3 Days in Seahouses: The Perfect Long Weekend Itinerary
Are you planning on spending 3 days in Seahouses, Northumberland? If so, here’s the perfect itinerary for a wonderful long weekend.
You can’t go wrong with Northumberland when it comes to beautiful places to visit in the UK. Many people head to the Lake or the Peak District, however, I’m always looking to go a little off-the-beaten-track and Northumberland fits this bill perfectly.
During our trip, we based ourselves in Seahouses, in the cutest little cottage, and had a fantastic few days exploring Northumberland’s coast and famous castles.
So, if you’re looking for the perfect weekend in Northumberland, here’s exactly how we spent our 3 days in Seahouses.
Where to Stay in Seahouses
But first things first, you’re probably wondering where to stay.
I always prefer to stay at a self-catering property; this is exactly what we did on this trip. It gave us the freedom to cook for ourselves, make packed lunches in the morning, and gave us a lovely communal space to relax as a family in the evening.
We stayed at Little Hideaways’ Guillemot Cottage, a 3-bedroom cottage in the heart of the town. Two of the bedrooms were king rooms and one was a twin, so it was perfect for both families and groups of friends staying together.
The master bedroom was magnificent with a large king-size bed, an exposed brick wall, a fireplace, and a large freestanding mirror. It had a very cosy feel and was so comfortable.
Downstairs there was a colourful living space with a log burner, comfy sofas, and a chest full of board games – which we made full use of in the evenings. There’s also a fully equipped kitchen and Little Hideaways left us the cutest goody bag with teas, jams, cookies, and relish.
There’s enough parking outside for two cars and we were within walking distance of the town. The little shop just 5 minutes round the corner meant we could grab things like milk and bread and we could also walk to many of Seahouses’ best restaurants.
Overall, I highly recommend Little Hideaways if you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Seahouses. It’s the cosiest little cottage and has everything you’ll need.
Plus, you’ll be within easy reach of many of the area’s top attractions including famous castles and the Farne Islands.
✅ After our wonderful stay, I highly recommend these cottages in Seahouses
Now that you’ve found your base, here is exactly how to spend your time in Seahouses.
Day 1: Coastal Walks and Castles
For your first day, I recommend heading out to Holy Island and then exploring one of the area’s secret waterfalls.
9:00 – Start your day at Holy Island
I recommend getting to Holy Island as soon as you can because it’s likely you won’t be able to stay here all day. The tide restricts your access a little as the entire causeway is submerged under the ocean twice a day.
Double-check the tide times before you depart and make sure you’re back on the mainland well before the ocean cuts you off. You can check the tide times here.
From Guillemot Cottage, the drive to Holy Island is around 35 minutes. When you arrive, there’s a visitor car park along Chare Ends and you can pay by card, cash, or the app.
9:30 – Explore the Priory and Castle
Once you’ve parked, you’ll find a map of the island just before the exit.
We decided to walk along the coastline from the car park to Lindisfarne Priory and then further to the famous Lindisfarne Castle. From there, we circled back to the car park.
If you have more time, you can do a walk around the entire island, but we decided not to chance it with the tides!
Lindisfarne Priory
Our first stop was Lindisfarne Priory. This formerly magnificent building was founded in 635 AD and quickly became the focal point of Northumbria’s spiritual life. Monks, under the guidance of St Cuthbert, formed the Lindisfarne Gospel manuscripts here.
However, its position on the coast of Holy Island made it vulnerable and, less than 100 years after its creation, it suffered one of the first recorded Viking Raids in England. This marked the beginning of the Viking Age in Britain.
Today, the Priory is an empty shell of what it once was, but it’s very interesting to explore. I also recommend heading to the museum beforehand, where you can learn about the building’s history.
Both the museum and Priory are owned by the English Heritage and cost £7.70 per person to enter.
From the Priory, I also recommend walking up to the Observatory. If you head through the churchyard and out the gate, you can climb up to the top of the hill.
The climb is a little rocky, but it only takes a few minutes and the views from the top are beautiful. We also saw seals bobbing around in the water from up here.
Lindisfarne Castle
Next, head to Lindisfarne Castle. This is arguably one of the most photographic spots on the island and it’s another fascinating part of Northumberland’s history.
It was originally built to defend against Scottish and Viking invasions due to its strategic views over the North Sea. However, it was later turned into a private residence.
Today, you can wander around the inside of the castle rooms, many of which have been preserved to look like how they would’ve done back then.
You can see the parlour and kitchens, bedrooms, cloakrooms, and the grand entrance hall with wall art showing Northumberland’s coast and castles.
The castle is a National Trust property and entrance costs £10 per adult.
