regions since 2003.
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 | ||||||||
|
26 Apr - 29 Apr 2024 3 nights |
Discovery Tour
Single Call to Enquire
Double from £589 £554 pp |
from £589 £554 pp |
Call to Enquire | Save £35 Per Person | Trip Notes | Book Now | ||
|
21 Jun - 24 Jun 2024 3 nights |
Discovery Tour Single from £589 £569 Double from £589 £569 pp |
from £589 £569 pp |
from £589 £569 |
Save £20 Per Person | Trip Notes | Book Now | ||
|
18 Oct - 21 Oct 2024 3 nights |
Discovery Tour
Single Call to Enquire
Double from £529 £509 pp |
from £529 £509 pp |
Call to Enquire | Save £20 Per Person | Trip Notes | Book Now | ||
