ACTIVITIES FOR ALL

There are a huge range of activities to enjoy in Northumberland, suitable for a variety of ages and interests, and whatever the weather brings you.

Something for everyone…

Northumberland truly does have something for everyone. Whether you want to take it easy and relax, or are looking for an energetic few days away, there’s an activity for you.

There are miles and miles of nationally renowned cycling and walking trails, and we have Europe’s largest area of protected night sky. Whether you’re a couple, a family, part of a group or seeking some solitude there’s no better place to be.

CYCLING

There is a total of 350 miles of cycle paths in Northumberland. Four of the most famous cycle routes in the country run through Northumberland: Hadrian’s Cycleway, The Coast & Castles, Pennine Cycleway, and the UK’s most popular route, the Sea to Sea (C2C).

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WALKING & HIKING

This area is a walking paradise! The local area is rich with walking trails to suit every type of walker. Two popular walking trails are The Pennine Way (National Trail) and Hareshaw Linn.

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STAR GAZING

We are Darky Sky Friendly! Due to extremely low levels of light pollution at Brown Rigg and when the conditions are right, we can see thousands of stars overhead; the Milky Way, Meteor showers, Noctilucent clouds and even the Aurora Borealis.

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FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS

Follow Ollie on some of his favourite walks . . .

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FISHING

Occupying a privileged area in the North Tyne Valley we are ideally located for a spot of Salmon, Sea Trout and Brown Trout fishing, with the well-stocked waters at Kielder and the North and South Tyne river within easy reach.

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BAAFest

Every September, Brown Rigg is transformed into a music festival venue for the annual Bellingham All Acoustic Music Festival, better known as BAAFest. The weekend long festival is family and dog friendly and attracts around 300 visitors.

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THE BELLINGHAM SHOW

Held in the field adjacent to Brown Rigg, the Bellingham show takes place on the last Saturday in August and it is a perfect day out for all the family. Our accommodation is popular for visitors and traders alike, so early booking is recommended!

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“This is a fantastic place to stay, perfect for our large group of friends. We love the facilities in the lodges and the hall is great for the children to play in and for us to be able to eat together as one big group in the evening.”

LODGES

A peaceful and tranquil place for a relaxing holiday, Brown Rigg Lodges are spacious and comfortable. Each lodge has three bedrooms sleeping up to six people per lodge.

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GUEST ROOMS

Our six stylish Guest Rooms have an en-suite shower room each, and each bedroom can be configured as a twin room with two single beds or as a double room with a Super-King Bed.

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This area is a cyclists heaven!

There are dozens of outstanding cyle trails nearby, whatever your ability or passion. There is a total of 350 miles of cycle paths in Northumberland. Four of the most famous cycle routes in the country run through Northumberland: Hadrian’s Cycleway, The Coast & Castles, Pennine Cycleway, and the UK’s most popular route, the Sea to Sea (C2C).

The Pennine Cycleway (Route 68), the Sandstone Way, and the Reivers Route, all pass within 400 yards of Brown Rigg. Northumberland’s quiet rural roads are perfect for more leisurely cyclists looking to see the countryside, and of course, Brown Rigg has the facilities needed to ensure that all cyclists have a pleasant stay!

The New Sandstone Way Trail

We are ideally located for cyclists eager to experience the new Sandstone Way trail. It is a new 120 miles / 192km (approx) mountain biking route between Berwick upon Tweed and Hexham along the Sandstone Ridge in North Northumberland linking numerous sandstone features, crags and outcrops.

The route traverses through an amazing ever-changing landscape which is rich in history, geological features and iconic scenery.

The Reivers Route (National Cycle Route 10)

The Reivers Route opened in 1998 and is 173 miles long. It is also known as the ‘Return C2C’ as it takes you from the end of the west-to-east route all the way back to the start of the C2C.

It is now part of the National Cycle Network and the route between Tyneside and Kielder.

Lakeside Way around Kielder Water

Experience Kielder Forest and the North Tyne Valley on a bike. From the Lakeside Way around Kielder Water, to the more adventurous Osprey Trail (blue grade), all the way to the more technical red grade trails like Lonesome Pine, there’s a trail to suit everyone.

This area is a walking paradise!

The local area is rich with walking trails to suit every type of walker.

The Pennine Way passes the entrance to Brown Rigg.

The full length of the Pennine Way is 268 miles but you can spend as little or as long as you like walking on the Pennine Way National Trail. Some people like to walk the full length between Edale and Kirk Yetholm. Others like to spend a week, a few days or even a day at a time taking in spectacular lengths of the route. Most full length walkers allow between 16 to 19 days to walk the entire Way.

Steeped in history, this National Trail chases along the mountain tops along the rugged backbone of England and offers 268 miles of the finest upland walking in England. A once in a lifetime experience for walkers of all ages and abilities.

The Pennine Way National Trail is a walking route from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders. It crosses some of the finest upland landscapes in England, from the Peak District, through the Yorkshire Dales, across the North Pennines and over Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland to the Cheviots.

Hareshaw Linn Walk

Is a stunning 2.5 mile walk starting from Bellingham, going through countryside, passing the remains of an old ironworks, (the area was once home to a number of iron and coal mines), and ending at a magnificent 30 feet waterfall. Today, Hareshaw Linn is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), designated for its rare ferns and lichens. Strictly speaking, ‘Linn’ is a waterfall. It is at the farthest point of Hareshaw Dene, a densely wooded glade full of wildlife, that the waterfall of Hareshaw Linn is to be found.