Top Tip: This was all we had time for on Holy Island before we had to head back to the mainland to avoid being cut off by the tide. But, if you have more time, I highly recommend checking out the Gertrude Jekyll Garden and walking up to Emmanual Head.
14:00 – Visit Routin Linn Waterfall
After we left Holy Island, we drove down to one of the secret waterfalls of Northumberland. The parking area is around 26 minutes by car from Holy Island.
Honestly, unless you knew it was there, you would probably never find this waterfall. And, you need to hike down a very steep path to reach it, so it won’t be accessible for everyone.
There is parking for around 10 cars opposite the start of the trail and the walk to the waterfall only takes around 15 minutes. It can be a little soggy in places, so I recommend wearing sturdy shoes.
The waterfall itself is beautiful and well worth the visit. We also walked to the top of the falls to see it from above.
16:00 – Visit Budle Bay Beach
After you’ve explored Routin Linn, head back towards Seahouses via Budle Bay. This is one of the best beaches in Northumberland.
Since it’s part of the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve it’s perfect for wildlife lovers. Lots of birds including oystercatchers, curlews and geese flock here during autumn and winter, especially at low tide, when the mud flats are exposed.
You can go for a walk along the sand or along the coastal paths for beautiful views.
18:30 – Grab the Famous Fish and Chips for Dinner
Finally, head back towards Seahouses and head for dinner at one of the most well-known fish and chips shops in town – Lewis’s Fish Restaurant.
We had a recommendation to go here from a lady who lives 45 minutes away and said she goes there regularly – so we figured it was going to be delicious!
I had the cod and chips and my fiance (who isn’t a fan of fish) had chicken and chips and they were both so tasty. There were also lots of other interesting things on the menu like a seafood medley, squid rings, haggis and chips, and black pudding and chips.
Plus, because this is within walking distance from Guillemot Cottage, we were able to take it back and eat at the cottage before relaxing by the log burner in the living room.
Day 2: Farne Islands and the UK’s Largest Sandcastle
Today, head to one of the best wildlife-watching spots in the UK – the Farne Islands – then, visit one of Northumberlannd’s most famous castles.
10:00 – Take a boat trip to the Farne Islands
These tiny islets off the coast of Northumberland are a haven for wildlife lovers. The Farne Islands are a collection of 15 islands and are home to one of the UK’s most important seabird colonies including puffins, Arctic terns, and guillemots.
They are also home to one of the largest populations of Atlantic grey seals in the UK. There’s a high chance of seeing pups if you visit in the autumn or winter months.
While staying in Seahouses, you have to take a boat cruise to these islands, no matter what time of year you visit. You can see the puffins in the late spring and summer months, and seal pups in the autumn and winter.
Plus, Little Hideaways partners with local businesses in the area and, when you stay with them, you can get discounts off certain activities – including Farne Islands cruises.
This includes Serenity Tours and Billy Shiel’s Boat Trips. Trips cost roughly £20 per person and last between 1.5 and 2 hours.
✅ If you stay with Little Hideaways, you can get discounts on Farne Islands Cruises!
13:00 – Walk to Bamburgh Castle
After your Farne Islands Tour, head to another of the must-sees during your 3 days in Seahouses – Bamburgh Castle.
You can walk here via Seahouses Beach which takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. You’ll pass through the dunes and the views when the castle comes into sight are pretty impressive.
Of course, if you don’t want to walk, you can also drive to the castle. There are two car parks in the area – one right outside and a second at the bottom of the hill, so you should be able to find a space.
Entrance to Bamburgh Castle costs £17 per adult. It’s one of the more expensive castles along the Northumberland coast, but you really can’t skip this place.
I recommend allowing 2 hours here at an absolute minimum. There’s quite a lot to see. You’ll most likely start with the staterooms which are elaborate with intricate ceilings and ornamental decoration.
When we visited, there was a whole display dedicated to the Last Kingdom TV series, which my fiance absolutely loved! I’ve personally not watched it but still found it pretty interesting.
Once you’ve explored the inside, head outside and explore the courtyard and exterior. There’s also a museum here with artefacts from the war and several classic cars. Plus, the views out across Bamburgh Beach are amazing.
Once we’d explored the castle, we decided to walk through the dunes down to the beach.
18:00 – Visit Bamburgh Beach for sunset
This is one of the best places to visit for sunset.
It’s quite easy to get down to the beach as there’s an old Victorian pathway that leads down through the dunes. From there, you can go for a relaxing stroll along the sand.
We walked along the beach until we reached a part where the water blocked the sand and then turned back towards the castle.
The views were so pretty, especially when you could see the reflection of the castle in the ocean surrounded by the dunes. This walk was one of my favourite things I did in Seahouses.
