Northumberland

It all sounds fabulous - I'm particularly taken with the images of the coastline (having watched 'Vera') plus all those teashops and pubs .

Is any of this accessible by train from Newcastle or would we need to hire a car?

You can catch the train to Alnwick (Alnmouth) from Newcastle Riverwalk . It is a short taxi/ bus ride into the town though (only 4-5 minutes). From Alnwick you can get a bus straight to Seahouses and depending if you were going to stay there a night or two you can catch another bus up to Bamburgh. Hiring a car would mean you could see some of the more remote areas but perfectly do-able using train/buses.

Thank you Gilly, and everyone.

gillybob; we might see you there, then, unless someone is staying at the flat that week. The S.O. likes to have friends and colleagues stay there whenever possible as they contribute to the local economy, so we often have to avoid half term. My dog lives for her walks on Bamburgh beach and my departed dogs have their ashes buried near the rocks. The walk from Bamburgh towards Lindisfarne [past Stag Rock] is amazing also, with beaches that are empty even at the height of summer. I collect bits of glass also; it all started with me collecting it on the beach at Positano when I was 19; I love the way all the hard edges are worn away! And some of the driftwood is amazing when there's been a high tide; I wish I could drag some of it away but most of it is far too heavy. I have some smaller pieces in my garden back home, though. The only thing about the A1 if anyone hires a car is to just be careful of the nutters that ignore the fact that it's not a dual carriageway; some of the driving is appalling,

This is all making me homesick!
We are in the States fulfilling MrA's dream of travelling through the Eatern USA by boat. We are with DS and family this week, which is lovely of course, but after that I can't wait to get home and revisit all the lovely places of our adopted home.
Agree with Tegan about the Woodhorn Museum near Ashington and the story of the Pitmen Painters.
Another jewel that I can't resist mentioning is the White Swan at Alnwick.
We went there for the first time to a wedding, in November.
Although it looks fairly modest from the outside, being part of a terrace on the Main Street, the interior is amazing. It was rescued from the Olympic, the sister ship of the Titanic, and you can enjoy the splendour of the wood-panelled room and chandeliers and imagine yourself back in those glamorous days

Well I have only lived in Northumberland for 31 years and I have never heard of Lady Waterford's Hall - definitely worth a visit when the weather gets better. Another favourite place to visit is Belsay Hall - we love going there.

JaneA, hope you're having a great time in the States. Are ou going down the Outer Banks? We did that a few years ago and just loved it. Have a great time.

Hi Gillie, thanks for your good wishes -we started our journey on the Florida Gulf Coast, where we're about to buy a boat <excited face>. The plan is to do something called the Great Loop, and possibly a few detours , spread over several years, in 3 - 4 month stretches. As DS lives in Virginia it will be a good way to see the family too.
I'm writing a blog - if you want to look at it, it's www.talesfromtheamericanwaterways.com
Hope that's ok GNHQ it is just an account of our doings for friends and family.
Now back to Northumberland

If you are visiting Newcastle check out the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative website for tourist advice about almost anything. www. newcastlegateshead.com Newcastle itself has so much to offer with museums, art galleries etc you might not want to leave! But if you do there is the Roman Wall and all the forts to visit. Durham for the castle and the cathedral - go by train the view from the station is described as one of the best in the world. All the coast of course. Alnwick Castle and the Gardens for Harry Potter fans and anyone who loves plants and water features. Your problem won't be what to do but how to decide what to miss out and at the end of the week you will want to come back again to see all the rest. Newcastle and Northumberland are well kept secrets but once you've been here you'll want to come back. Sorry about the weather though-wrap up warm and bring waterproofs April isn't always spring like!

Thank you everybody for all the very useful advice.

I've been checking GNER and Trainline for an idea of train times and tickets for travel in April - I nearly fell off my chair at the prices!

They are quoting prices between £199 - £300 return, with no 'special deals' in sight. Maybe it's too early to book deals.

Does anyone have any experience of the timeline for cheaper tickets between Newcastle and London?

I've found Red Spotted Hanky very useful- if you have any Tesco vouchers you can exchange them on this site too. Also, you may find it worth your while to buy a senior rail card. Hope this helps.

Good morning Riverwalk I have just done a quick price check on thetrainline.com . I obviously had to guess at dates etc. but chose 11th April from London kings Cross up to Newcastle and a return on 18th April . The price I got was £252 for 2 people return (on any off peak train for a period of 1 month) making it £126 each. I know you can sometimes get better deals than this at around the 3 month mark.

I'll have a look at that site Granniepam, thank you. (I'm too young for a railcard )

Yes Gilly they were the prices I came up with, which seemed a bit steep, and if you vary the dates it was even higher.

It's probably 14-20 April - when I have definite dates maybe I'll be able to get a deal, the type where you have to get a certain train with no flexibility.

My sister recently went to Liverpool and back for £24! Think she booked about 6 weeks in advance. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for such a bargain to Newcastle!

It might be cheaper to hire a car. There used to be some cheap carhire places in Newcastle.
Can't remember the name of the one we used now.

Try East coast. I am sure they were cheaper than that. There was a special offer recently of £15 each way Edinburgh to London - if that is still on you could buy it and get on-off wherever suits! It may be finished now, though.

Just checked - It was book by 9 January for travel between 17 January and 28 March 2014,( excluding 14-23 February) so would be out on two counts.

That's good to know Elegran because it means that they do have special deals - I just have to keep a look out.

Tricia yes I think car-hire could be cheaper but the train is so much easier and quicker.

Register with east coast on line and train line for early train fare deals and an independent one called Chesterletrack based in Chester-le-street station which are NEand therefore canny. I have just bought two returns to kings cross from Durham @£30 each.

Just spent yesterday at Beamish Museum, a fantastic place to go if you like old world stuff. Lots of trams and old buses to ride on. A pit village, a farm, with animals, an Edwardian town, complete with sweet shop and now a 100 year old bakery, lots of other shops, even a dentist with old fashioned drill, and a pub and cafe. There are a couple of railway lines with working trains for short journeys.
You can catch a bus to Beamish from the Newcastle bus station. It's called the Red Kite line, and takes you through red kite country, obviously.
www.beamish.org.uk to find out what's going on.

DH was asking for suggestions as to where to take the caravan this year. Now he knows!

I always use redspottedhanky site for train bookings.Just checked London -Newcastle avge Standard return £132.(less if you have Senior Railcard). Prices can often be reduced by booking 2 singles or split journeys.

Does anyone up there know Budle Bay Had a lovely caravan holiday there in 1963. when children were 4,3 and 1.
Filming was taking place on Bamburgh sands at the time for 'Beckett'. Richard Burton and Eliz.Taylor were around but we didn't see them!!

If train is expensive, how about coach ?

I've been checking the ticket prices again and it seems there are bargains to be had.

My friend also wants to visit Edinburgh so I was thinking of booking a return from London to Edinburgh then she can get off at Newcastle, do her thing for a few days; buy a single ticket to Edinburgh as I presume you can't break your journey; then return to London direct from Edinburgh.

Navigating around the various train sites I can't work it out - do all/most Edinburgh trains stop at Newcastle?

Yes I think so River well at least the East Coast ones do anyway.

Thank you gilly - as long as she remembers to get off!