Caravanning in Northumberland

How the region's caravan sites are spread out

There are 71 caravanning options published on BritStays across Northumberland, and they are not evenly distributed. Berwick-upon-Tweed leads with 13, followed by 10 listed simply under Northumberland, then Alnwick with 8, Morpeth and Hexham with 6 each, Belford and Bamburgh with 5 each, and Wooler with 3. That spread tells you something useful before you start comparing individual parks: the north of the region, around Berwick-upon-Tweed and the Bamburgh and Belford stretch, is where coastal touring is concentrated, while Hexham, Morpeth and the entries filed under the wider county name take you inland towards valleys, farmland and Hadrian's Wall country.

Coast or countryside?

If the point of the trip is beaches, castles and the sea, aim at the northern cluster. South Meadows Caravan Park at Belford sits in that belt, as does Barmoor Castle Coutry Park near Berwick-upon-Tweed, and both put you in reach of Bamburgh Castle and the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Bear in mind that Lindisfarne is tidal, so plan your day around the crossing times published locally rather than turning up and hoping.

For quieter inland touring, Allendale Caravan Park and Causey Hill Camping & Caravan Park are both in the Hexham area, which is the natural base for Hadrian's Wall and the walking around Crag Lough. Riverside Caravan Park Rothbury and West Lane Caravan Park are listed under Morpeth, giving you a middle option: countryside on the doorstep, with the coast still a realistic day out. Further west again, Hudgill Caravan Park at Alston suits anyone who wants high, open ground and doesn't mind a slower drive in with a caravan on the back.

Which parks suit which kind of trip

The facility data across all 71 listings gives a reasonable picture of what to expect:

• EV Charging Nearby — 26 listings, by far the most commonly recorded facility, including Allendale Caravan Park, Barmoor Castle Coutry Park, Blenkinsopp Castle Home Park, Riverside Caravan Park Rothbury, Greensfield Moor Farm CL and Proctors Stead.
• Near a Bus Stop — 13 listings, useful if you'd rather leave the car hitched up once you've pitched.
• Pet Friendly — 12 listings.
• Parking — 11; Near a Train Station — 9.
• Bar — 8; Disabled Access — 8; Toilets — 7.

Families tend to do best at the larger parks with something on site. South Meadows Caravan Park lists a restaurant, cafe and takeaway food, which takes the pressure off a wet afternoon, and Christon Bank Caravan Park near Alnwick lists a restaurant, WiFi and disabled access. Couples after something smaller might look at the certificated-location style sites — Gallows Law CAMC CL at Coldingham, Eyemouth, Elf Hills CL Site and Greensfield Moor Farm CL at Alnwick are all in that bracket, with fewer pitches and fewer facilities listed. Colania Dene at Eyemouth is the outlier in this set, listing a hot tub and WiFi.

Dog owners should read listings closely. Only 12 of the 71 are recorded as pet friendly, which doesn't mean the rest refuse dogs — many caravan parks do take them — but it does mean you should confirm directly before booking, along with any rules on breeds, numbers and whether dogs can be left in the caravan.

What to do once you've pitched

The castle count is the obvious draw. Alongside Bamburgh Castle, you have Ford Castle, Etal Castle, Barmoor Castle and Coupland Castle, several of which sit in the Berwick-upon-Tweed and Wooler end of the region — easy to string together into one day's driving. Hadrian's Wall and Crag Lough anchor the Hexham side.

For rainy days and younger children, Whitehouse Farm Centre at Alnwick is a zoo and wildlife attraction, and The Hardy Store & Mesuem is also in Alnwick. Lindisfarne Priory & Museum pairs naturally with a Holy Island of Lindisfarne crossing. Hay Farm Heavy Horse Centre and Lady Waterford Hall are both in the Berwick-upon-Tweed area. Inland, Corstopitum Visitor's Centre and Mr George's Museum of Time are listed under Northumberland, and Newburn Hall Motor Museum sits just over the boundary in County Durham.

When to book, honestly

The coastal parks around Bamburgh, Belford and Berwick-upon-Tweed are the ones that fill first, so if you want school holidays or a bank holiday weekend on that stretch, book several months out. Inland sites around Hexham, Morpeth and Alston usually hold availability longer. Small CL-style sites have very few pitches, so even in shoulder season a week's notice may not be enough.

Practical points worth settling before you commit: confirm whether the pitch is hardstanding or grass and whether electric hook-up is included; check whether toilets and showers are actually on site, since only 7 listings record toilets; ring ahead about arrival windows if you're towing and expect to be late; and if you're relying on the bus or train, check the timetable for the specific stop rather than assuming a service runs on Sundays.