The UK has so many wonderful areas, it’s no wonder the ‘staycation’ is popular as the holiday of choice for a lot of citizens – a fact which has been particularly highlighted during the last couple of years. The truth is that a vast number of people have always chosen to stay ‘on home land’ for their holidays and short breaks. But the pandemic has perhaps introduced a lot of others to the joys of exploring our own country.
Whether it’s staying in a guest house or hotel in one city or seaside town, or travelling around in a motorhome, or camping in a tent, or indulging in the pleasures of a static caravan somewhere picturesque or interesting (both is best!), holidaying in the UK has seemingly never had so much to offer…
Using Causey Hill, one of the best private static caravan parks in Northumberland, located in the historic village of Hexham, there are some fantastic spots around the north-east coast to visit. There are usually always static caravans for sale, Hexham, and in this edition of our blog we’ll highlight a few of our favourite spots you can visit in the surrounding area, offering you a couple of suggestions for things to do or see in each place, and nuggets of trivia you can use as a springboard to getting yourself excited to visit!
Hexham
- The site of Causey Hill, which overlooks rolling hills, with south-facing verandas that soak up the sun from dawn ‘til dusk. Hexham itself is situated close to the historic Hadrian’s Wall, and it is possible to book a guided tour and visit to the Roman Army Museum, with other attractions for heritage fans including Alnwick Castle, Hexham Abbey and the Old Gaol (one of the first purpose built prisons in England, dating back to the 1300s). For sport fans, Hexham Racecourse is just two minutes or so away from our static caravan park. Famous people to have been born in Hexham include controversial musician Pete Doherty, light entertainer Robson Green and actor Kevin Whately (Lewis from Inspector Morse).
Newcastle and Sunderland
- The two cities which dominate life in the area (along with Middlesbrough which, technically, is in North Yorkshire!). Both popular spots for those holidaymakers looking for a slice of city life. Newcastle has a rich heritage and is a haven for creatives, with many sites worth visiting including the Sage, Gateshead (one of the UK’s best concert venues) and the close-by Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. There are many other places in and around Newcastle which are worthy of some of your time and so, ideally, you should do your own research based along your lines of interest – there are just too many ‘must see’ spots for us to mention here. Famous musicians from Newcastle include Sting (The Police), Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) and Neil Tennant (Pet Shop Boys). Meanwhile, Sunderland’s Museum & Winter Gardens is well worth a visit, and you can discover the history of the city from prehistoric past to present day. For those looking for something a little different, the impressive National Glass Centre tells the story of the city’s legendary glassmaking industry. Famous people born in Sunderland include singer Bryan Ferry, current England footballer Jordan Pickford, TV presenter George Clarke, legendary England cricketer Bob Willis and actor Gina McKee (Our Friends In The North).
Bamburgh
- With a handful of lovely shops, tea rooms and pubs, the picturesque village of Bamburgh is perfect for relaxing. It is actually most notable for the imposing presence of close-by Bamburgh Castle. The area is rich in history and the castle is a truly impressive representation of the area’s past, looming large over the village (and, of course, looking great in your photos). There are often events held in the grounds, and you can spend a couple of hours wandering around the interior of the castle itself. For those who enjoy walking, there are excellent views of the castle from down at Bamburgh Beach, as well as views of Lindisfarne castle in the North and the Farne Islands, including the distinctive lighthouse. Bamburgh’s most famous former resident was Grace Darling, daughter of the lighthouse keeper in the early 19th-century, and involved in a dramatic rescue. There is a museum in her honour, and you can also visit her tomb.
Whitley Bay
- A popular seaside town which lies around 10 miles from Newcastle Upon Tyne. A popular landmark is St Mary’s Lighthouse, and climbing its 137 steps gives you an amazing view of the area. Nearby Tynemouth Priory and Castle was once one of England’s largest fortified complexes, and you can visit the ruins. A few minutes inland from Whitley Bay is the Stephenson Railway Museum, a tribute to legendary father and son locomotive engineers George and Robert, who can truly be said to have changed the world. The museum includes a spectacular display of vintage railway tech and locos. Notable people to have come from Whitley Bay include iconic news reporter Kate Adie, Ian La Frenais (writer of classic TV series The Likely Lads, Porridge and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet), Brassed Off actor Stephen Tompkinson, musician Sam Fender and Gladstone Adams – the original inventor of the windscreen wiper!
Durham
- One of the most impressive things about Durham is the thousand year-old cathedral – regarded as one of the finest examples of its kind. If you want to experience nature at its most impressive the High Force waterfall (located in the Durham Dales, an hour from the city) is well worth the trip, with water crashing down from almost 70 feet. Just twenty minutes north of the city is the award-winning Beamish, an incredible 350-acre ‘living museum’ dedicated to Edwardian and Victorian life in the area. Beamish has been running for fifty years and is an absolute ‘must visit’ containing so much to see and do. Famous faces born in Durham include TV presenter Matt Baker (The One Show and Blue Peter), ground-breaking record producer Trevor Horn (Frankie Goes To Hollywood), folk singer-songwriter and poet Martin Stephenson, and former England ODI cricket team captain Paul Collingwood. Former PM Tony Blair (born in Edinburgh) was schooled in Durham, as was war poet William Noel Hodgson.
As well as all of the places we’ve mentioned here, there are hundreds of walks, hikes or rambles you could go on or other towns you could visit when you’re based at static caravan sites in Northumberland. It’s a fantastic area, whether that’s coastal or inland. Investing in a static caravan at our Causey Hill facility in Hexham will give you the ideal base from which to enjoy the area over and over, and at your leisure, rather than trying to cram everything in to a short break. We always have static caravans for sale, Northumberland is yours to explore! Enjoy!