Dog-friendly guide to Northumberland
Wild and rugged Northumberland is a vast rural playground for humans and their four-legged friends. From action-packed Kielder Forest to long stretches of almost empty beaches, there’s much to set tails wagging. Knowing your dog is going to have just as much fun as you, sometimes takes a little planning. It can be helpful to know where your dog can free-range and when they need to be on a lead, which pubs and restaurants have treats at the bar and, of course, which places to stay are happy for your dog to bed down. So, we’ve rounded everything up into one handy dog-friendly guide to Northumberland, covering best walks and day trips, best places to eat and stay, best beaches and castles to visit.
Dog-friendly walks
Craster to Dunstanburgh Castle
Set off from Craster village car park through the sand dunes and over open farmland to the atmospheric Dunstanburgh Castle. It’s a gentle 2.6-mile round trip over open farmland, with long views of the rugged coastline and plenty of off-lead opportunities. Dogs can snuffle around the castle’s old stone walls before a slow amble back to Craster for a warming cuppa, or a meal at the The Jolly Fisherman with superb views over to the ruins.
Set off from Housesteads Visitor Centre (paying car park) – note the dog-friendly café for your return pick-me-up. Head past Housesteads Roman Fort, before arriving at the wall to really soak up the size and scale of this mighty Roman endeavour. Dogs must be kept on a lead for most of the walk, to protect wildlife and also for their own safety – there are sheer drops to watch out for. Follow the wall as it winds up and down hill before taking the flatter, Roman road back to the centre.
Kielder Reservoir Water and Forest Park
Kielder, the largest forest and the biggest man-made lake in Northern Europe, can be found at the tip of Northumberland just as it bumps up against the Scottish Borders. It has numerous trails shooting off around the lake (all 26-miles of lakeshore) and through the forest; try the Duke or Duchess trail, both starting from the visitor centre. Discover interesting art and sculptures, check out the observatory (light pollution here is nil) and amble through 250 square miles of remote, wildlife-rich land.
Dog-friendly places to eat & drink
Stone-flagged floors, a roaring log fire and artfully mismatched furniture make this seaside gastro pub a delightful place to grab a bite and a drink after a windswept dog walk. In the heart of Newton-by-the-Sea, a tiny fishing village with a curved, sandy beach and a pretty grass square hugged by whitewashed cottages, the pub menus burst with honest, home-style cooking with a Northumbrian twist. Not only that, they cater for dogs with a cheerful ‘Come, Sit, Stay’ Doggy Menu with starters, mains, puds, sides and drinks all covered.
A 20-minute drive from salt-of-the-earth Newcastle upon Tyne, The Beehive gazes towards St Mary’s Lighthouse and the golden sands of Whitley Bay. Inside, character and charm abound: low beamed ceilings, a cosy snug and a sun-trapping one-acre secret garden. A pub that keeps locals and visitors alike happy, expect live music events and good ales behind the bar, menus filled with classics and a cracking Sunday roast. And, best of all, treats for your dog from the ‘Paws at the Pub’ menu.
On the fringe of Northumberland National Park, a pristine landscape home to red squirrels, clean rivers and an almost complete lack of light pollution, this is the perfect place to pitch up after a breezy dog walk. Dogs are welcome, not just in the bar, but also in the restaurant where there’s a cosy spot for your pal to settle down while you tuck into a menu bursting with flavoursome pub classics. Well-behaved pooches might even get a treat!
Dog-friendly days out
Stroll from the bustling harbour in the charming fishing village of Seahouses across the dunes to mighty Bamburgh Castle. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on a lead in the Victorian Stables and Tack Room Takeaway, and can snuffle to their hearts delight in the grounds where you’ll find plenty of water bowls. Back in Seahouses, learn all about daring Grace Darling, the lighthouse keeper’s daughter, who rowed though the waves to help rescue shipwrecked seafarers in 1838. Try Bamburgh Castle Inn for a restorative drink or slap-up meal which has its own pet-friendly area for your pooch.
Reached only by a narrow causeway, this tiny tidal island gets cut off from the mainland twice a day, so check the tide times before setting off. Stroll along the rocky coastline to 16th-century Lindisfarne Castle, perched high on a rocky outcrop, and remodelled by Edwin Lutyens in the early 1900s. Here, dogs can snuffle around the grounds or visit the ancient priory, built by monks almost 1400 years ago. Dogs on leads are welcome in the Priory and the museum, and you can recover with a pint and a pie in The Crown and Anchor, a dog-friendly pub with a lovely beer garden.
