Northumberland 2009

Northumberland Holiday Guide 2009
Wooler – Gateway to the Cheviots Otterburn – Heart of Reiver country
The Tankervilles were Norman knights who owned large tracts Otterburn stands at a crossroads of the A68 to Edinburgh with
of North Northumberland. There are a number of pubs named the minor roads east to Alnwick and west to Kielder Forest.
after the family in the area but two are of particular note. These are some of most the most remote and scenic roads
in England and the traveller to Otterburn is rewarded with a
The first is The Tankerville Arms Hotel (01668 281 581) at superb country house hotel and restaurant: Otterburn Tower
Wooler, a pretty market town on the road to Coldstream, which Hotel (01830 520 620).
is a centre for walking the Cheviot Hills. The second is The
Tankerville Arms (01665 578 444) at Eglingham. Though one
Tankerville Arms is in the hills and the other on the way to the
sea both have excellent reputations for food and have won silver
medals in this year’s regional food awards.
The Coquet Valley – the best salmon fishing in England
The beautiful Coquet is England’s finest salmon river and The
Anglers Arms (01665 570 271) at Weldon Bridge near Morpeth
has been catering for hungry fly-fishers since 1760. The Walls
are lined with fishing memorabilia but the main attraction is the
restaurant in a converted Pullman railway coach. Appropriately,
the menus at the Angler’s Arms reflect the same care and
quality that made Pullman the last word in railway luxury.
The ‘capital’ of Coquetdale is the large village of Rothbury
whose Queen’s Head Hotel (01669 620 470) has been
catering for visitors since the 19
th
century. Modern motorists,
walkers and cyclists are certain to be restored with this
welcoming hotel’s menu of hearty traditional dishes. West
of Rothbury, the village of Thropton has The Cross Keys Inn
(01669 620 362) which is a pleasant place to stop on the road
through Upper Coquetdale.
In the opposite direction, heading down the valley towards
Morpeth, is the village of Longframlington and Embleton Hall
(01665 570 249) which is a comfortable neo-gothic country
house hotel with a good reputation for its food. Parts of the ancient Otterburn Tower incorporate the 11
th

century castle built by William the Conqueror’s cousin and
Morpeth – County town of Northumberland
the dining room still has the air of a Medieval banqueting hall.
The Medieval market town of Morpeth boasts a terrific brasserie
The castle became a sporting lodge in the 19
th
century and
and two country house hotels of distinction in the surrounding
the speciality of the house is fresh salmon and trout from the
countryside. The Black Door Dining Rooms (01670 516 200), on
nearby River Rede.
Morpeth’s Bridge Street, is a new venture for North East ‘Chef
of the Year’ David Kennedy who already runs a highly successful
Not far from Otterburn, on the A696 road south to Newcastle,
establishment in Newcastle. David is famous for blending classic
is the village of Kirkharle - birthplace of Capability Brown and
cooking with his own culinary élan and his Morpeth venue is a
home to Kirkharle Courtyard (01830 540 362). This collection
splendid place to sample his innovative approach to food.
of arts and crafts studios, and an exhibition commemorating
the famous gardener, also has a coffee shop serving luscious
Out of town, Linden Hall (0844 879 9084) is a perfectly
light meals and delicious home-made cakes.
proportioned mansion with its own golf course, country club,
gastro pub and the two AA rosette, fine-dining restaurant Kielder – Lakes and forests on the Scottish border
‘Dobson’s’. This restaurant is named after John Dobson, the West of Otterburn are the vast forests and reservoir at
architect who created Newcastle’s Regency splendour, who Kielder. The area is part of Northumberland National Park
designed Linden Hall in 1812. and after working up an appetite canoeing, sailing, walking,
Ten years later Dobson designed the imperious neo-classical riding, cycling or fishing enjoy wonderfully warming pub food
Longhirst Hall (01670 791 348) which also has a golf course at The Pheasant Inn (01434 240 382) in Falstone. Owners,
and the fine dining restaurant Boyson’s. Head Chef, Graeme Robin & Irene Kershaw, cook with such relish they have won
Toms, cooks seasonal menus of classic dishes, with his own a place in the distinguished guide Alistair Sawday’s Special
innovative twists, featuring fresh fish from North Shields and Places to Stay.
lamb and matured organic beef from Kielder.
Alternatively the remote hamlet of Greenhaugh has the ancient
www.visitnorthumberland.com 51
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