Sport & Activities
Sports & Activites
Walking
Although Storm Arwen and other storms took place at the end of 2021 and start of 2022, there are still many areas affected within the National Park.
Some of the rights of way within the National Park may have sections which are temporarily closed or unsafe for visitors at this time. With over 1,000 kilometres of path in the National Park, Northumberland National Park Authority and our partners are assessing and prioritising work which needs to be done to clear debris and fallen trees but this will take some time and work will continue throughout 2023 and into 2024.
Further information around sites within the National Park can be found here.
There is a very good app called All Trails which you can download to your phone and use for free. It is very good for both walking and mountain biking. It gives suggestions and details of how to get to the start, how long the route is, different routes depending on how hard you want to make it and good descriptions of what is involved and what you are likely to see.
Golf
There are many courses within a 30 mile radius. Some are coastal and some further inland. All have spectacular scenery. See Golf Courses.co.uk for brief course descriptions, details of length, par etc. for each one. For how to book click on the names to go to the individual websites.
Coastal - You have a choice of 6. Going from South to North:-
Warkworth Golf Club : 14.8 miles. Northumberland's hidden gem of a golf course.
Alnmouth Village Golf Links : 13.5 miles. England Oldest 9 Hole Links Course.
The club was established in 1869 making it the oldest 9 hole links in England. The course was designed by the famous Scottish golfer Mungo Park. There are plenty of challenges to be had here, from the undulating fairways which complicate otherwise straightforward club use from the tee, to the tricky, hard-to-read greens that threaten to play havoc with your short-game. The view from the seventh tee is spectacular with the beach, Alnmouth Bay, and Coquet Island all visible. Like other coastal courses it's open to the wind, adding to the challenge.
Foxton Hall Golf Club, Alnmouth. 13.5 miles. This overlooks the splendours of both Foxton and Alnmouth Bay on the Northumberland coastline in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty. It is widely regarded as one of the finest golf courses in the North East of England.
Dunstanburgh Castle Golf Course: 17.1 miles. Sitting in the shadow of the 14th century Dunstanburgh Castle, the course wraps around the magnificent Embleton Bay, recently voted the best stretch of coastline in Britain. The Golf Course offers a true test of links golf. And with the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of our clubhouse, visits to Dunstanburgh Castle Golf Club will live long in the memory.
Seahouses Golf Course : 26.1 miles. Founded in 1913 as a 9-hole course, it was upgraded to eighteen holes in 1976. It is home to two of the most prestigious par threes in the north of England, which have challenged, baffled, frustrated and delighted golfers of all handicap scores over the years.
Bamburgh Castle Golf Club: 28.8 miles. One of the most scenic golf courses in England. A traditional coastal classic that will leave you breathless.
Inland There is a wealth of courses to choose from. The closest main ones are:-
Rothbury Golf Club: 7.2 miles. Rothbury Golf Course is a picturesque, 18-hole course that nestles in the heart of Northumberland's Coquet Valley and is within easy walking distance of the historic village of Rothbury.
Alnwick Castle Golf Club: 8.9 miles. The golf club offers golfer's a stunning and memorable 18 hole parkland golf course and invites both members and visitors to sample the warm and friendly welcome that the golf club is renowned for providing.
Linden Hall Golf Course: 10.6 miles. Within the grounds of the Linden Hall Hotel offering golfers of all abilities a stern test, the course boasts rolling fairways, strategically placed bunkers and subtly undulating greens, presenting players with incredible views of the surrounding countryside,
Burgham Park Golf Course: 13.8 miles. It is a championship parkland course located in the lovely Northumberland countryside. It has panoramic views of the Simonside hills to the West and the coast to the East. The maturing parklands with water hazards, is both beautiful and tranquil and includes some of the finest greens in the region.
Wooler: 17 miles. With spectacular scenery taking in Berwick to the North, the sea and Lindisfarne to the East and looking out to the Cheviot Hills over the Glendale Valley and beyond the Borders into Scotland, this course occupies the high ground known as Dod Law.
Morpeth Golf Club: 18.9 miles. Morpeth Golf Club, founded in 1906, is one of Northumberland's golfing gems.
Longhirst Hall Golf Club: 19.1 miles. The Club, boasts two beautiful but different courses, offering the challenge of the American style Lakeland courses, coupled with the stunning surroundings of the Northumberland countryside. Both courses have hosted the PGA Europro tour and feature the best in practice facilities with our new driving range, golf academy and teaching studio.
Bedlingtonshire Golf Club: 24.5 miles. Featured in GolfShake.com's '21 Highly Recommended English Golf Courses to Play in 2021'
Mountain Biking
Kielder Water and Forest Park is a biking paradise, with lovingly-maintained trails to suit experts as well as beginners. Follow flat, disused railways or climb up tough tracks through brooding woodland.
