Quote Legends and Icons="Legends and Icons"hi guys n gals im going for a week away to seahouse in northumberland in a couple of weeks ive had a look on line and found a few places and things to do with the missus like the farne islands and hogworts (castle anwich i think its called) but i was just wondering if anyone has been and can give me more info ? any fishing trips ? etc ? thanks'"
Aye, my specialist subject
First of all have you got anywhere to stay, I can recommend some places if not (depending on what you want).
Secondly Seahouses is fine, but without being snobby its perhaps the most commercialised village on that coastline, thats not to say that its Scarborough but its certainly the only village with an amusement arcade (there, I'm sounding snobby now), but its fine - go to the Olde Ship Inn on the harbour, really nice old pub full of fishing tat and decent beer and the food looked pretty good too.
Seahouses is also the place to be for Farne Island boat trips and/or fishing trips, I haven't been to the Farne islands in recent years but frankly can think of a much better way to spend two hours than sitting on a boat and being taken out to some rocks and then being charged again to get off the boat onto the rocks - the only island you can get off at is owned by the National Trust and they charge you on top of what you paid the boatman.
Alnwick Castle markets itself as Hogwarts and knows how to empty your wallet pretty quickly, it costs around £30 each for a ticket for it and the gardens which is valid for two days, you've no choice on the two day thing, we rather thought that they should stick it up their jacksie and opted to go to Chillingham Castle instead.
Alnwick itself is worth a wander around though and just outside of the town walls is [urlhttp://www.barterbooks.co.uk/[/url if you're into poking around in second hand book shops - its one of the largest in Britain and where they found the "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster from WWII.
If you only take one piece of advice then go to Chillingham Castle - its completely barmy, is the most haunted place in the UK according to Derek "I don't make this stuff up honest" Acorah, is reasonably priced to get in (tip - buy a ticket from a Tourist Office, they give a discount), is perhaps the most authentic country house/castle you'll ever go in and is like walking around Steptoes junk yard, allow several hours and absorb everything, its completely crazy and his Lordship who personally labels everything in his own handwriting is a magpie of a collector who believes in just putting random stuff in random rules and letting you wander to enjoy it - I love that sort of stuff and its the best example of complete chaos that I've ever seen.
Go to this place [urlhttp://shipinnnewton.co.uk/[/url don't ask why, just go, you can thank me later.
Lindisfarne is well worth a visit for a wander and a crafty pint, the castle is closed on a Monday though.
If you like your Edwardian Country Home to be a bit more organised then go to Cragside at Rothbury, its a bit more expensive but well worth it, Rothbury itself is worth a mooch around too but just don't ask the locals where the Raoul Moat Memorial Gardens are, there isn't one and it just gets them a tad upset.
Bamburgh Castle looked reasonable value for money but we didn't get to go around but if you're there on a sunday then check the Banburgh Cricket Club for a home fixture, there is no finer backdrop to any cricket club anywhere in the world.
Craster is a small working harbour village, a bit scruffy but authentic and it has Robsons smokehouse [urlhttp://www.kipper.co.uk/home.html[/url, I can recommend the kipper pate, crawfish tails and a dressed crab for tea.
I think thats it, do you like walking, you'll never run out of walks, if you like cycling then National Route #1 goes right down the coastline - I'll stop now.
