Northumberland Walking Getaway (Easter 2025)

Northumberland Walking Getaway (Easter 2025)

Our first visit to Northumberland for 7 years, this time to explore the Eastern Reaches. Using a similar format to Easter 2024, we have a core weekend (Fri18-Mon21) with Newbiggin-by-the-sea as our base location with self-catering accommodation, which can flexibly be extended from Thu17 until Tue22 to avoid bank holiday traffic. Hosts will arrive Thursday.

Accommodation Options:
For travel sharing to walks, and congregating in the evenings, we will be centered around Newbiggin-by-the sea/Ashington (which is virtually one single town) with decently priced accommodation.

Listed below, there is a choice of Parkdean Resorts (offering modern static caravans and lodges) on the coast, and a Budget Hotel in a picturesque inland setting all nearby to each other.

We have some available space in our own holiday unit (please feel free to ask us first), else members should confer to book your own group self-cater accommodations or twin hotel rooms. For co-location, please note that your hosts are staying in Sandy Bay Park (Fri-Mon) and will stay at Ashington Premier Inn for at least one night prior. Though feel free to use AirB&B, Camping, etc if you wish.

Please note that we avoid exorbitant prices which some groups charge to arrange full board, etc. We have researched what we consider great value, and will try to help find room buddies where needed, but we are otherwise admin free.

Accommodation Links:
Parkdean Sandy Bay (Best Value: Clifton & Bavington caravans for 6-8)
Caravan Holidays UK 2025 from £99 at Parkdean Resorts
Premier Inn Ashington (twins & doubles, currently around £48 per night between 2 sharing)
Ashington hotel | Premier Inn
Also See comments for alternative Parkdean and Budget Hotels locally

Travel:
This is down to individuals to organize their own. For anyone not going by car, an option is to catch the train to Newcastle, and the frequent X21 bus from Newcatle direct to Sandy Bay (a.k.a Spital).
X21 - Newcastle - Spital – Arriva Northumbria – Bus Times

Activities Itinerary:
Walk route details and evening social activities are mainly in place, and any final details will be confirmed in due course. We may need more walk leaders, but (based on a mix of easier and more strenuous) some outline plans are as below:

But be sure to check group plans each day whilst there, since weather, roadworks, etc MAY mean we need to switch things around

THU-17-APR:
Day-Walk: The Inverted Mountain: Hole Of Horcum, N/Yorkshire
Walk: The Hole Of Horcum (North Yorkshire), Thu, Apr 17, 2025, 12:05 PM | Meetup
OR: Late PM walk around Queen Elizabeth Park in Ashington
Short Walk: Queen Elizabeth Country Park(Ashington), Thu, Apr 17, 2025, 3:30 PM | Meetup
Evening Social: Choice of Premier Inn Bar or pubs in Ashington. Suggest we meet 7pm in Premier Inn bar.
FRI-18-APR:
Day-Walk: Druridge Bay Coastal Path
Walk: Druridge Bay Coastal Path, Fri, Apr 18, 2025, 11:15 AM | Meetup
Evening Social: Choice of Boathouse (onsite) or Pubs in Newbiggin. Suggest we meet 7pm in Boathouse Bar.
SAT-19-APR:
Day-Walk: Harwood Forest & Rothbury (Northumbria National Park)
Walk: Simonside Hills & Rothbury Forest (Northumbria National Park), Sat, Apr 19, 2025, 10:15 AM | Meetup
Evening Social: Choice of Boathouse (onsite) or Pubs in Newbiggin
SUN-20-APR:
Day-Walk: Fontburn Reservoir and Greenleighton Hills
Walk: Fontburn Reservoir and Greenleighton Hills, Sun, Apr 20, 2025, 10:15 AM | Meetup
Evening Social: Choice of Boathouse (onsite) or Pubs in Newbiggin
MON-21-APR:
Day-Walk: Bolam & Shaftoe Crags
Walk: Bolam Lake and Shaftoe Crags, Mon, Apr 21, 2025, 10:15 AM | Meetup
Reserve Walks:
Kielder Water & Forest (Northumbria National Park)
Ark Edge & Hungry Law (Cheviot Hills)
Hexham & Tyne Circuit Walk
Heddon on the wall (Hadrian's Wall section, bring OS Map)

We aim to conclude walks each day no later than 4pm, allowing ample time to relax, freshen-up and have eaten by 7pm so that we can then spend evenings socializing.

Walking Requirements:
Appropriate winter walking clothing is needed including boots, full waterproofs, warm outdoor activity clothing, hats/gloves. Not trainers, jeans, etc. We can have pub stops on our walks, and can socialize relaxingly later after the walks too. We'll need to take picnic lunches each day regardless, since mid-walk lunch bookings are impractical.

More to follow, so watch this space!