19:00 – Go for dinner at The Olde Ship
For dinner on our second night, we headed to one of the pubs in the town. We opted for The Olde Ship, a quirky little pub about 5 minutes walk from Guillemot Cottage.
Since it was a Sunday, we had their roast dinner menu which was absolutely delicious. I opted for the crab soup (which was one of the most delicious soups I’ve ever tasted) and the roast pork belly.
We also loved the design of the pub. It had funky little ship relics all over the walls and a display cabinet of boats in the restaurant area.
Top Tip: If you do eat here, I highly recommend booking a table as it was very busy when we visited.
Day 3: Alnwick and Dunstanburgh
For the last of your 3 days in Seahouses, head south to another of the most famous castles in the area, then finish your weekend with a relaxing coastal walk.
10:00 – Explore Alnwick Castle
If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you can’t visit Seahouses without visiting Alnwick Castle. It’s around a 25-minute drive from Little Hideaways Cottage and you can find plenty of parking in Alnwick.
You’ll instantly recognise it from The Philosopher’s Stone. As soon as I walked through the gates, I saw the scene from the flying lessons with Madame Hooch and where Harry caught Neville’s Remembrall – can you tell I’m a Potter nerd, yet?
Aside from nostalgic wizardry moments, the castle is pretty stunning. Of all the castles we visited during our weekend in Seahouses, the interior of Alnwick was the most impressive.
The castle is still used today by the family who owns it and you could see a mixture of modern photos and black and white pictures from years ago.
The whole place was incredibly ornate. There were huge high ceilings decorated with wooden carvings and elaborate cabinets worth a small fortune. Unfortunately, you’re not allowed to take photos inside, but it’s so worth it, trust me!
You can also head outside, explore the grounds, and visit the museum in the tower about the War of Roses. When we visited, there were some quite high winds so the ramparts were closed, but you can usually walk these too for beautiful views over the countryside.
Entry to the castle costs £22 at the gate. It’s slightly cheaper if you pre-book online at £20.50.
14:00 – Drive to Craster and walk the coastal route
Once you’ve explored the castle, head back towards Seahouses for one of the most beautiful coastal walks in Northumberland.
Park at the Craster Quarry car park where you’ll find a small visitor centre, toilets, and a map of the area. From here, we followed the coastal path towards Craster Harbour.
The stretch of coastline between Craster and Dunstanburgh is very impressive.
Keep following the signs for the English Coastal Path and you should see a gate with an English Heritage sign marked Dunstanburgh Castle. Go through this and it’s a pretty straightforward route to reach the castle.
The entire walk should take you around 45 minutes one way. Although it may take longer if, like me, you enjoy stopping to admire the views.
15:00 – Explore Dunstanburgh Castle
Once you reach the castle, it costs £6.80 to enter. Unfortunately, when we visited, the winds were so high in the area that the castle was closed for safety reasons. However, we were able to view it from the outside and walk around the walls.
It was built in the 14th century and was intended as both a defensive stronghold thanks to its strategic position on the oceanfront, and a statement of power.
There’s a lot of the front of the castle still standing and, with the help of the illustration on the plaque in front, you can imagine how impressive it would’ve looked.
Surrounded by a wildflower meadow with sheep grazing on the grass and the ocean to the right, it’s a really beautiful location. Even if you don’t go to the castle, it’s well worth the walk. Once you’ve seen enough, turn around and walk back to Craster.
17:30 – Drive back to Seahouses
Finally, head back to Seahouses. The drive from Craster takes around 20 minutes. Once there, choose one final place for dinner. We opted to cook for ourselves and eat in on our last night as Guillemot Cottage had everything we needed for a cosy dinner.
However, if you don’t feel like cooking, you could opt for another of the great pubs in the town. The Potted Lobster is a great option, although I recommend booking in advance. The Black Swan is also pretty good.
Then, spend one final evening relaxing by the fire and perhaps crack out the board games for an evening of family fun.
Is 3 Days in Seahouses Worth it?
Yes, it’s well worth visiting Seahouses. We had a wonderful time there and Little Hideaways was the perfect base.
Our location in the centre of town meant we were within walking distance of some fantastic attractions whilst also being within easy driving distance of some of the best things to do in Northumberland.
To be perfectly honest, you could spend much longer than 3 days here.
There are places we didn’t have time to explore such as some of the other waterfalls in the area and yet more castles (like Warkworth Castle and Etal Castle). If you love the outdoors, you could also head further into Northumberland National Park and do some hiking.
However, if all you have is a long weekend, this itinerary is the perfect mixture of history and nature. Plus, you’ll still have plenty of downtime for relaxing by the log burner and enjoying the quality family moments that make holidays so special.
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