Ingram Valley is a beautiful place to visit in Northumberland. Expect rolling hills, riverbanks, waterfalls and winding paths alongside lots of lovely plants and wildlife. It's in a fairly remote location and it's easy to find places to stop for a picnic where you'll have the immediate area completely to yourself.
We always usually park in Bulby's Wood. I like it here as there are toilets, lots of flat green space for a picnic and easy access to the water for paddling (read about parking at Bulby's Wood and spending the day at Ingram Valley with kids here).
In all my years of visiting the area, I had been a creature of habit and always stayed in the same place. It's a crying shame that I'd never ventured into the village and visited Ingram Cafe so on this visit, we made a plan to do just that.
In all my years of visiting the area, I had been a creature of habit and always stayed in the same place. It's a crying shame that I'd never ventured into the village and visited Ingram Cafe so on this visit, we made a plan to do just that.
Ingram Valley Cafe does actually have it's own small car park but we decided to park in Ingram Bridge Car Park which is just a very short walk away. This car park is free. Use postcode NE66 4LT.
From the car park , follow the signs and walk through the gate to Ingram Cafe. It's a very short 2-5 minute walk through the woods. The path is a mix of stones / boardwalk and flat. It should be fine for a pushchair.
As you walk along you will see a natural gap in the planting where you can cut through and access the River Breamish. It's super pretty and my photos don't do it justice.
After a little splash around the river it was back up to the path and along to the cafe.
Ingram Cafe has good facilities with toilets, bike racks outside and a water fountain where you can refill your bottles. There are also bins and picnic tables to the front.
Dogs are welcome inside and out and there is additional covered seating and dog water bowls in the garden to the rear of the cafe (where you may also find various plants for sale).
At the moment, the cafe is open 10am-5pm daily but do check their Facebook page here for any changes before you set off.
Dogs are welcome inside and out and there is additional covered seating and dog water bowls in the garden to the rear of the cafe (where you may also find various plants for sale).
At the moment, the cafe is open 10am-5pm daily but do check their Facebook page here for any changes before you set off.
The cafe serves multiple functions. It's also an art gallery packed with local pieces, a farm shop stocking local produce and a gift shop with lovely local gifts.
I liked that as well as tables and chairs there are a couple of sofas with a mini play kitchen and books for small children too. It strikes me as the kind of place that welcomes everyone and certainly seemed to be popular with local walkers and cyclists.
We sat in the front. Ordered lunch from the counter and the friendly staff brought it out to us. It was such a bargain at £13 for two lunches and two drinks (card is accepted). There was a very tempting cake counter but we resisted on this occasion.
I think next time we may pop in for a sandwich to take away and then park up in a quiet spot near the river somewhere to enjoy with the views. Lots of people were ordering food to go and I reckon this is what they were doing.
I think next time we may pop in for a sandwich to take away and then park up in a quiet spot near the river somewhere to enjoy with the views. Lots of people were ordering food to go and I reckon this is what they were doing.
Steve ordered the smoked beef, cheese and gherkin toastie which he really enjoyed. I liked that there was something a little different on offer to the toasties you'd normally find at this kind of place.
I went with a pot of leek and potato soup and a cheese scone which was served with some fancy butter. Oh it was delicious and my scone was very cheesy which is what I like. I had too much butter and Steve suggested I mix the last of it into my soup so I did just that. Wow! I knew I married the right person.
There are several walks you can enjoy in the area (see here for more info) but we just decided to re-trace the way we'd driven in and walk back from the cafe, over the bridge and long the river that way. As you can see, some people just find a spot and park up on the river banks.
There are a lot of sheep, lambs and cows in the area as well as other wildlife and adders are fairly common here too. For this reason, Northumberland National Park does recommend keeping your dog on a lead and away from livestock. Although there is wide open countryside, it's not really somewhere to go for a big off lead walk.
There are a lot of sheep, lambs and cows in the area as well as other wildlife and adders are fairly common here too. For this reason, Northumberland National Park does recommend keeping your dog on a lead and away from livestock. Although there is wide open countryside, it's not really somewhere to go for a big off lead walk.
We had a lovely couple of hours here. Such a lush spot for a walk and a bite to eat. We're lucky to have it.
Other posts you may like:
Bulby's Wood Car Park & Paddling at Ingram Valley
Other posts you may like:
Bulby's Wood Car Park & Paddling at Ingram Valley
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