Alnmouth on the Northumberland Heritage Coast

Northumberland is "England's finest county", according to Sunday Times food critic, AA Gill (Feb 2010).  Stretching from Newcastle of the River Tyne to the Scottish borders at Berwick and encompassing the Roman Wall, a National Park, Keilder Water, the Cheviot Hills and the Northumberland Heritage Coast, it certainly has a lot going for it.

BELOW: View across the River Aln estuary from the end of Alnmouth's main street.

Yet despite its abundance of riches Northumberland remains largely off the main tourist map and is therefore unspoilt, peaceful and not congested with traffic.  The picturesque stone market town of Alnwick, with its increasingly popular Alnwick Castle Garden and Treehouse, is the closest you will get to a tourist hot spot.  Otherwise, it is not unusual to find yourself the only ones on a beautiful stretch of pristine sandy beach in the middle of July or August.  The sheer size of the place means that it can absorb all the walkers, cyclists, fishermen, sailors and surfers who have discovered its charms and still appear uncluttered.
Just North of Alnwick, Bamburgh Castle was voted runner up to the Lakes in a BBC pole to find Britains favourite view.  In fact Northumberland boasts more castles than any other English county.
Anyone who has travelled on the east coast main line between Newcastle and Edinburgh cannot have failed to notice that for the 50 miles between Berwick and Morpeth the train hugs one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline in the UK.  Much of the Northumberland coastline has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  People have enjoyed holidays in cottages along the Northumberland coast since Victorian times.  Indeed many of the fine stone cottages in Alnmouth were built as the holiday homes on wealthy Victorians.  Northumberland is renowned for long stretches of fine sandy beaches often reaching back into often huge sand dunes.  Sweeping sandy bays such as those found at Alnmouth, Embleton, Beadnell and Bamburgh are typical of Northumberland the coast, where near-white sands makes for picture-postcard scenes.  Add to this the unspoilt rolling green countryside and Northumberland makes for the perfect outdoor holiday – ideal for lovers of country and coastal walking.
There are a few private hotels but most holiday accommodation in Northumberland is in B&Bs or self catering cottages.  Holiday cottages in Northumberland are generally of a very high standard, offering modern, comfortable accommodation for couples and families.  Many of these cottages enjoy fabulous views, either over rolling hills and green valleys, or if you are lucky, even the sea!  Northumberland’s self catering holiday cottages offer freedom and privacy with all the comforts of home.
Finally, staying in holiday cottages you are far more likely to interact with Northumberland’s friendly locals, whose warmth and openness will remind you of times gone by.  Shopkeepers, publicans and other small businesses in Northumberland still engage in easily conversation and people could not be more helpful and appreciative of visitors.