A weekend with the kids in Northumberland

Try this three-day itinerary, sampling the best of Northumberland with kids.

Friday

4pm: Arrive at your chosen Coastal or Country Retreat. The heating and lighting will have been turned on prior to your arrival, so put the kettle on and let the kids get stuck into the toys provided.

6pm: Settle down to an evening meal chosen before your arrival from our Plan Your Stay section. These meals are all fresh and prepared locally using Northumbrian sourced ingredients – all you have to do is put the oven on.

7/8pm: Pack the children off to bed before opening the bottle of wine from your welcome hamper and snuggling down in front of the fire or relaxing outdoors if the weather is balmy.

Saturday

Morning: After breakfast, pack up a picnic and head out to the beach of your choice. Beadnell and Bamburgh are great options for families with children as they are wide and backed by huge dunes, which make excellent slides for the little ones. At Beadnell, there is also a whole host of watersport activities and toilet facilities on site – essential if you have toddlers.

Afternoon: Head over to Seahouses after lunch and catch a boat trip from the harbour out to the Farne Islands. If you’re lucky you may catch a glimpse of the grey seals plus the many different bird species which inhabit these islands. Around June, Puffins come to nest on the Farnes, so they are definitely worth visiting if you are holidaying with us at this time of year.

If the weather’s bad you can always opt to have some fun at the Ocean Club instead. As well as the main pool it has a children’s pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room.

Dinner: Finish off the day with some good old-fashioned fish and chips or head over to the artisan pizzeria in Seahouses. Skip dessert at the restaurant and grab an icecream from Coxon’s and have a wander around the harbour before heading back to your cottage.

Sunday

Morning: Spend the morning having some Harry Potter-esque broomstick training at Alnwick Castle, checking out the bamboo maze and water fountains at Alnwick Gardens or rockpooling and exploring the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle in Craster.

Lunch: If you opted for Alnwick then have Sunday lunch at The Treehouse. Dine among the branches in this sparkly restaurant among the trees. Don’t forget to book in advance as it is always busy. After your meal let the young ones have a run around the rope bridges – fun for the older ones too. In Craster, the Jolly Fisherman gastro pub is a great choice for lunch while watching the waves.

Afternoon: Spend the remainder of the afternoon enjoying the facilities at your cottage. Play table football in the games room, have an adventure on the outdoor play equipment or watch a DVD from the comfort of the living room. Finish off your stay with one last trip to the beach after dinner for an evening stroll.

Monday

10am: Check out of your cottage and remember to have one last look around to ensure you haven’t left anything behind. Don’t forget to write in the visitor’s book and fill in your evaluation form. If home is north, call in at Sunnyhills of Belford on the way home for a coffee and cake while the children enjoy the adventure play equipment and ride-on tractors. If south is your destination then Whitehouse Farm in Morpeth is a brilliant place for children with animals, go-karting, soft play and a lovely café with a variety of meals.