The area surrounding Grey Croft is a well known area of outstanding natural beauty that guests should take advantage of during their stay. Below are some of the places we have learnt about over the 20 years we have been holidaying in this area.
The closest villages to Christon Bank are Embleton and Newton-by-the-sea (both Higher and Lower), which can be easily walked to. Both villages have fantastic beach areas and good car park access.
One of our favourite spots is the beach at Lower Newton, where you will find the famous pub The Ship Inn which has it's own micro brewery and fine dining in the evening. Behind the green where the pub sits, you'll find a bird sanctuary where bird watchers can use the hides to study the huge range of bird life. One of "Britain's Favourite Walks' goes from Lower Newton, travels around Embleton Bay past the Golf Course, tracks up to Dunstanburgh Castle and down to the the picturesque fishing village of Craster, home of the World Famous Craster Kipper House. Other places that you can find to eat in this area are Grey's Inn (Embleton), Embleton Golf Course (good for Breakfast), The Joiners Arms (High Newton), Dunstanburgh Castle Hotel (Embleton). Eleanor's Byre is a Coffee Shop/Gift Shop that has good parking on the way from Embleton to Craster that is worth stopping by.
The next villages in reach to Christon Bank are Craster to the south and Beadnell to the north. As mentioned Craster is a fishing port so there is not much of a beach but there is plenty to see and do. If you're interested in visiting the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle these are easily accessed from Craster although there is a half mile walk through the fields that border the shore. The Jolly Fisherman is the main pub in the village that overlooks the bay and stands across the road from the smokehouse. It serves excellent seafood dishes (of course....). In addition there is an excellent Gallery (Mick Oxley) along from the pub as well as a good beach cafe. The summer fetes at Craster are a lot of fun. Beadnell Village sits at the top of Beadnell Bay which is a mile long bay from Newton. The beach is all sand with enormous sand dunes that will keep kids occupied all day when the weather behaves itself in the warmer months. There is a jetty at the point and there is always lots of activities taking place on the beach and in the water - at the car park you can hire all manner of water sport equipment including kite surfing, paddle boarding, kayaking, surfing and boogy boarding. It's a good place to launch your boat if you have one. Beadnell is a growing village with lots of housing development that is enhancing the tourist elements of the area. The main pub is The Craster Arms Hotel, you can also get great food and drink at the recently refurbished Beadnell Towers Hotel just down the road. There is a nice cafe across the road from the Craster Arms Hotel called The Saltwater Cafe. The recently opened cafe at the beach at Beadnell Bay is definitely worth a visit, The Landing sits opposite the beach car park and has been quickly making a name for itself with it's ambitious menu and seating areas for lots of different types of travellers. There is a public footpath that runs from Newton to Beadnell adjacent to the beach behind the dunes, it's a couple of miles and you will cross a bridge that spans the river that empties into the sea. This a quiet spot where there is a bird haven where the terns are protected.
Further north along the coast is the town of Seahouses and the village of Bamburgh which are within a 15 minute drive so not so far away. Seahouses is a typical seaside town destination with its supermarket, fish and chip shops and crazy golf course. It has the most amenities in the area and is worth visiting to stock up on beach or outdoor equipment. There is a famous fish shop called Swallows that sells really good fish and shellfish. The Bamburgh Castle Inn sits centre stage on the seafront overlooking the wharf. On the wharf you can catch boat trips to the Farne Islands to see the historic venue and spot a puffin/dolphin/seal. There are a number of gift shops that are worth a look. There is plenty of car parking at Seahouses.
The historic village of Bamburgh lies just north of Seahouses and is worth a visit every time you come to Grey Croft. Of course it is difficult to miss the incredible Bamburgh Castle, dating back to AD420, this castle is quite a site and worth a visit. The Butchers (R Carter) in Front Street have been there for more than 100 years and sell great sausages amongst other things. The Victoria Hotel is next door to the butchers and has a nice relaxed atmosphere in lovely surroundings. Just next door to the hotel is The Potted Lobster, a restaurant that is mentioned in both the 2018 & 2019 Michelin Guide. For beach lovers, the beach at Bamburgh is great, especially for surfers and boogey boarders. One of the best additions to this area's culinary experiences is the Creel & Reel Seafood Trailer. It has been started by a local chef who serves fantastic food from a mobile trailer that visits the carpark in Bamburgh and Alnwick regularly. He serves lobster, crab, scallops and other delicacies with great chips at good prices. Check out when the trailer will be at the car park by looking at the Facebook page, you won't be disappointed !
Further to the south are the towns of Alnmouth and Amble. There is a family cycle track for most of the way to and from the 2 coastal towns. Alnmouth is by far the more picturesque of the 2 and there are a small number of shops, bars and restaurants for you to enjoy. Definitely worth a visit when in Amble, are both The Old Boat House and The Shack, fish restaurants that are owned by the same company and serve the best seafood around. One of our favourite restaurants is The Whittling House on the Main Street in Alnmouth, it is the sister restaurant of The Potted Lobster at Bamburgh and sells very fine food.
Then there is Alnwick, just a 10 minute drive back on the A1 or a 15 minute meander through more picturesque countryside. As the main town in the area it has all the usual shops you'd expect of the a town of this size. The large Sainsbury's is located in a ready made area close to the A1 that includes Argos, Homebase and a pet warehouse shop. A new retail development has been built next to the Sainbury's site which now boasts a new M & S store, a beautiful Turnbull's store (a local high quality food store) and a drive-thru Starbucks. The historic Alnwick Castle is a day out for those that have not been and can be stretched easily to two days with the Gardens and Tree House that are top quality. Barter Books is worth a visit just up the road from the castle, the shop is sited at the town's old railway station. As well as selling books, it acts as a place to meet, a place to read and has the best cafe in the area, where you can enjoy a drink or sandwich in the old waiting rooms amongst roaring fires and great British railway architecture. Another find in Alnwick is the Cookie Jar, a boutique hotel with restaurant. This venue has opened just in the last few years and was formerly the Convent of Mercy. The same company is now developing the site next door to the Cookie Jar into a luxury hotel, watch this space !
