LOCAL AREA

PLACES TO VISIT

There are lots of great places to visit in the local area. Here are some of our favourites:

Alnwick Gardens and Castle • Barter Books, Alnwick • Craster • Dunstanburgh Castle • Cragside House & Gardens • Bamburgh Castle • Alnmouth • Warkworth Beach • Coquet Island • Druridge Bay Country Park • Whitehouse Farm • Ford and Etal • Holy Island • Morwick Ice-cream parlour (with children's playground)

One of our recent finds is Billy Shiel's Boat Trips. The Ocean Explorer Fast Blast is amazing and we were lucky enough to spot dophins!

There are also lots of great beaches you can visit. Our particular favourite is Embleton Bay, featured in the photographs on this page.

If the weather isn’t too good there are some excellent museums and galleries and great shopping in Newcastle and at the Metro Centre in Gateshead. The train to Edinburgh can be easily accessed from Alnmouth station. There is a leisure centre at Alnwick for swimming and a large soft play called ‘Castle Mania’ on the Amble to Morpeth

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

The picturesque village of Warkworth is almost completely encircled by the River Coquet, and is dominated by the mediaeval castle perched on a mound above. The castle is the most splendid ruin of its type in Northumberland. The first fortification on the site was probably in 1139, with a curtain wall being added in the early 13th century. The chief building period came in the late 14th and early 15th centuries and a good deal remains from this, including the highly impressive keep.

Warkworth has a sandy beach only 1 mile away and fishing and boating in the river. You can travel by boat from the castle (or follow a shady path) upstream to the Hermitage, an unusual refuge dug into the face of the bluff by a hermit in the 14th century. Not much is known about him, but he hollowed out a chapel and two living chambers on two floors connected by steps. Hermits lived here in the 16th century. Coquet Island offshore was also supposed to be a retreat for solitary monks.

St Laurence's Church is the only fairly complete Norman church in Northumberland. It has five Norman windows in the nave, a highly decorated chancel arch and vaulted chancel ceiling, and a rare 14th century stone spire.

The bustling town of Alnwick, with its famous Castle and Gardens is within easy reach, as is the rest of Northumberland’s stunning Heritage Coastline, ideal for walking. Amble, two miles south of Warkworth (approximately 4 miles from Eastfield Hall), has a marina and offers water sports, fishing trips and excursions to Coquet Island an offshore RSPB sanctuary. You can find more local attractions in and around Alnwick through the Visit Alnwick website.

Mahonia Lodge is a great place to relax after sampling the attractions of this fascinating area. Golf and horse riding are available nearby.

T - 01325 717906 | M - 07946 363999

E - enquiries@mahonialodge.co.uk

Mahonia Lodge
7 Eastfield Hall
Warkworth
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE65 OYE