Scotland · NORTHUMBERLAND DAY TRIPS
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 9 northumberland day trips worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Travel south from Edinburgh in a Mercedes minivan with a local guide such as Angela, Callum, or Roddy. Visit Rosslyn Chapel, Melrose Abbey, Carter Bar, Housesteads Roman Fort, Hadrian’s Wall, and Jedburgh on a 10.5-hour day out.
“Beautiful countryside, beautiful chapel, wonderful guide Callum and driver Henry. Just a very long time in the bus.”
Travel from Edinburgh into the Scottish Borders and Northumberland with an English-speaking driver-guide. Visit Jedburgh, Carter Bar, Steel Rigg, Vindolanda, Birdoswald, and Moffat in about 10.5 hours. The 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach keeps the group small, but expect a long day with plenty of road time and walking.
“There is lots of hills in the walking. The uphill climb at Hadrians Wall is pretty steep, but this tour is totally worth the effort. My son and I loved this tour.”
Leave Edinburgh by air-conditioned coach with a driver-guide such as Mary, Neil, Shug, or Jada. Cross into England for Lindisfarne Priory, Alnwick Castle, and possibly Flodden Battlefield. The day includes free time, live commentary, and scheduled comfort stops, but attraction tickets and food cost extra.
“Great tour, our guide Wendy was awesome. The downside of this type of tour is always that you want more time in various places, however the stops and various lookout points were all fantastic, especially for someone visiting for the first time.”
Leave Edinburgh at 8:15 a.m. for Bamburgh Castle, Alnwick Castle, and Coldstream on a 9.5-hour trip in an air-conditioned vehicle. Guides such as Cara, Connor, Tom, and Emily have led past departures. Expect castle views, Harry Potter filming sites, coastal scenery, and commentary in English.
“Flying on the broomstick. All the stories and cultural info from our guide. Good amount of time to enjoy the Alnwick castle. A very beautiful day and the guide/driver did a good safe job of driving in the wind and rain. Thank you.”
Travel from Edinburgh in a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach with an English-speaking driver-guide such as Penny, Nathan, Sean, or Dave. Visit Kelso Abbey, Alnwick Castle, coastal viewpoints, and Dunbar. Castle admission is included, while the gardens cost extra.
“Pros: The coach was comfortable with charging ports. Each seat had control of their fan and a speaker to hear the guide. Our time at Kelso and Alnwick was perfectly timed. Kelso was just enough time to take a toilet break, grab a coffee, and walk through the town. At Alnwick, we did one 30-minute tour, one hour tour, lunch, shop, and played a bit in the artisan market. We would not have had time for the gardens. The artisan market was a great spot for kids. We made clay tiles but there’s different options on different days. There was a dragon quest experience, a few yard games, and cosplay/photo…”
Travel from Edinburgh in a Mercedes mini-coach with a guide such as Angela, Keith, or Callum. Visit Holy Island, see Lindisfarne Priory and Castle, then explore Alnwick Castle or its gardens. Expect a full nine-hour day, small groups, tide-sensitive timing, and admission fees paid separately.
“This was an excellent tour for exploring the Viking Coast and Alnwick Castle. Our tour guide, Callum, was so passionate and made the stories he shared come alive. We felt like we had traveled back in time! We had numerous stops throughout the tour and plenty of time to explore the various sites. We had a smashing time!”
Travel from Edinburgh with The Hairy Coo in a small air-conditioned midi-coach, guided by hosts such as Louise, Lucky, Freddie, or Ryan. Visit Holy Island, Alnwick Castle, Alnwick Garden, and Bamburgh, with Harry Potter sites, border tales, comfort stops, and tide-dependent timing.
“Colin was very friendly, knowledgeable, and quite funny. It was a very enjoyable experience. Highly recommend.”
Travel from Edinburgh in a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach with an expert driver-guide. Spend two nights in York and two in Keswick, with breakfast, Bamburgh Castle, a Windermere cruise, Vindolanda, waterfalls, stone circles, and Roman ruins included.
“Our tour was great and our guide, Andy D, was very knowledgeable and engaged with his group in a fun and informative way.”
Travel from Edinburgh to Bamburgh and Alnwick Castle in a small group of up to 16. See Bamburgh’s seaside fortress, then spend three hours at Alnwick, famous for Harry Potter and Downton Abbey. Your local English-speaking guide handles the driving and stories. Castle entry costs extra.
“Alnwick castle has lots of different shows that go on all day. Enjoyed seeing the different hunting birds in action and where they were used.”
Pick a loch, a castle or a still house.