Barter Books is a rare find. Located inside a magnificent old Victorian railway station you’ll find one of the largest second-hand bookshops in the UK, with floor to ceiling bookshelves. The last train pulled out of the station in 1968, now The Station Buffet serves a short menu of homemade, delicious food. Expect bacon and sausage sarnies, Northumberland rarebit, hearty soups, thrice-cooked chips – plus there’s a pet-friendly section, so you can dine with your dog. The perfect pit stop after a dog walk around the wild countryside near pretty Alnwick.
Dog-friendly beaches
There are few beaches in Northumberland that are quite as beautiful, atmospheric and dog-friendly as Bamburgh. Dogs will love to romp along flat sandy plains, rolling sand dunes and rock pools. The bravest will enjoy an icy splash in the North Sea, watched over by mighty Bamburgh Castle, an imposing fortress that’s been protecting the Northumberland coastline from marauding invaders for 900 years. Tuck into a well-earned lunch at the Potted Lobster, a fabulous seafood restaurant where well-behaved dogs are warmly welcomed.
Where the River Aln meets the North Sea, the wide buttery blonde sands of Alnmouth beach is a lovely spot for a salt-whipped snuffle along the coast. Part of the Northumberland Coast AONB, this beautiful beach is lined with tufty sand dunes, perfect for a game of hide-and-seek with your dog. Pack a picnic and stay on the beach all day or settle in at dog-friendly, The Red Lion pub, with its lovely garden overlooking the estuary.
This small sandy cove flanked by a couple of pebble beaches sits on a remote headland overlooking the sea with a gentle walk around the bay to the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle. Good dogs are allowed in the bar and the garden of The Jolly Fisherman, perched above the castle. Spot seals basking in the waters, watch colourful fishing boats landing a just-caught haul and don’t leave without trying the famous Craster kipper.
Dog-friendly places to stay
The journey up here is half the adventure and the reward is serene, panoramic views from picture windows. Inside it’s scrupulously shiny and modern with leather sofas and a big TV screen. If it rains you’ll stay cosy in front of the wood burner. The kitchen is sleek, with granite work surfaces, space for prepping and a big fridge so you don’t have to stock up too often. A thoughtful welcome hamper is full of local treats, and up to two well-behaved dogs are welcome. Stride the hills with your dog at your side, sit in the garden admiring the views, barbeque on long summer evenings and watch the stars paint the sky.
The stunning hilltop setting and beautiful isolation make this barn, one of five off-grid properties, one of our favourite dog-friendly cottages in Northumberland. Kitted out in a smooth, white contemporary style that lets the outside do all the talking, you’ll feel at peace here. Tuck into your welcome hamper full of local goodies and barbeque under huge sparkling skies. Call the dog and set off for long walks from your door, return to a cosy cottage with a wood burner and plenty of logs.
This old worker’s cottage is a homely space at the entrance of a grand estate, in the heart of the Coquet valley. Walks galore make this a superb dog-friendly stay. Wander over to the medieval priory, stroll through woods down to the river and discover the old Brinkburn fort. Pack a picnic and head into the Cheviot Hills, before returning to light the wood burner for a snooze on the sofa. Don’t miss huge bacon sandwiches at The Running Fox in Long Framlington, which is dog friendly too.
Views from every window, giant armchairs in front of the wood burner and an easy-going feel make this the perfect dog-friendly cottage for exploring Northumberland. Owners Lorraine and Paul will have the place prepped for you – fires ready to light, local hamper to be sampled and pointers on getting the most out of the surrounding area. Head straight from the front door to the Drake Stone, a mythical meeting place for Druids with views of the medieval ruins of Harbottle Castle, or to the pub next door (originally the bottling shop) for bar snacks and newspapers.
We hope this guide gives you a little bit of tail-wagging inspiration for planning a trip and travelling with your dog to wild Northumberland. We’ve included a taster of some of our dog-friendly places to stay but you can keep an eye on our website for even more special places to stay that welcome dogs in this enticing county.
Written by
Carmen McCormack
Carmen is a freelance writer specialising in travel. She once lived in a bus in north Wales, skipped off to study in Barcelona, and now calls Bristol home. When she’s not tapping away on her laptop, she can be found reading (a lot), lake swimming (a little), and pottering on the allotment with husband and two kiddos. She’s currently dreaming about cold cerveza and torta in Mexico.
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