Top 10 things to do this Summer in Northumberland

Outdoor Activities Northumberland 

The combination of coast and countryside mean that endless outdoor activities await in Northumberland. Surfing, paddle boarding, coastal kayaking, beach horse riding, water sports, zip lining at Kielder Zip Coaster or Go Ape Matfen and mountain biking are just some of the best outdoor activities Northumberland.  

Northumberland is a great place to surf with spectacular castle views, great waves and large sandy beaches. The best beaches for surfing in Northumberland include Bamburgh Castle, Beadnell Bay, Newbiggin-by-the -Sea, Seaton Sluice, Druridge Bay, Cresswell and Tynemouth Longsands. Surf schools are available at Surf Northumberland, Northside Surf School in Amble or Surf Co in Tynemouth, which also offer stand up paddle board lessons. 

If you like beach horse riding Northumberland, then there are a variety of beaches suitable for horses, with car parks large enough to accommodate horse boxes. These are Bamburgh (height restriction barriers are in place along the Wynding), Beadnell Bay (Seasonal Restriction May-August), Alnmouth (Boathouses Car Park), Warkworth/Buston Links (Warkworth Picnic Site Car Park and follow route to beach for horses) and Druridge Bay Country Park. 

Kielder watersports are a popular outdoor activity in Northumberland this Summer and there are plenty of sports on offer from Calvert Kielder. This includes canoeing and trimaran sailing. For those wanting to Segway Northumberland why not take a tour of Kielder in your very own Segway with Kielder Waterside?

Northumberland Wildlife 

Northumberland is a great place to spot wildlife especially during the Summer months. The ospreys nest at Kielder Forest and the North East coastal waters are full of cetaceans such as bottlenose dolphins. You can track their progress through Facebook groups such as North East Cetacean Project. The puffins are at Farne Islands between May and July and can be seen via a boat crossing from Seahouses. Red squirrels and adders can also be spotted across the Northumberland National Park and at Kielder Forest. The Hauxley Nature Reserve and Wild Life Discovery Centre Northumberland at Druridge Bay is well worth a visit. The Northumberland Wildlife Trust has details of its Summer events and activities

Summer Festivals in Northumberland 

There are a variety of music and culture festivals held across Northumberland in the Summer months. Hexham Book Festival is normally held in June, Mouth of the Tyne at Tynemouth Priory in July and Lindisfarne music festival at a gorgeous coastal setting in Beal Farm in early September. There are various country shows over the Summer months including Glendale Show at Wooler and Bellingham. Alwinton Show takes place the first Saturday of October. And with 2022 being the year of the 1900 Festival , keep an eye out for special events along Hadrian’s Wall. 

Northumberland Gardens 

The Northumberland gardens are at their best during the Summer months including the Rose Garden at The Alnwick Garden which is in full bloom in June and July. Other Summer gardens worth a visit are the Walled Garden at Wallington Hall, swathes of azalea and rhododendron at Cragside at Rothbury and the long summer evenings at Gibside. Howick Hall Gardens and Arboretum is worth a visit and as the ancestral home of the Earls Grey must be visited to enjoy a cup of tea. The wild Bog Garden is at its peak during the Summer. 

Unusual Family Days Out Northumberland 

For something different why not take the kids broomstick training at Alnwick Castle, famous filming location for the Harry Potter movies? Free admission to Alnwick Castle is also included. And whilst you’re there why not visit the Poison Garden at The Alnwick Garden? 

Northumberlandia is the world's largest human landform sculpture. 'The Lady of the North' is around 34m high and 400m in length. There are great views, woodland works and Northumberland wildlife. 

For stargazing in Northumberland try the Kielder Observatory for astronomy heaven. Their Summer Skies events focus on the sun, moon and planet and there are also Late Night Dark Sky events those that want to enjoy stargazing in Northumberland all year round. Herding Hill Farm is a Dark Sky Friendly Park so our guests can enjoy the beautiful Northumberland dark skies. 

Football fans may like to take a walk on the roof of the Newcastle United Stadium St James Park, with an NUFC Rooftop Tour. There are great views of the stadium and the city of Newcastle. NUFC Stadium Tours also available.