0 North East

• by Kyle Richmond
• 21-08-2019

North East   The North East of England is beautiful and there are lots of wonderful places to visit....we have listed just a few...    Hadrian’s Wall    Hadrian’s wall is a UNESCO world heritage site. In 122AD the Roman Emperor Hadrian ordered the wall to be built as a defence, to keep out the picts. For nearly 250 years the wall was guarded by Roman soldiers. The wall spans 73miles (117km) in length from coast to coast, there are pathways and cycle routes (long and short) alongside the wall to explore as well as museums, forts amazing views and wildlife. There’s something to suit all ages and it is definitely worth a visit.   https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/hadrians-wall  Holy Island of Lindisfarne  Holy Island is a tidal island just off the coast of Northumberland. Twice a day the sea recedes to reveal a causeway which can be crossed to gain access to the island. The island boasts a large 8,750 acre national nature reserve which is home to a number of bird species as well as birds seals can also be spotted here. Other places of interest on the island include a 12th century priory and Lindisfarne castle which was built in 1550 to defend the harbour. As Holy Island is completely shut off from the mainland twice a day it is extremely important to take notice of the tide timetables, these vary daily so please check these to avoid being stranded on the island.   https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/holy-island  Tynemouth  Tynemouth is a popular place for tourists from its fabulous scenery to the historical priory and Castle. It is a great place to spend the day exploring or simply relaxing on Longsands. There is lots to see and do here and plenty to keep the children entertained. The Blue Reef aquarium is just off the beach offering an interesting and educational place for both children and adults to enjoy, as always it is worth booking online rather than paying on the door. Also for families there is ‘Jungle Wipeout’ which is an outdoor play centre for children under 14, it has a café where the adults can sit back and relax while the children enjoy burning off some energy with its boating lake, inflatables mazes and mini golf there is plenty to keep the family entertained. It is also very reasonably priced.  https://www.tynemouthpark.com  Kielder Forest    Kielder Forest is home to Northern Europes biggest man-made lake as well as Englands largest woodland. Attractions include;  Kielder Castle visitor centre ( an 18th century hunting lodge)  Kielder Observatory  Various Art works and Architectural installations.  There is lots to see and do throughout the year, it is an ideal place for walkinh, cycling, exploring and for families to spend some time in the great outdoors.   The bike place located in Kielder water and forest park offers bike hire for those wishing to explore the forest and lake via a range of cycle trails.  Minotaur maze- is also a great free activity for young children to enjoy.  http://www.visitkielder.com/    Bamburgh Castle  Bamburgh Castle is a grade 1 listed building steeped in history and surrounded by beautiful scenery. The castle is owned by the Armstrong family and is open to the public.  http://www.bamburghcastle.com/    Marsden Beach (South Shields)   Marsden beach is a lovely sandy bay overlooked by the 139ft Marsden Rock, famous for its colonies of birds. It’s a great place for families to enjoy exploring the rock pools and caves, you can also visit the lighthouse and museum and simply relax on the sand and listen to the tranquil sound of the waves. If you fancy a bite to eat or drink there is the famous cave bar/pub here ‘Marden’s Grotto’ carved into the rockface and is well worth a visit.   Seaton Carew  Seaton Carew is a lovely traditional Victorian seaside town it has undergone a lot of development in the past couple of years and is a great place to visit with children, there is plenty of parking on the seafont however during the summer months when it is busy I would recommend using the large carpark behind the golf course. Aside from the beach, there are plenty of amusement arcades, ice cream shops, fish and chip shops, a play park for children and often in the summer there is a fun fair. A little further down the road is the RSPB nature reserve which is another great place for children there is also the seal sands nature reserve where seals can be observed when the tide recedes. If you like history or just something to keep the kids entertained there is the award winning Historic Quay museum in Hartlepool featuring Europe’s oldest floating warship - the Trincomalee.      Whitby  Another great seaside town to visit, there is plenty to do and explore here. A must when visiting Whitby is to go and see the ruins of Whitby Abbey, it is situated at the top of a cliff and can be reached either by driving up to the car park at the top or if you’re feeling energetic you can climb the 199 steps to the top! The views from the cliff are spectacular and well worth the trip to the top.   Another great attraction in Whitby to explore is the HM Bark Endeavour, which is a replica of the ship that Captain James Cook sailed on. The North york moors railway is another great day out for families you can travel on the vintage diesel and steam trains passing by the famous station of Goathland wihich feathured in the Harry Potter film The Philosphers Stone.  https://www.visitwhitby.com/    Saltburn The North East coast is full of wonderful seaside towns and this is another one that is worth a trip to. Saltburn is home to one of the oldest water powered funiculars (cliff Lift) it provides transport between the main town and the pier and definitely saves your legs from walking up the steep hill! The ride takes 55 seconds to get you from one end to the other. When you reach the bottom you can then walk straight onto the beach or take a walk along the grade II listed pier. Also great for the children to explore is the miniature railway.    Barnard Castle   A great day out with plenty to do, Barnard Castle is a market town in Teesdale and is named after the grade I listed Castle that surrounds it.   Places to visit in Barnard Castle:  High Force Waterfall  A great day out with the kids   , take a picnic and enjoy the woodland walk and the fantastic sight of one of England’s finest waterfalls.  Bowes Museum  Bowes museum is set in a magnificent building and showcases collections of fine and decorative arts. It is also home to the renowned 244 year old animated silver swan which can be seen in action every afternoon.         Alnwick Castle    Alnwick castle is a grade 1 listed building and is famous for featuring as Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films as well as featuring in Downton Abbey and The Transformers. There are lots of activities on daily to entertain the whole family.  https://www.alnwickcastle.com/   Roseberry Topping  An iconic image of Teesside, offering an easy climb and stunning views of the local area. Roseberry topping is particularly lovely to visit in May when the woods are filled with a spectacular display of bluebells.