Lucy Caille | Thu, Sep 8th, 2016
Before I reflect on our summer travels and trip of the month I am delighted to announce that bookings for spring/summer 2017 open this Sunday 11th September. If you are hoping to have a GlamperRV adventure next summer I would advise you to booking early, especially if you are considering the peak holiday season.
Back to this summer and amazingly we managed to combine a brief gap in the busy summer rental diary with some fabulous weather to enjoy a trip to the Northumberland coast.
It is a truly magnificent coastline with enormous expanses of sandy beaches, delightful seaside villages and numerous castles. Perhaps however one of the most stunning features was the lack of other people (except those testing out ‘quidditch’ at Alnwick Castle, the setting of the Harry Potter films).
With GlamperRV already in the North on a business trip with my other half, I booked seats on a Virgin East Coast mainline train up to Berwick upon Tweed and unlike Jeremy Corbyn we had a very comfortable, seated journey. Getting in late we decided to park up in a Brit Stops Farm Shop for our first night which proved useful in the morning to stock up on some great local produce and set us on our way.
Heading down the coast and having checked tide times our first stop was the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, the landing of Christianity to the British Isles in 635 AD and still today a place of pilgrimage. First history lesson for our young GlamperRV adventurers, tick.
Lesson number two came all too soon as we reached the magnificent Bamburgh Castle, set high above the village of Bamburgh, once the capital of the ancient kingdom of Northumbria. A quick whizz around and it was off to the beach over which it looks to release some of that built up energy.
We finished the day in the pretty seaside village of Seahouses where tour boats taking guests out to the Farne Islands now far outnumber fishing boats. A tour to the islands is well worth your time and on your return enjoy some local fish and chips or even better buy some fresh local seafood to cook in GlamperRV!
We found another good overnight spot courtesy of Brit Stops in Amble however having driven along the coast road between Amble towards High Hauxley the following day we realised there were also plenty of potential wild camping spots nestled into the dunes.
Amble is well situated to enjoy the stunning beach of Druridge Bay, stretching 11Km along the Northumberland coastline it is a great spot for beach games and what’s more you will have most of it to yourself!
Having had our beach fix for the day we ventured inland to the town of Alnwick and its famous castle, seat of the Duke of Northumberland. Go to the public car park on Greenwell Road where you will find a number of dedicated motorhome bays. Alternatively venture through the town and park up in one of the lay-bys on the B6341 from where you will get a fabulous view of the castle and can enjoy a walk along the River Aln.
After a busy day and ready to enjoy some fine dining to celebrate a birthday in the family we parked up at a camping spot in Dunstan Stead from where we could walk into the village of Craster, famous for its smokery and The Jolly Fisherman. A table in the main restaurant with magnificent views of the coastline accompanied by a menu packed with delicious seafood was a really excellent recommendation and great way to end the day.
Overall the trip got the big thumbs up from both big and little GlamperRV adventurers alike and Northumberland must definitely one of the hidden treasures of the British coastline.
For my next Trip of the Month I will be sharing with you some tips and tales from one family’s 4 week GlamperRV adventure across Europe.
