Northumberland’s current guides span coastal Bamburgh, Alnwick and Berwick-upon-Tweed, plus the Tyne-side town of Hexham. Compare the exact overnight base and choose one or two local outings rather than treating the county as a single compact trip.
Alnwick gives you a town-and-riverside break with a carefully timed garden option. The Hog’s Head is on Hawfinch Drive outside the historic centre; Bailiffgate sits by the castle entrance. Enjoy the castle setting from public outdoor paths, then check whether your dates coincide with an Alnwick Garden Dog Day. A castle photograph and a dog-friendly hotel do not establish pet entry to the castle itself.
Build a Bamburgh break around coast, castle grounds and unhurried village time. The choice between staying in Bamburgh itself and nearby Seahouses matters: similarly named hotels can put you in quite different places.
Berwick-upon-Tweed combines a historic ramparts outing with a separate look at the coast. Travelodge provides a town-edge room base, while the Lindisfarne Inn is at Beal, outside Berwick and on the mainland. Choose according to where you want to spend the evening, then keep the walks short enough to enjoy the town without turning the break into a long coastal expedition.
Hexham offers a choice between a town inn and a rural resort, with Tyne Green for a shorter outing and Dukesfield for a more substantial woodland walk. The County is on Priestpopple; Slaley Hall is at Slaley outside town. Decide how much driving and walking you want before choosing, and treat the abbey photograph as a town landmark rather than a promise of dog access inside.
