4-Night Northumberland Gentle Guided Walking Holiday
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4-Night Northumberland Gentle Guided Walking Holiday Tour Style: Gentle Walks Destinations: Northumberland & England Trip code: ALBEW-4 HOLIDAY OVERVIEW Discover England’s last frontier, home to castles, never-ending seascapes and tales of border battles. Our gentle guided walking holidays in Northumberland will introduce you to the hidden gems of this unspoilt county, including sweeping sandy beaches and the remote wild beauty of the Simonside Hills. WHAT'S INCLUDED What Included: • High quality en-suite accommodation in our Country House • Full board from dinner upon arrival to breakfast on departure day • 3 days guided walking • Use of our comprehensive Discovery Point www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 1 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 HOLIDAYS HIGHLIGHTS • Head out on guided walks to discover the varied beauty of Northumberland on foot • Admire sweeping seascapes from the coast of this stunning area of outstanding natural beauty • Let an experienced leader bring classic routes and offbeat areas to life • Look out for wildlife, find secret corners and learn about this stretch of the North East coast's rich history • Evenings in our country house where you share a drink and re-live the day’s adventures ITINERARY Day 1: Arrival Day You're welcome to check in from 4pm onwards. Enjoy a complimentary Afternoon Tea on arrival. Day 2: Rothbury & The Simonside Hills Option 1 - Rothbury To Cragside Distance: 4 miles (6.5km) Ascent: 800 feet (260m) Summary: We start in the town of Rothbury and ascend to Rothbury Terraces once used for carriage riding. We end at the Cragside Estate, the home of Lord Armstrong the Victorian inventor and entrepreneur. Highlight: Be amazed by the ingenuity and inventions on show in the Cragside Estate. This was the first house in England to be powered by hydroelectricity. Option 2 - Above Rothbury Distance: 7 miles (11½km) Total ascent: 1,100 feet (340m) In Summary: A Circuit of Rothbury heads into the hills above the town, through dark forests and across wide open moorland. Highlight:Look out for red grouse flying low across the tops of the heather on the open moorland sections of this walk. Option 3 - Simonside Hills Distance: 10 miles (16½km) Total ascent: 1,850 feet (560m) In Summary: We will stride out today across open moorland to the lofty top of the Simonside hills. After a descent through woodland, we climb again to follow the carriage drive back into Rothbury. Highlight: The top of the world feeling and huge views on offer atop our high point of the week on Simonside. www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 2 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 Day 3: Northumberland's Early History Option 1 - Budle Bay & Bamburgh Distance: 3½ miles (6km) Ascent: 180 feet (60m) Summary: We head out to the coast along gently sloping paths with views of Budle Bay appearing and reappearing through the frames of huge dunes. Eventually reaching Bamburgh. Highlight: If the tide is waning, keep your eyes peeled for a myriad of wading birds in Budle Bay, including oystercatcher, curlew and turnstone sifting through the sand and silt and rocks for their next meal. Option 2 - Beadnell To Bamburgh Distance: 7 miles (11½km) Total ascent: 300 feet (100m) In Summary: Enjoy an iconic beach walk from Beadnell to Seahouses with time to look at the harbour then it’s on to Bamburgh and its castle. Highlight: Look out for seabirds and seals flying and bobbing about amongst the waves on this excellent coastal walk Option 3 - High Newton To Bamburgh Distance: 10 miles (16km) Ascent: 400 feet (120m) In Summary: Follow the beautiful coast from High Newton along the sands to Beadnell’s old harbour. Pass the busy port of Seahouses, with excellent views of the Farne Islands, before continuing on the beach to Bamburgh. Highlight: The final leg along the sands to Bamburgh, with great views of the imposing castle that was once the seat of early Northumbrian Kings. Day 4: Amble & Warkworth Option 1 - Amble To Warkworth Distance: 3½ miles (6 km) Ascent: 200 feet (60m) Summary: We start at the village of Amble, pass the Coquet estuary and then walk by the substantial ruins of Warkworth Castle before finishing in the historic Warkworth village. Highlight: The Amble harbour boardwalk gives spectacular views of Coquet Island seabird sanctuary. www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 3 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 Option 2 - Warkworth To Alnmouth Distance: 8 miles (12.5 km) Ascent: 550 feet (160m) Summary: We start at ancient Warkworth Castle before walking along the Northumberland Coastal Path with great views before finally returning above the beach to Alnmouth. Highlight: Ancient Warkworth