Last weekend of September. Start early, the light's gone by seven.
Late September in Northumberland usually means cool mornings, mild afternoons and a wind that decides everything. The North Sea is at its warmest of the year, which still only means about 13C, so paddles are short and wetsuits are sensible. The equinox has just gone, so nights are now longer than days, and a sea fret can roll in on the coast even when Rothbury is in sunshine. On the beaches and the boats, check the wind and the tide before you set off. For the actual weekend weather, check the Met Office forecast before you go.
Sunset 6.55pm in Alnwick on Saturday. Full forecast (Met Office)
Archive edition. We wrote this one for the website to cover the week of Friday 25 September 2026, so it lists what was on then and says nothing about the weather that week. The emails proper started on Tuesday 29 September 2026.
Schools across Northumberland have been back since Tuesday 1 September, so this is the weekend the bairns are properly tired and properly in need of fresh air. One big day out at Cragside, then the best of what's open and what's on across the county.
About 2.5 miles of walking in short pieces: a wander round the house, the Rock Garden and the Iron Bridge, then the 1.5 mile Nelly's Moss Lakes loop (blue waymarkers), with the 6 mile Carriage Drive done by car in between
A full day. Allow 5 to 6 hours if you want the house, the play area and the labyrinth
Start: Cragside visitor centre car park, Rothbury, Morpeth NE65 7PX
Cragside was Lord Armstrong's house, and the first in the world lit by hydroelectricity, so it's a history lesson with a lot of running about attached. The house is open 11am to 4pm and the grounds 10am to 5pm in late September. Start with the house and the Iron Bridge below the Rock Garden (the photo everyone takes), then drive the Carriage Drive to the Crozier car park, where there's an adventure play area with a zip wire and a log mountain, a trim trail and a den building area. Carry on to Nelly's Moss car park for the labyrinth, a giant maze cut into a forest of rhododendron, and finish with a lap of the lakes. Autumn colour starts to come through on the estate's trees at this time of year, and there's no booking: pay or show your National Trust card on arrival.
It's not cheap for non-members (adult tickets were £27 without Gift Aid at the time of writing), so this is one to do as a full day. The estate entrance closes at 4pm and the Carriage Drive at 4.45pm, so don't turn up late. Buggies will manage the routes to the play area and round the lakes, but the paths are gravelly, rocky and hilly in places. Toilets are at the visitor centre, the Crozier car park and the house.
Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre, near Amble Small parking charge, All ages
Northumberland Wildlife Trust's reserve just south of Amble is open until 5.30pm, which makes it a rare after-school option. There's an accessible 1km route to two hides, and autumn is one of the busiest times for birds here. The car park is locked at 5.30pm sharp, and the sat nav postcode (NE65 0JR) takes you to Low Hauxley village, so follow the road signs. Details and booking
Sat 26 and Sun 27 Sep, studios open within 10am to 4pm
Studios and spaces across Berwick-upon-Tweed See the Create Berwick guide, All ages
The first ever Berwick Open Studios, run by Create Berwick, opens artists' workspaces round the town over two weekends. Pith, the Berwick furniture makers, are opening their Assembly Shop with workshops at 10.30am and 3pm and a factory tour at noon, which is a good one for teenagers who like making things. Details and booking
Sat 26 and Sun 27 Sep, 10am to 5pm (last entry 4pm)
Bamburgh Castle, Bamburgh £19.95 adults, £10 children 5 to 16, under 5s free; parking £6 a day, All ages
The King's Hall and the Armstrong and Aviation Museum for the rainy bits, then straight down onto the beach below for the rest. Parking isn't included in the ticket (the castle car park and the village Glebe car park are both £6 a day), and the castle is cash free, so bring a card. Details and booking
Seahouses Harbour, Seahouses Serenity: £22 adults, £17 children 15 and under, under 5s free, All ages
Both Billy Shiel's and Serenity run sail-around trips all year to see the grey seal colony, with no landing. The pups don't arrive until late October, so this weekend it's the grown-ups lolling on the rocks. Be at the harbour booking office 30 minutes before you sail. Details and booking
Daily to 1 Nov; trains leave Heatherslaw at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm
Heatherslaw station, Ford Forge, near Cornhill-on-Tweed Return £12.50 adults, £6 children 2 to 16, £34 family of four; under 2s free, All ages
A little narrow gauge line along the River Till to Etal, where you can hop off to see Etal Castle and catch a later train back. Short enough for the smallest ones, and the last train back from Etal leaves at 4pm. Details and booking
Daily 10.30am to 4pm; flying displays 1.30pm and 3pm, weather permitting
Kielder Waterside, Kielder Normal admission, All ages
Your ticket lasts all day, so look round in the morning, go for a walk by the reservoir, and come back for the flying demonstrations after lunch. It's a long drive up the North Tyne, so make a day of it. Details and booking
A free, timed 2k run for 4 to 14 year olds on the flat riverside grass at Tyne Green (NE46 3SG). Register once online and bring the barcode. Blyth has one at the same time at South Beach Estate if you're on the coast. Details and booking
Vindolanda, Bardon Mill Normal admission, All ages
The Roman fort and town just south of Hadrian's Wall, with a museum full of the things the soldiers left behind, shoes and writing tablets included. There's a free 45 minute guided tour of the fort site on scheduled days, so check the timetable when you arrive. Postcode NE47 7JN. Details and booking
Woodhorn Museum, Ashington £11 adults (annual pass); under 18s free; free parking, All ages
The old colliery with the big pit wheels, and a museum about the mining communities of south east Northumberland. Under 18s go free, the car park closes at 4.30pm, and the café does last food orders at 2.30pm. Details and booking
The Alnwick Garden, Alnwick Garden: £17.90 adults (no Gift Aid), up to four under 16s free per adult. Lilidorei: £16.65 per child 3 to 16, All ages
The Grand Cascade and the Poison Garden for everyone, and Lilidorei, the giant play village, for the ones with energy to burn. Tickets are non-refundable, so check the forecast before you buy. Details and booking
Chillingham Wild Cattle Park, Chillingham £12 adults, £10 concessions, £5 under 16s, under 5s free, £30 family, All ages
A warden takes you out on a trailer and then on foot to see the herd of wild white cattle. Closed shoes are a must, numbers are capped at 20 a tour, and booking online is the safe bet. Details and booking
Thu 1 Oct (daytime only), then Fri 2 to Sun 4 Oct, 10am to 8.15pm
The Alnwick Garden, Alnwick Evening-only tickets £10 (5pm to 8.15pm); up to four under 16s free with each paying adult, All ages
Rides, games and bubble performers by day, then fire jugglers and a Grand Cascade show with lights, lasers and fireworks in the evenings. Dogs can't come to the evening shows because of the fireworks. Details and booking
Sat 3 Oct (10K and gravel duathlon) and Sun 4 Oct (marathon, half marathon and junior races)
Kielder Water and Forest Park, Kielder Entries through the event site, Junior races on the Sunday
A mostly off-road marathon round Kielder Water, with junior races on the Sunday for runners in the family. Expect busy roads round the reservoir that weekend. Details and booking
Sat 24 Oct to Sun 1 Nov for most Northumberland council schools
Across the county
Schools close on Fri 23 Oct and go back on Mon 2 Nov. Pumpkin fields such as Brocksbushes near Corbridge need booking online, and some schools set their own dates, so check yours. Details and booking
Book ahead
Tip. At The Alnwick Garden, up to four under 16s go free with each paying adult, but Lilidorei next door is a separate ticket at £16.65 per child. If the bairns only want the play village, do the garden first on the free tickets and decide on Lilidorei once you've seen the weather.