Useful stuff for planning your trip

A one-stop preparation resource...

We want this to be a library of all kinds of useful resources, so that you'll have loads of ideas of things to do when you arrive. Here's a list of sites which we would recommend, to one degree or another. Each link opens in a new window or a new tab, so this page will always be open, somewhere on your screen...

The small print

...but here’s the small print. We’re not responsible for anything written on anyone else’s website (I have enough trouble being responsible for my own words, which often seem to end up fuddled.) So if you find something which offends you on any of these links, please don’t come after us.

Links

Visit Northumberland - the official visitor site for Northumberland. It has a very comprehensive A-Z of visitor attractions, which we couldn't hope to surpass.
northumberland-coast.co.uk is a very useul collection of information for the visitor.
Boat trips to the Farne Islands with Billy Shiel
Alnwick Castle (01665 510777) is the medieval family home of the Duke of Northumberland and the film location for Harry Potter's Hogwarts School.
Alnwick Garden (01665 511350) - The premier visitor attraction and vision of the Duchess of Northumberland - The Alnwick Garden is gardening on a grand scale, and it's something you have to do...
Bamburgh Castle (01668 214 515) - Perhaps the most iconic photo you'll take, or see...
Howick Hall Gardens The gardens at Howick are for garden lovers! Howick has been owned by the Grey family (of Earl Grey tea fame)since 1319. The gardens are about 15 mins drive from St Cuthbert's House
Chillingham Castle ( 01668 215359)
Cragside House Cragside was the first house in the world to have hydroelectric powered lighting. It has been closed for extensive work for 18 months, but is reopening this season. This is a 'must see' place. The house is beautiful, and so are the grounds, with a scenic drive and 40 miles of footpaths.
The Chain Bridge Honey Farm The old chain bridge at Horncliffe is well worth a visit., maybe as part of a day out to the fortified town of Berwick-upon-Tweed. The honey farm ahs a great visitor centre which tells the honey & bee story, and you can watch the bees at work.. They have a double-decker bus for a tearoom. No really, they do!
Our favourite castle is Dunstanburgh (01665 576231) and makes for a lovely walk from either side (you can't get the car within miles of it., but its a lovely coastal walk from either Craster or Embleton links. We can loan you a map, but you don't need one really.)
Our friends Mark & Mary Fleeson run The Lindisfarne Scriptorium on Holy Island, and we'd thoroughly recommend a visit to see her artwork.
We're sure you'll want to venture across the causeway to Lindisfarne. But please, heed the safe crossing times. It seems unbelievable that people choose to drive their cars into the sea and need to be rescued by the lifeboat, but it happens almost every week in the summer. No - I'm NOT exaggerating.
Whilst you're on the island, you should visit the Lindisfarne Heritage Centre (01289 389004). Be sure to check the Holy Island safe crossing times before you go (or try to come back)
If you're into fishing, you'll enjoy the House of Hardy Museum in Alnwick (01665 510027).
Heatherslaw Mill and Lady Waterford Hall, Ford (01890 820338) makes for a lovely day out. You should take in nearby Etal too.
Preston Tower (01665 589227) is an intriguing Border Pele Tower, open to the public without a lot of hype and spin...
Our local newspaper is the Northumberland Gazette, and their site has lots of interesting information. They have a good What's on in Northumberland this week section (but it's not so good if you're coming next month... )
Warkworth Castle (01665 711423) is another of those photos you'll recognise.
The Northumbria Community - a Christian Community drawing inspiration from the Celtic Saints.

Local restaurants, hotels and other places to eat

The Links Hotel, Seahouses 01665 720062
The Olde Shippe, Seahouses 01665 720200
The Seafield Restaurant, Seahouses 01665 721999
The New Beadnell Towers Hotel, Beadnell 01665 721211
Pinnacles Fish & Chip restaurant, Seahouses (no need to book!)
The Tree House at Alnwick Garden 01665 511852
The Mason's Arms, Rennington 01665 577275
The Horse Shoes Inn, Rennington 01665 577665
The Lord Crewe Hotel, Bamburgh 01668 214243
The Castle, Bamburgh 01668 214616
Blacketts, Bamburgh 01668 214714
The Apple Inn, Lucker 01668 213450
The Percy Arms, Chatton 01668 215244
The Pack Horse, Ellingham 01665 589292

Local Information

There are two taxi firms in Seahouses:
Park Taxis 01665 720542
Hunters Taxis 01665 720400
Holy Island safe crossing times
Doctor's Surgery, Seahouses Medical Centre 01665 720917 (an outpost of Belford Medical Pracctice)
Tourist Information Office, Seahouses, 01665 720884
Ordnance Survey maps you might find useful are Landranger Sheet 75 (Berwick, Holy Island & Wooler), and Landranger 81 Alnwick & Morpeth, Rothbury & Amble...and others depending on how far afield you want to go! They can be purchased locally of course, or we can lend you one for a day out. If you want to walk sections of the 58-mile Northumberland Coast Path, you'll be better with the Explorer range of OS maps. The whole walk is covered by Sheets 325,332,340 and 346 - as well as the Landranger maps listed above. Don't forget your boots...
North Sunderland & Seahouses Development Trust, Main Street, Seahouses
Seahouses Methodist Church, Main St Seahouses has services at 10.45am on Sundays. The Minister is Rev Pauline Fellowes, 01665 720349.
St Paul's Parish Church, North Sunderland. . The Parish Church is just a few strides form St Cuthbert's House. Family Communion is held every Sunday at 10.30am, and there's lots going on at other times in the week too.The Minister is Rev Jane Wood, 01665 720202
St Aidan's RC Church, . Mass at 11am every Sunday and Holy Days, Saturday Vigil Mass 12 noon. Fr Tony Owens, 01665 720427
Erskine United Reformed Church, Nursery Lane Belford (about 8 miles from St Cuthberts House) Minister Rev David Herbert, 01668 219584