Northumberland Campsites

[JuanVecino2023]

Hi - we’re heading up to Northumberland next month. Thinking Alnwick, Bamburgh, and the surrounds.

Any campsite recommended?

Definitely prefer smaller, more natural campsites to mega campgrounds with bars etc.

We’re members of Greener Camping (think that’s what it’s called.)

 

[flying banana]

springfield farm seahouses. opt to camp in the field away from the big whites. easy walk to seahouse for the boats to farne islands
alnwick you can stay in the rugby club field for £20. handy for town and castle and use of their showers too.
bamburgh overnight in the carpark below the castle or go camp at budle bay, half hour walk down the amazing coast to bamburgh. views across to lindesfarne.
might see you there. enjoy.

 

[MyrtleMoo]

Not quite the area you're after, but we just spent the weekend at Hadrian's Wall Campsite just above Haltwhistle. It was brilliant for small vans, with each pitch quite Individual and with a good area of grass attached to it. Facilities were spot on too, and it cost us £20 a night (£5 extra for EHU, though we didn't take it). If it's a quite nighf your after and a bit of space, then this ticks the boxes. Check their site for the pitch types, since the larger van slots were your typical hardstanding carpark affair.

 

[Lee.Van.Cleef]

We live on the Northumberland Coast near Alnwick. There are certainly options. These are the ones I'm most familar with:

Dunstan Hill C&C is a tidy site and in easy summer walking distance of the beach between Embleton, Low Newton, Craster & Dunstanburgh Castle or the coast path for longer walks. https://www.campingandcaravanningcl...gxCqW70LmkN50ROhNwiJ32vJdgJA94khoCRn8QAvD_BwE

There are multiple pubs in Embleton, plus the options of The Ship at Low Newton, the golf club at Embleton links (public bar & cafe) or Embers woodfire pizza https://www.emberswoodfired.co.uk/

Proctors Steads is not far away and also takes vans: https://www.proctorsstead.co.uk/

Pippins Park in Christon Bank is a mile or so inland and a nice little site over the road from the pub. It's next to the ECML, which is a good or bad thing depending on whether you like trains. https://www.pippinspark.com/

Anstead Farm is a little further up the coast towards Seahouses and Bamburgh. I drove past this afternoon & it's already open. We've never stayed there on account of living 5 minutes away but have enjoyed their coffee and ice cream. http://www.annsteadholidaycottages.co.uk/camping-caravaning/the-farm-site/

Beadnell Bay C&C is right on the sea front so has cracking views, but be mindful it is very exposed so *will* be windy if you have an awning. Beadnell is very much a second home / holiday let hollowed village these days, so will be quiet out of season and heaving in season. There are pubs plus 'shack' restaurants by the beach. https://www.campingandcaravanningcl...ontent=BeadnellBay&utm_campaign=google_places

For anyone looking for bigger sites with a bar & swimming pool, The Ocean Club / Seafield in Seahouses is very clean & tidy. You might find a lot of families & kids during the Scottish school holidays, but otherwise very quiet. We sometimes use the reastaurant. Also handy if you're planning a boat trip to or around the Farnes - most of them leave from Seahouses.

Ocean Club | Leisure Club in Northumberland

www.ocean-club.co.uk

I see Bamburgh car park has been mentioned above. There is a perception locally that 'wild camping' is a problem on the coast due to campers crapping and littering in the dunes, so some lay-bys etc have been modified with posts to discourage vans. There are plenty of reasonably priced sites, so no need to be a tightarse.

The Council does allow *motorhomes* to use some Council car parks for £12/night, but to qualify you have to be self contained (ie own toilet facilities), otherwise cooking/camping/sleeping in Council car parks is prohibited and you might be fined: https://beta.northumberland.gov.uk/parking/council-car-parks/motorhome-parking#motorhomes

There's a site at Budle Bay but I'm not familar with that.
Another option might be the Barn at Beal with views over the causeway to Holy Island / Lindisfarne, though last time I looked that was exepensive for what it was.

 

[flying banana]

I wasn't in any way encouraging sh1tting in the dunes, as liberating that is, I use my own toilet and assumed sensible people do too. Not sure how they issue a fine there. Never had any bother there before

 

[Lee.Van.Cleef]

I wasn't in any way encouraging sh1tting in the dunes, as liberating that is, I use my own toilet and assumed sensible people do too. Not sure how they issue a fine there. Never had any bother there before

Sorry - I wasn't having a pop at you, just relaying some regular summertime content in the local facebook groups :-/ . I don't think there's any mechanism or desire to fine wild campers using lay-bys etc and (other than on Holy Island) I don't think you'd get any bother from the locals, other than mild tutting. You could, theoritically, get fined for sleeping/cooking in Cooncil car park though, subject to the T&Cs.

 

[LPGoodwood]

Hi - we’re heading up to Northumberland next month. Thinking Alnwick, Bamburgh, and the surrounds.

Any campsite recommended?

Definitely prefer smaller, more natural campsites to mega campgrounds with bars etc.

We’re members of Greener Camping (think that’s what it’s called.)

West Kyloe Fm.

 

[MyrtleMoo]

We live on the Northumberland Coast near Alnwick. There are certainly options. These are the ones I'm most familar with:

Brilliant! Thanks for this @Lee.Van.Cleef. We live south of the river and haven't explored the Northumberland coast as much as we'd like to (for camping at least). This list is a great help for some inspiration of where to stop.