Over 300 different types of Mosses, Liverworts and Lichens can be found. The ‘Linn’ is also home to the Red Squirrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wood Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Badger, Roe Deer and Daubenton’s Bat.

Northumberland International Dark Sky Park.

Brown Rigg is in the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, which is the fourth largest Dark Sky Park in the world. Measuring 572 square miles, it was awarded Gold Tier status in 2013 by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA), which is the highest award that the IDA can give.

A Sky Quality Meter reading of 20 or 21 indicates a dark sky where stargazing is at its best and the stars of the Milky Way are clearly visible. A series of meter readings taken around Brown Rigg on a clear night in March 2020 (with all lights off) has consistently produced readings between 21 and 22. The Milky way is best observed during Autumn evenings when it`s high in the sky. Winter and Spring is a good time to see bright galaxies.
September to mid-April is the ideal time for spotting the Auora Borellias.

Between May and July, you can spot Noctilucent clouds, which are extremely rare collections of ice crystals, appearing in clear summer evenings about 30 minutes after sunset. The clouds are usually bluish or silvery.
To help you enjoy the starry skies, we can provide a stargazing pack which includes a pair of 10 x 50 binoculars, red light torches, star maps and details of Apps. There are 2 packs available for you to borrow upon request but don`t forget it can take your eyes up to 40 minutes to completely adjust to the darkness.

If you would like to experience a guided astronomy weekend, then why not treat yourselves to one of our StarFest packages. In conjunction with professional Astronomers, we operate residential breaks that are suitable for all including families. During the weekend you can take part in workshops, listen to presentations, use telescopes and take part in dark sky viewing sessions.

Kielder Observatory is just a 25-minute drive away and Battlesteads Observatory is a 5-minute drive. Both offer year-round astronomical events but due to their popularity booking in advance is essential.

Follow Ollie on some of his favourite walks . . .

Kielder Lakeside Way (South Shore)

A total of 14 miles in length we like to explore the lakeside starting from Leaplish Waterside Park as our children like to combine it with a play in the playpark. There is also the option to take a ferry ride (seasonal). Herons and buzzards are a common sight on this walk.

Sid Wood

A 14-minute drive from Brown Rigg, Sid Wood is just 2 miles after the village of Greenhaugh. The trail is 1 mile long and meanders through a conifer forest and along the pretty Tarset Burn and through the old Sidwood House Estate. There are picnic tables and benches along the route, with views of farmsteads peaking through the trees. This is also prime red squirrel spotting territory.

Hareshaw Linn

A beautiful 3-mile return walk that climbs up steps, over cobbled paths, through ancient woodland, crossing six wooden bridges, eventually leading to a 9-metre-high waterfall. The route is dotted with lots of benches along the way to admire the scenery or to stop for a picnic. Look out for bluebells, wild honeysuckle, rare ferns, red squirrels, wagtails, wood warblers and spotted flycatchers.

Pundershaw (Wark Forest)

A 5-minute drive from Brown Rigg, Pundershaw is a popular walk along paths in dense forest. You will see deer in abundance, especially at dusk and buzzards circling overhead. If you have children with you they will enjoy exploring the streams and ditches looking for frog spawn and newts.

Fishing

Occupying a privileged area in the North Tyne Valley we are ideally located for a spot of Salmon, Sea Trout and Brown Trout fishing, with the well-stocked waters at Kielder and the North and South Tyne rivers within easy reach.

From February until the end of October you can fish on the nearby River Tyne. An environment Agency rod licence along with a fishing permit can be obtained from the Post Office in Bellingham.

Kielder Water is a boat fishery with over 2,000 acres of water to be explored. You never need to fish at the same spot twice! For bank anglers there is access to 20 miles of shoreline along the Lakeside Way.

Other nearby beats include Tarset, Countess Park and beside Chester’s Roman Fort in the heart of Hadrian`s Wall Country.

In the Autumn months in Hexham, you can watch the amazing spectacle of Salmon and Trout migrating upstream to spawning grounds. Some fish take the route of the high weir, under the nine-arch bridge, whilst others choose the fish ladder, with the fish jumping high out of the water via both routes. There is a fenced area where all the family can watch this bruising sight.

BAAFest

THE hills of the North Tyne will be alive with the sound of music as a much-loved festival makes its return. The Bellingham All Acoustic Music Festival, better known as BAAFest, takes place in the first week of September.

Since 2010 this well-established festival has attracted music lovers from across the UK and gained a reputation among musicians as one of their favourite places to perform.

Held at Brown Rigg Lodges, in Bellingham, there will be three covered stages with seating and two real ale bars.

There are tickets for 300 people and it is this intimate feel that makes the festival so special. The event will see 30 acts take to the stage.

Brown Rigg Lodges and Guest Rooms are available to book for the festival by contacting the Brown Rigg team.

Find out more at the BAAFest website.

The Bellingham Show and Country Festival

The Bellingham show is now 175 years old and is always held on the last Saturday in August. It’s a perfect day out for all the family in the heart of the Northumberland countryside, just over the fence from Brown Rigg.

Live bands, horses, sheep, terrier racing, children’s activities, good food, crafts, sheep, traditional games, wrestling, Northumbrian piping, children’s rides, vintage vehicles, dog show, fell racing and much, much more. With continuous main ring entertainment and two beer tents as well as many other refreshments stands there is so much to see and do.