Walk Northumberland – Guided

We will meet you at Newcastle Railway station at 12.00pm and transfer you to Chillingham,  home to what is claimed to be Britain’s most haunted mediaeval Castle, and tour the State rooms and grounds in the afternoon. We will meet one of the rarest animal breeds in the world, the Wild White Cattle – they have inhabited Chillingham Park for the past 700 years and remain untouched and untamed. After a day diving into the rich culture and heritage of Northumberland, we will head to the Tankerville Arms for drinks and dinner. 

Mileage: 3 miles

Setting off from the Tankerville Arms we will head towards the coast and Holy island, located on the Lindisfarne nature reserve. Here you will see the magic of Northumberland’s spectacular coastline in all its glory. We will take you on a walking tour beyond the villages and castle, and onto the stunning beaches and (if tides allow) on the ancient walkway used by the Pilgrim’s from the 8th century – barefoot! There will be plenty of opportunities to spot the locals –  whether it’s the grey seals, roe deer or the pale-bellied brent goose and merlins.  In the afternoon we’ll visit the magnificent Bamburgh Castle, which sits high on an outcrop over the beach. Brimming with rich history and fresh air we will head back along the River Tweed for an evening wild dip and picnic. 

Mileage: Up to 9 miles

Turning our attention inland and to the Cheviot Hills we will track inland to climb to the top of Yeavering Bell, a shapely hill that sits at the northern point of the Cheviot Hills. Commanding beautiful views over the lower Tweed Valley, we will hike along the wild goat trails to reach the Iron Age Hillfort that sits at the Summit. After a picnic stop at the top, we will track through the tranquil College Valley to hopefully say hi to the wild Cheviot goats on the hillside near Hethpool Mill. 

Mileage: Up to 10 miles

We love catching the morning light with an early wild swim or walk. Walking along the River Till at sunrise we will head towards one of Northumberland’s best kept secrets, Ford & Etal. Here we will enjoy a leisurely breakfast in one of the tearooms before heading to Hay Farm which is home to the largest herd of rare breed Clydesdale Heavy Horses, where we will walk around the indoor centre and have the opportunity to learn more about what horse power really means. In the afternoon we head south to explore Warkworth Castle and head up river by boat or on foot to discover a Hermitage. From here we will track gently along the coast to Alnmouth before arriving into our second hotel spot in Hexham for dinner and drinks in the local pub.

Mileage: Up to 8 miles

We will start the day with a morning walk along the Tyne before heading to Hadrian’s wall and Sycamore Gap (immortalised by Kevin Costner in Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves) and Britain’s most famous tree. It’s a great walk, broken by lunch in the visitor centre called the Sill and followed by a stroll down to Vindolanda – you will have an opportunity to see the huge Roman Garrison unveiling itself before your eyes – it’s huge and there are still 30 years of work still to do! After a day of hiking through the stunning countryside, we will end the week with a celebratory group picnic on the Wall.

Mileage: Up to 11 miles