The Best Picnic Spots in Northumberland for Families with Young Children

Guest post by Bethanie from Northumberland Family Diaries

As a family, we love to include a picnic in our trips out. There are many reasons for this: convenience, it is free and you know the kids will eat their lunch as you have packed it! We have tried and tested a few different spots across Northumberland now. Here are the best picnic spots in Northumberland for young children:

1. Carlisle Park ~ Morpeth

Handily located in Morpeth town centre with free parking, Carlisle park is a perfect spot for a picnic. During the summer months, you can easily spend a whole day here. The paddling pool is open from May so remember to take a swim costume and towel.

There are also bouncy castles (during the summer holidays), food vans and rowing boats.

We choose to take a picnic though and there are a few picnic benches in the play park and also on the green space just behind. If you can't get a picnic bench there is plenty of space to set up a picnic blanket on the grass and still have room to kick a ball about. There are also public toilets in the park. Because of location, this is a perfect spot for enjoying a picnic with young children.

Read more: Why you must visit Fortune Cookie at Morpeth Park

2. Rothbury riverside

Another free day out. The car park by the riverside is free to park all day and there are public toilets on the other side of the bridge. You can enjoy a walk along the river, feed the ducks, paddle in the shallows or play in the park. I would say the park is suitable for ages two to seven, but there are big swings for older children. 

There are a few picnic benches next to the park and again, plenty of space to put down a blanket on the grass. If you head right, when coming off the bridge, a little walk down you will come to stepping stones.  This is another lovely spot to sit but you may prefer nearer the play park with young children.

Read more: Rothbury Riverside Walk

3. Ingram Valley

A very popular spot on sunny days so get here early if you are planning on setting up a "camp" for the day. With plenty of running around space, this is an ideal picnic spot for young children. There isn't a play park but you can take bikes, footballs etc to keep everyone entertained. Our favourite thing to do is have a little walk along the side of the river, throwing in stones or stopping to build a dam.  Again parking is free and there are public toilets.

Read more: A family BBQ at Ingram Valley

4. Cragside

This is actually my most favourite place to picnic. Cragside is a National Trust property, so free for members and the cost of a family ticket for non-members is £52.30 (this includes entry to house, garden and woodland). 

If you are visiting Cragside with young children, I recommend driving up to the top car park. (The whole carriage drive is six miles round but it is a beautiful drive.) Park at Nelly's Moss car park next to the Labyrinth. Just over the road from this car park are a few picnic benches dotted around overlooking the lake. It is the most gorgeous spot. From here you can then head into the Labyrinth and get lost for an hour or so. Or head over to the play park, a short walk down the road. 

There are toilets at the park with baby changing facilities, den building and a barefoot walk. You will also find here a few picnic tables at the park and plenty of grass space to lay down a blanket.

Read more: Getting lost in the Labyrinth at Cragside 

5. Alnwick Gardens

The reason I include the Alnwick Gardens is because it can save you spending money on the food once you are here. It can be quite expensive by the time you have paid for parking and entry, (unless you hold a friends of the Garden pass). Saving money on lunch could make a big difference.

You can sit on the beautiful lawn area in front of the fountains. There are no picnic tables here but everyone just sits on the grass and there is plenty of space even on busy days. The children will love it at the gardens as there is so much to do.

There are little tractors to play on, fountains to splash in and a maze to run around. A perfect picnic spot for young children.

Read more: The Cherry Blossom Orchard at Alnwick Garden 

6. Beach

I was going to tell you about our favourite beaches for picnics but to be honest, any beach along the Northumberland coast is pretty special. 

Cresswell has a lovely cafe that is also dog-friendly, Bamburgh has the stunning views and Newton by the sea is a lovely quiet spot. 

Beadnell bay is a great beach if you are wanting to picnic with young children. The car park is right next to the beach and the walk is very flat. Making it easily accessible. The sea here is nice for a paddle as it stays flat for quite far out. There are some huge sand dunes to run up and down and it is in a lovely spot. During the summer there is an ice cream van...bonus! Parking is free and there are toilets in the car park.

Read more: 10 of the best Northumberland beaches to visit with kids

7. Alnmouth

While we are on the subject of beach picnics, Alnmouth has a play park and picnic benches near to the beach. Everyone usually heads straight for the beach, however there is also a great play park and green space to picnic without the sandy sandwiches. 

It isn't a huge park but there is enough for young children to do. Take a football to kick around or drop down onto the beach with your buckets and spades. The nearest toilets are in Alnmouth village and parking is quite tricky in the village itself. I would say pay the £1.50 parking charge to park at the beach as it is easier to get in here. 

These are some of the best picnic spots in Northumberland for young children. They all have a play park or running around space, facilities nearby and beautiful locations for the adults to enjoy.

Read more: What to do in Alnmouth with kids 

Have you visited any of these spots before? I would love for you to come over and say hello at www.northumberlandfamilydiaries.com and let me know where your favourite place to visit is.

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About Bethanie & Northumberland Family Diaries: 

We are a young family who live and work in Northumberland. We have two children age five and two. I myself, work in Early Years and have been blogging for the last two years.

Originally I documented motherhood moments and also started my YouTube channel to film important days out and to capture memories. Since then I have turned my focus to sharing days out in Northumberland and write about Northumberland for families/ what’ on offer and days out for young children.

I started my campaign “do more with our kids” which you can download for free on my blog.

There is nothing I love more than spending time with my family, writing, exploring and drinking wine!

www.northumberlandfamilydiaries.com