6 T e Travel Guide


Northumberland coast


With seaside trails, castles and even a pilgrimage site, this coastal stretch of North East England warrants weeks of exploration. Words: Pat Riddell


and isolation. Due to its strategic location close to England’s border with Scotland, the county has more than 70 castle sites, too — some ruined, some still as grand as when they were built, many overlooking the sea. Highlights include Bamburgh Castle, dating back millennia, and Alnwick Castle, which featured as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter fi lms. During spring or summer, a boat trip out to the Farne Islands off ers the chance to see one of the UK’s largest puffi n colonies; summer or autumn is the time to see grey seals. visitnorthumberland.com


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What to do T e Northumberland Coast Path stretches for 62 miles from Cresswell to Berwick-upon-Tweed. It’s split into six stages, and tackling anything between six and 13 miles is realistic for most people. T e 10-mile Craster to Seahouses section is regularly


indswept and wild, the coastal stretch of Northumberland has a real sense of space


cited as one of the country’s best walks, with the ruins of 700-year-old Dunstanburgh Castle, sandy beaches and rocky foreshore. northumberlandcoastpath.org


Where to eat T e fi shing village of Craster is famous for kippers and the smokehouses where North Sea herring is cured. L Robson & Sons has been operating for over a century, and the fourth-generation family shop remains popular. Across the road, the aptly named Jolly Fisherman is everything you could want from a pub — particularly on dark, stormy nights, when you’re greeted by a roaring fi re. T e menu is a cut above the average, with oysters and crab. kipper.co.uk thejollyfi shermancraster.co.uk


We like Georgian Berwick-upon-Tweed’s position a few miles from the Scottish border means it’s changed hands between England and Scotland 13 times. Its 16th-century fortifi cations


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Bamburgh Castle has been used as a fi lming location over the years PHOTOGRAPH: ALAMY


are some of Europe’s best preserved and are entirely walkable. T ere’s also the Victorian Royal Border Bridge crossing the River Tweed, plus sandstone streets with art galleries, cool cafes and independent shops. visitberwick.com


Don’t miss T e Holy Island of Lindisfarne retains the sense of mystery it’s had since a monastery was built here in 635 CE. Its founder, St Aidan, is credited


with bringing Christianity to north England’s pagan Saxons, making this a pilgrimage site. It’s only accessible by a causeway according to the tide; so check for safe crossing times on the website. english-heritage.org.uk nationaltrust.org.uk


Where to stay Overlooking the coast, Sea Breeze is a refurbished self-catering house with subtle nautical-themed touches and plenty of windows from which to


admire the view. Sleeping six, there are three bedrooms, an upstairs sitting room, a TV lounge and a conservatory, plus a balcony and patio. Available through Crabtree & Crabtree, from £994 for seven nights or from £746 for three nights. crabtreeandcrabtree.com


First published in the April 2024 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). Read the feature in full at nationalgeographic.com/travel


Campervanning


From a portable generator to convenient cookware, products that multi-task or pack away easily are the key to making the most of limited space. Words: Emma Monk


CUBE Fire Basket


Bring warmth to evenings by your campervan with this multipurpose fi re basket. Add the grill grid to use it as a barbecue, and when the fl ames go out, simply turn it upside down — the ashes will get stored in its inner tray without spilling. It also comes with a fi tted wooden board, so it can be used as a stool or table, too. £379. uk.hofats.com


Stanley Quencher H2.0


Flowstate Tumbler Made of 90% recycled stainless steel, this 1.2L tumbler is ideal for long road trips, keeping drinks cold for 11 hours, or 48 hours when iced, and hot for seven. It’s designed with a carry handle and narrow base to fi t in most car cup holders, and the straw opening is constructed to prevent splashes. £44.99. uk.stanley1913.com


Ridgemonkey Connect Deep Pan


and Griddle T is durable yet lightweight kitchen multitasker makes the most of limited space. A detachable hinge system converts one pan into a saucepan or a separate griddle pan,


which can also act as a lid on the fi rst, deeper pan. T e cool-touch handles are removable to fi t into cabinets. £31.99. ridgemonkey.co.uk


Outwell Skyros Cabinet Unit


Keep your campervan tidy with this four-shelf cupboard unit. Holding up to 30kg, it has an aluminium frame, a laminated top, a zippable door and mesh for ventilation, plus side pockets. It’s straightforward to assemble and comes with a bag so you can tuck it away when not in use. £107.99. outwell.com


Jackery Explorer 300 Plus


Portable Power Station and Solarsaga Panels Weighing just over 3.5kg but still durable for outdoor use, this portable power station can charge up to four devices at once. Power it up through the AC adaptor in two hours, via solar panels in four or using the vehicle adaptor in fi ve and a half. £319. uk.jackery.com


First published in the April 2024 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). Read the feature in full at nationalgeographic.com/travel


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