Castle is substantial in size, its northern facades appearing to bear down over the rest of Warkworth Village, which has retained its original medieval layout and burgage plots. Option 3 - Amble To Alnmouth Distance: 11 miles (17.5km) Ascent: 650 feet (200m) Summary: We start at Amble crossing the harbour board walk before walking along the Northumberland Coastal Path through Warkworth with great views of the imposing castle, before finally returning to Alnmouth beach. Highlight: The Amble harbour boardwalk gives spectacular views of Coquet Island wildlife sanctuary. Day 5: Departure Day Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home. ACCOMMODATION Nether Grange Sitting pretty in the centre of the quiet harbour village of Alnmouth, Nether Grange stands in an area rich in natural beauty and historic gravitas. There are moving views of the dramatic North Sea coastline from the house too. This one-time 18th century granary was first converted into a large family home for the High Sheriff of Northumberland in the 19th century and then reimagined as a characterful hikers’ hotel. Many of the 36 bedrooms look out across the sea, while a large lounge, conservatory and adjoining bar are there to entertain you. Easily accessible from the house are the coast path while inland lies the Northumberland National Park. North are the Farne Islands and their spectacular seabird colonies and close by is Lindisfarne and its romantic castle accessible at low-tide via an ancient pilgrim’s path. Nearby too is the medieval market town of Alnwick and its eponymous castle, as well as the atmospheric ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, perched on a grassy peninsula to the south of Embbelton Bay. Best of all though is Bamburgh Castle, built to resemble a magnificent medieval fortress but actually an impressive Victorian folly. www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 4 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 Matchless Country House Accommodation Accommodation Info Need To Know Important Covid-19 Steps We Have Taken For Guest Safety: Please Read Following the relaxation in government guidance on 19 July, we are continuing to take extra steps to keep our guests leaders, and staff safe in our HF country houses. We ask all our guests to respect the measures put in place. The English, Scottish and Welsh governments are not in sync, so measures in our country houses will vary between the nations. With the relaxation of social distancing in England, from 19 July we will be allowing larger groups to dine and relax in the bar together. However, we will still give guests space e.g. we will seat 6 people at a table where pre-pandemic we may have seated 8. We will ensure our public rooms are well ventilated by opening doors and windows wherever possible. If you have any concerns about distancing, please speak to the House Manager. The government recommendation for England is to wear face coverings in crowded areas. You must wear a face covering by law in public areas in hotels in Scotland. This is mandatory in public spaces; however, face coverings will not be required whilst eating and drinking in the restaurant and bar areas or whilst you are outside our houses. In Wales face coverings will remain a legal requirement indoors, with the exception of hospitality premises. As a temporary measure, we will not be servicing rooms during a stay. Extra tea, coffee, milk, and toiletries will be made available on request for all guests. It is recommended that guests bring their own toiletries for the duration of their stay. We will though be increasing the frequency of cleaning in our public areas providing particular attention to frequently touched items including door handles and handrails. Menus for the week will be available in your room on arrival. A self-service breakfast will be served from 7.45am – 9am. Picnic lunches will now be pre-ordered the night before from an order form in the room. Evening meals will be table service. A dinner order form will be available in each room for completion. Dinner is served at either 7.15pm or 7.30pm. Please check at the house for details. The bar will be open. We will be offering a table service but guests can also come to the bar to order (depending on local restrictions). Join our team after dinner on Wednesday evenings for the HF Big Pub Quiz. There will be one other evening of entertainment at the start of the week, which will vary depending on the country house that you are staying at. Our Walk Leaders will also be on hand in the bar or lounge for individual or small group walks talks briefings, which allow guests to talk through the following day’s walk options and ask any questions. All of our swimming pools are open, except for Glen Coe, which will not re-open this year. Swimming Pools will be operated in line with maximum capacities.