Majestic mountains and tranquil lakes, dark skies glistening with stars, rolling fields divided by dry stone walls, the finest hotels, beachside self-catering cottages, romantic city breaks – and a food culture that’s packed full of vibrant stories.
UP NORTH is a magical place. We want to celebrate our heritage – and Savour Magazine’s North East roots – with our Why To Go campaign.
Instead of telling you where to go, Why To Go will feature all our hidden gems, and the reasons why you should add them to your must-visit lists.
First up, the best beaches …
Bamburgh Beach
Overlooked by Bamburgh Castle, this beautiful stretch of wild coastline offers clear seas and huge sands that stretch to Seahouses, three miles away. On a clear day you can see out to Lindisfarne and the Farne Islands.
Eat: At the Potted Lobster, with seafood sourced from the nearby of Amble, Holy Island and Seahouses and lamb and beef from Bamburgh.
Also try The Apple Core at Lucker for pizzas and French crepes.
Stay: Beadnell Towers at Chathill is just a 20-minute drive to Bamburgh. The boutique hotel features 18 individually designed bedrooms and the bar and kitchen serve up British-inspired dishes.
King Edward’s Bay, Tynemouth
Pull up a deck chair and enjoy the views at King Edward’s Bay, located at the foot of Tynemouth Priory and Castle.
Eat: Fabulous fish, locally caught and served simple. That’s the ethos of Riley’s Fish Shack – a purpose-built container on the beach front. Food here is fresh, often caught that day, so once it’s gone, it’s gone. Riley’s is also a firm favourite of national food critic Jay Rayner and featured on Michel Roux Jr’s Hidden Restaurants series on Channel 4.
Stay: Wake up to the smell of fresh sea air and stunning views at The Grand Hotel, Tynemouth. It’s comfy, relaxing and come with some ‘canny’ North East charm.
Sandhaven Beach, South Shields
Sunrise in South Shields is a spectacle and over the past few months, early risers have been flocking to the shore to start their day with moments of mindfulness.
Images have flooded Facebook and Insta and it’s not just the sun you’ll spot, but BBQs with bacon butties and people at paddleboarding at 4:30 am.
Eat: Fish and chips from Colmans Seafood Temple is a must at lunch. Or on an evening, enjoy cocktails and oysters of a Malaysian Seafood Curry.
For dessert, pop to one of the Michellas kiosks along the beach or try one of Scoop and Beans’ 36 ice cream flavours.
Stay: The Sea Hotel lies at the heart of South Shields seafront, with the Marine Park, Ocean Beach Pleasure Pack and beach just a few minutes’ walk away.
The hotel had a complete refurbishment just before lockdown and as well as sumptuous rooms, it comes complete with The Maritime Restaurant, offering classic dishes, as well as Mexican eatery, Loca.
