5 of the best things to do in and around Morpeth – Guest Post

2nd August 2020 3 By Rachael Stray

Tracy from Blogger by the sea has kindly shared 5 of the best things to do in and around Morpeth in this latest guest post.

Biased, moi? But of course. Morpeth is my home town, so obviously I’m going to see this smart market town in North East England through rose-tinted glasses.

I’ve also been round the world twice – and can still see, by comparison, that Morpeth and the area around it has so much to offer visitors.

5 of the best things to do in and around Morpeth

Carlisle Park

So we’ll start right in the centre of Morpeth with Carlisle Park. This gorgeous park has so much to offer, and spreads out over an impressively-sized area.

The park gates are right opposite the historic building of Morpeth Court, and the tree-lined park has riverside paths, tennis courts and a bowling green.

You can hire a boat to take to the waters of the Wansbeck, or keep the kids busy with the play park, sandpit and – in summer – the sizeable paddling pool.

Carlisle Park is also home to the Turner Garden, a memorial garden dedicated to William Turner’s life and work. One of the founding fathers of British botany, Turner was born, bred and educated in Morpeth.

Morpeth Chantry

Another golden-hued, historic building in Morpeth is the Chantry, within which visitors will find both the Bagpipe Museum and the Northumbria Craft Centre. The former tells the tales of, and displays, the Northumbrian pipes of this region, referring to bagpipes from all over the globe as it does.

The latter provides retail therapy in the form of arts and crafts from the area, including prints, paintings and photography plus accessories, jewellery, ceramics, homewares and items featuring the black and white Northumbrian tartan.

Incidentally, the botanist William Turner is believed to have attended school at the Chantry.

Sanderson Arcade

If the Northumbria Craft Centre has whetted your appetite for shopping, then the Sanderson Arcade is well worth a browse. This stylish arcade in the heart of Morpeth houses over twenty-five stores, including perennially popular shops like Clark’s, Home Bargains, Next, The Body Shop and Marks and Spencer, as well as fashionable outfitters such as Crew Clothing, Fat Face, Mint Velvet, Phase Eight and Seasalt.

Local businesses are represented by two family-run jewellers, Morpeth Larder, Victoria Grace Shoe Collection, The Pudding Parlour, Central Bean Coffee House and more.

Druridge Bay

Moving beyond the town centre itself, the first stop on any visitor’s list must surely be Druridge Bay. I spent my earliest years in Widdrington, a village near the coast, before moving to Morpeth itself, and we regularly used to take walks along the vast stretches of golden sands at Druridge Bay.

My uncle once owned a holiday cottage nearby, and I even scattered my mother’s ashes there. The beaches are broad and unspoilt: often you will have a huge stretch all to yourself.

Wallington Hall

Another location that’s dear to me, as the venue for my first Brownie pack holiday. Two of my school pals also worked in the cafe’s kitchen during our teenage years.

Wallington comprises an estate of 13,000 acres, which can be explored by cycle path if you wish. You can also enjoy riverside walks, explore the walled garden, or admire an impressive selection of pre-Raphaelite paintings.

Look out for red squirrels – Northumberland is one of the last homes to these native creatures, who scamper freely around the grounds of the wildlife hide.

About Tracy

Tracy of Blogger by the sea grew up in beautiful Northumberland, and even now lives close to the coast near Bournemouth and the New Forest. Her blog covers food, travel and lifestyle, and she is also a professional copywriter and content creator.

Make sure to check out her blog and follow her on her social channels.

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A huge thank you to Tracy for such a brilliant guest post. If you’d like to write a guest post on https://rachaelstray.com please get in touch via my contact/work with me page.

5 of the best things to do in and around Morpeth – Guest Post