Mountain biking trails in Northumberland National Park will lead you across giant landscapes where heather shimmers on the hills and you might just forget that other people exist at all.
Perhaps you love devastating climbs and white-knuckle, life-affirming descents? Wooler Common will provide whilst Rothbury is ideal for gentle, whimsical trails. Wherever you pedal, expect tremendous views, serene landscapes and bountiful nature.
Because of the damage caused by Storm Arwen quite a few of the trails are closed. Forestry England have a website with information about the current situation. Please check it here before you set off.
There are several good websites with details of routes:
Visit Northumberland has useful guides and information on all things mountain biking.
There is a cycle route which runs along Hadrians Wall. For information click here.
The All Trails app which you can download to your phone and use for free is very good for MTB. It gives suggestions and details of how to get to the start, how long the route is, different routes depending on how hard you want to make it and good descriptions of what is involved and what you are likely to see.
Top 20 most beautiful MTB trails at komoot.
Haven't brought your bike? Cycle Hire is possible from several places in the area:-
Coquet Cycles, The Bike Shop, Alnwick, 07599 350000
Pedal Power Cycling, Morpeth, 07790 596782
GO Electric, Seahouses, 07941 049741 Ebike hire.
The Bike Place, Kielder, 01434 250457.
You can also hire bikes at Wallington Hall to use on routes around the estate,
Fishing
Be sure to check the Northumberland County Council website in advance of your visit for up to date information on fishing permits and licenses.
Lake fishing
Further away is
Fontburn Reservoir (NE61 4PL) 14.2 miles, a smaller water than kielder with a reputation as being a friendly, family orientated fishery. It offers top class fishing for fly and bait anglers alike. Many of Fontburn's trout are stocked from our own on site fish farm.
Kielder Water is a boat fishery, and with over 2,000 acres of water to explore you can try a different spot every time you fish. With a fleet of 15 fully equipped motor boats, the huge lake offers exhilarating fishing for both enthusiast and competition anglers alike. Bank anglers are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a spot with access to around 20 miles of shoreline along the Lakeside Way. Please check with the on site rangers for further details.
River fishing
The common varieties of coarse fish in Northumberland are grayling, perch, pike, roach, dace, gudgeon and eels. The season for coarse fishing on Northumberland rivers is 16 June to 14 March.
FISHING ON THE RIVER COQUET is mainly controlled by the Northumberland Anglers Federation. Check their website for permit and other information. The Federation controls much of the Coquet's best fishing with many fine holding pools. Federation waters include stretches of water situated high in the foot hills of the Cheviots around Linbriggs in the border lands amongst some truly spectacular scenery. The river here, deep in the Cheviot Hills, overlooked by the Shill, tumbles through steep gorges, over small waterfalls into deep dark pools. The fishing will appeal to those fishers who enjoy stalking wild fish in remote waters and are prepared to go "off piste" searching for wild Trout, Sea Trout and the occasional Salmon.
Lower down the river around Rothbury there are some fine holding pools with deep runs near Thrum Mill and Pauperhaugh. Lower still there is some fine Salmon water downstream of Felton and around Warkworth. Federation waters also include fishing on the tidal section where fresh fish just off the tide can be caught. The season runs from 1st February to 31st October with the river receiving good spring runs of Salmon and late runs of predominantly Sea Trout, which can approach 20lb in weight.Sea Fishing
Seahouses is home to many an angler and there are a number of sea fishing trips on offer from the harbour. Alan Dawson and his family have over 40 years experience fishing the North Sea and run fishing trips in their MFV 'Guide Me'. He is fully qualified to carry up to twelve passengers on his boat and offers trips from 3 hours to 6 hours and is also available for private charter. You will be fishing the seabed for species such as Cod, Ling, Pollock and Mackerel. For more information visit their website.
Unity Fishing Trips can also cater for all your fishing trip needs from 3 hours for novices and families up to 8 hour wreck fishing trips at some of Northumberland's most famous wrecks. Contact skipper Matty Stephenson via his website for more information.
Sea fishing is allowed without a license from Alnmouth beach and also downstream of the Duchess Bridge (on the road into Alnmouth). At the end of Summer both Sea Trout and Salmon can be caught. Upstream of the Duchess Bridge until the River Aln reaches Lesbury belongs to Alnwick Anglers and this tends to be the best stretch for catches. Daily, weekly an annual passes for this stretch of the River are available from the Alnwick Anglers in the Hardy Fishing Tackle Showroom in Alnwick (01665 602 771). You will also need a Rivers Authority License to fish the River, which can be bought from the Post Office.
Fishing from Amble can be highly rewarding and the Amble Angling Centre (on Newburgh Street) is a good place to start. The most common fish caught from Amble and the surrounding area, including the Coquet Island, in the season is cod. Fishing Boats can be chartered from the harbour. Mackerel Trips are very popular during the Mackerel season from June to September.