Getting to and around Northumberland

By Bernice Saltzer

Getting here

By air

Flights land at Newcastle International Airport, a 25-minute drive from Morpeth and 45-minute drive from Alnwick. As well as domestic flights, Newcastle welcomes flights from across the globe including direct Emirates flights from Australia and New Zealand. Further south is Teesside International Airport, which is just over an hour’s drive from Morpeth.

By rail

Less than three hours from London King’s Cross, stations on the East Coast mainline from London King’s Cross to Aberdeen include Newcastle, Morpeth, Alnmouth and Berwick-upon-Tweed. Connecting westbound services are run by CrossCountry and Hadrian’s Wall Country Line. Visit National Rail Enquiries for more information and online ticket bookings.

By sea

Just 20 minutes drive from the Port of Tyne International Passenger Terminal at Royal Quays and you’re in Northumberland. DFDS Seaways run a shuttle bus service from the Port of Tyne International Passenger Terminal to Newcastle Central Station on easily identifiable buses bearing the DFDS Seaways logo. Scheduled to coincide with DFDS ship arrival and departure times, transfer times take around 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic levels. The Tyne & Wear Metro rail service also runs from Newcastle city centre (Newcastle Central Station) to Percy Main, the closest Metro stop.

Aerial view of the magnificent border fortress town of Berwick-upon-Tweed

By bus

Make for Northumberland with coach operator National Express which stops at numerous points. Catch the Megabus to Newcastle and connect with regular local services from Newcastle to towns and villages throughout Northumberland. Extra services run during summertime and school holidays.

By car

Enjoy a scenic drive into Northumberland passing the famous Angel of the North at Gateshead travelling on the A1 northbound. Heading southbound into Northumberland from Scotland, the A1 crosses the magnificent River Tweed. From the west, take the A69 and A66, while the A19 links Northumberland with the Port of Tyne.

Just 20 minutes drive from the Port of Tyne International Passenger Terminal at Royal Quays and you’re in Northumberland

Getting around

You’ll find travelling around Northumberland easy, whether you explore with or without a car, thanks to well-thought out bus and train services in operation.

By bus

Coastal bus route: Arriva’s Coast and Castles sightseeing tour is an excellent bus service with informative audio commentary giving helpful information about points of interest along the route. With extra buses running during summer months and peak visitor times, the hop on, hop off tour is an easy way to explore the Northumberland coastline.

See Northumberland’s main attractions via the following bus routes:
• Northumberland coast and castles: Arriva’s scenic X18 route runs along the Northumberland coastline from Newcastle to Berwick. It’s an ideal route for walkers heading out to the Northumberland Coast Path. Arriva offers Coast and Castles discounts too, just show your bus ticket to get 20% off the entry price to iconic attractions such as Lindisfarne Castle and Priory, Bamburgh Castle, Dunstanburgh Catle, Alnwick Castle and Walkworth Castle.
• Morpeth and south east Northumberland to the coast: Catch Arriva’s X20 service from Newcastle to Alnwick, calling at Ashington and the picturesque Amble and the coast for fast links across South East Northumberland from Monday to Saturday. It’s X15 offers a similar service six days a week, with links from Newcastle to Berwick, including Morpeth and Alnwick, with a slightly shorter service between Newcastle and Alnwick on Sundays and Bank Holidays. Both of Arriva’s X18 and X15 services stop at Beal Roads Ends, where you can connect with other local transport options to visit Holy Island.
• Coquetdale: Moving away from the coast, Arriva’s X14 service can take you from Newcastle and Morpeth to the rural villages of Thropton and Rothbury, perfect for walkers who want to explore the beautiful outdoors.
• Wooler and the Cheviots: Explore Wooler and the gateway to the Cheviots with the 267 and 464 routes operated by Glen Valley Tours and Perrymans. The 470 route operated by Travelsure runs on school days links Wooler with Chillingham, Chatton and Alnwick.
• Kielder Forest & Water Park: Board the 880 bus on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from Hexham to Kielder, while the 882 route runs from Hexham to Colwell. Hop on the 714 service from Gateshead Metrocentre and Newcastle to Kielder, a seasonal service on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Look out for special offers and passes like Arriva’s Passport Weekly and Discover Day tickets. Valid in the north Northumberland area, ticketholders enjoy benefits including discounted rates at attractions including Bamburgh Castle and Bailiffgate Museum.

During the summer the Hadrian’s Wall Country Bus AD122 links major sites along the Hadrian’s Wall corridor between Newcastle and Carlisle. The AD122 bus is the main route serving Hadrian’s Wall. It runs hourly for most of the day between Hexham Bus Station and Haltwhistle Rail Station via Hexham Rail Station, Acomb, Wall, Chollerford, Chesters Roman Fort, Housesteads Roman Fort, Once Brewed (for The Sill), Vindolanda, Milecastle Inn, the Roman Army Museum, Walltown and Greenhead. The service operates daily from Good Friday until the end of September.

By car

Explore Northumberland by car, taking in lovely landscapes, dramatic spots and fascinating history along some of the most scenic roads in the country. Drive the Northumberland Coastal Route, a 39-mile stretch spanning the coastline, taking in seaside villages like Seahouses and Alnmouth.

By bike

Cycling is a great way to appreciate the beauty of the Northumberland countryside. The county is criss-crossed with long-distance cycleways including England’s longest ‘challenge’ cycle route the Pennine Cycleway which runs through Haltwhistle, Bellingham and Wooler. The Hadrian’s Cycleway National Cycle Route runs the length of the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site, passing roman forts and temples as well as picturesque villages and wonderful scenery. The Coast and Castles National Cycle Route showcase some of our best coastal attractions including Holy Island, Seahouses and Bamburgh Castle.

Northumberland has two cycle hubs, based in the towns or Haltwhistle and Wooler, which are ideal cycling bases with cycle-friendly accommodation, bike shops, cycle hire and transport companies. Each cycle hub features seven routes of varying difficulty for you to explore.

Kielder Water & Forest Park also provides a great base for a cycling holiday with an extensive network of off-road tracks as well as the Lakeside Way, a 26-mile trail encircling the shoreline of Kielder Water. The Sandstone MTB trail between Berwick upon Tweed and the picturesque medieval market town of Hexham offers a wild adventure and follows quiet lanes, off-road byways and unclassified roads for those with a more care-free spirit.

Cycling near Dunstanburgh Castle

By train

The main East Coast line passes through Northumberland and has stations at Berwick-upon-Tweed, Alnmouth and Morpeth. Northern Rail operates a service along the East Coast line with stops between Newcastle and Berwick-upon-Tweed. Cross Country trains run westward from Newcastle, while the Hadrian’s Wall Country Line provides an excellent service along Hadrian’s Wall.

Buy a Hadrian’s Wall Country Line Day Ranger ticket and hop on and off all day anywhere between Carlisle and Newcastle and beyond Carlisle along the Cumbrian Coast line to Ravenglass. Visit National Rail Enquiries and The Trainline for help planning your journey and online ticket bookings.

Read more about Northumberland