The bustling market town of Morpeth is an impressive base to explore the wild county of Northumberland from. We love the wealth of upmarket flair packed into this unassuming town from the second you arrive.
On your first night, take a dreamy evening stroll across its beautiful stone bridges over the idyllic River Wansbeck, before taking your pick of Morpeth’s stylish restaurants and bars. There’s plenty to do in Morpeth during the day, too, from visiting the magnificent 14th Century St Mary’s church to poring over the weekend food markets. But we definitely recommend venturing into the heart of Northumberland to explore the must-see attractions, take in the nationally-revered nature – all within easy distance of your central Morpeth location.
It’s well-known by now that Northumberland is a nature-lover’s paradise. Boasting arguably the last uncommodified stretch of coastline in England, the county is endlessly explorable from your home base in Morpeth. If you want to immerse yourself in the nature surrounding the pretty market town, there’s plenty of hikes to disappear off onto. Walk the Northumberland Coast Path, a gorgeous 60-mile long journey where you’ll encounter sweeping cliffs, unspoilt beaches and of course, a flock of friendly little coastal villages to pop into for a midday pint.
Or head up into Northumberland National Park for a spectacular circular hike in the rugged hills of Simonside. Conquer the route and you’ll find a panorama of the county at the top of the hill, with the imposing Cheviots to the north and the sweeping Northumberland coast to the east.
Looking for a more casual explore of nature on your trip? Never fear – Morpeth has plenty of country parks and stately gardens situated on easy flat land to roam around on a sunny day. Our favourite place for a peaceful stroll is around the manicured National Trust gardens of Wallington Hall, just half an hour from Morpeth.
Sneak down into the woodland valleys of the property to find the magical hidden Walled Garden, explore the estate on a bike ride to remember, or – shh, if you’re quiet – spot a roaming red squirrel in the wild.
Animal-lovers, both kids and adults alike, will adore Morpeth’s double dose of wild wonders. Your first must-visit attraction is Northumberland Zoo which boasts arctic foxes, lynxes, wallabies, armadillos and more of the planet’s most marvellous creatures. Watch them pounce, snuffle and play in the zoo’s extensive grounds, built to prioritise wildlife conservation.
Visitors of all ages will adore the zoo’s Animal Experiences (COVID restrictions permitting), where they can get up-close and personal with meerkats, donkeys, owls and many more fantastic beasts.
If you’re looking for some animals that are found a little closer to home, you’ve got to visit Whitehouse Farm Centre. Visit the magnificent birds of prey, shriek at the terrifying creepy-crawlies (we suspect that some kids might be braver than the parents!) and giggle at the funny pygmy goats and Shetland ponies.
As if that’s not enough for a busy day out, kids of all ages will go wild for the extensive play facilities. Toddlers can explore the soft play zone while older kids run riot on the superb adventure playground – but you won’t have any trouble calling them back when there’s hot meals and lots of treats at the site’s Hungry Pig Café to bribe them with!
If you fancy a slap-up picnic in the glorious parks and open space surrounding Morpeth, look no further than the well-established artisan food market. Running on the 1st Saturday of every month, you’ll peruse a host of fresh local produce, from crumbly rich Northumberland cheeses to home-baked flapjacks, brownies and chunky cake slices.
Or if you’d rather someone put your tasty meal together for you, try the street food market on the 4th Saturday of the month. Savour a Greek gyros wrap packed with spicy lamb and crunchy salad. Or grab a tray of loaded fries piled high with thinly-sliced steak, tangy salsa sauce and bright coriander.
In search of a sit-down meal? You’ll be spoilt for choice in Morpeth. One of the town’s most esteemed spots is Greek restaurant Socrates @No5, where you’ll devour hearty, flavoursome kebabs and souvlaki as good as you might find on Lesbos or Santorini’s shores. Or devour one of the superb Italian pizzas at Lollo Rosso’s restaurant.
And if you truly want to treat yourself, look no further than the mighty afternoon tea served at Chantry Tea Rooms. With fresh sandwiches and scones piled high with jam and cream, you might have to take some back to your Morpeth home to enjoy later!
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