Holidays
Pilgrim's Way

Pilgrim's Way

Guided Walking Holidays in Northumberland

3 nights

1 walk

Grades 2

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Groups of 10+

020 3974 8865

The wooden poles that mark the way to Holy Island are one of Northumberland’s many remarkable sights. This weekend challenge sees you following in the footsteps of England’s early medieval pilgrims on their journey across Lindisfarne Bay to this revered tidal island. Whether you opt to complete it barefoot or booted, you’ll navigate the sands and mudflats of the Pilgrim’s Way to where centuries of history and one of Northumberland’s most treasured nature reserves awaits.

What You’ll Love

The challenge of crossing the sands to Lindisfarne Island barefoot
Soaking up 360-degree views as you're guided across the bay
Watching for wildlife in Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve
Discovering some of the finest coastal walking in Northumberland
Learning the stories and histories of Holy Island, Lindisfarne
Socialising in the evenings at our characterful country house

What's Included

Comfortable en-suite accommodation in our country house
Cream tea on arrival day
Cooked or continental breakfast every morning
Daily packed lunches
Three-course evening meals, plus tea & coffee
Guided walking with an experienced HF Holidays Leader
All transport to and from walks where necessary

Itinerary

All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take alternative routes or adapt the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.

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You're welcome to check in from 4pm onwards. Enjoy a complimentary cream tea on arrival.

Distance: 10.5 miles (17km)

Ascent: 700ft (220m)

We’ll introduce Northumberland to you today with a bracing warm-up walk along one of the UK’s finest stretches of coastline. We’ll walk from Embleton to the eye-catching ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, then along golden sands and rolling dunes to Alnmouth.*

*This walk may run in the opposite direction, depending on tides.

Distance: 7.5 miles (12.5km)

Ascent: 270ft (60m)

Prepare for muddy boots or take on the pilgrimage in true style – barefoot. We’ll guide you along the ancient path known as the Pilgrim’s Way, crossing the sands of Lindisfarne Bay, to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.

Reaching the island, we’ve time to explore its wilder side and nature reserves. Discover its wildflower meadows and the island’s extraordinary history as the seat of early Christianity in Anglo-Saxon Britain.

(Please note boots will get very muddy – please bring a spare pair of shoes to change into at the end of the walk, and a plastic bag to pop your muddy boots in. If walking barefoot, please bring a towel and a cloth or wipes to clean your feet).

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home.

Download trip notes

Daily Walk Options

Easier Walks

Good paths but walks are a bit longer. Some walks, particularly in mountain areas, may have sections over rough or steeper terrain.

Accommodation

Nether Grange

You can tell that you’re in for something special at this former 18th century granary in the heart of Alnmouth – the postcard-pretty coastal village treasured for its colourful cottages, superb walking routes, and peaceful beach where the River Aln meets the North Sea (in its heyday, it was a working river-port, exporting grain, wool, coal, and even the odd pipe of Madeira wine). Not only will you be a 40-minute drive from Northumberland National Park, but also within easy travelling distance of several visit-worthy castles, including Alnwick, Lindisfarne, Dunstanburgh, and Warkworth. If the weather’s nice, a boat trip to the Farne Islands that lie just offshore midway between the villages of Seahouses and Bamburgh rewards with sightings of England's largest grey seal colonies.

A warm welcome
We want you to feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. You’ll find a welcome pack in your room with guest registration forms, menus, order forms for dinners and picnic lunches, the Wi-Fi password, and the front door code. Our houses are locked at night, so we recommend noting the Duty Manager’s number on arrival in case of an emergency (or getting locked out).

Evening entertainment

While evening entertainment varies from house to house, HF Holidays Inter-House Quiz night held after dinner on Wednesdays is a weekly staple. Your HF Holidays leader may be around for tips on guided and self-guided waking routes as well as visit-worthy local attractions.

Walks talks
Our HF Holidays walk leaders host guided walking information briefings before dinner on guided walking holiday arrival days. This is followed by a group Walks Talk for information on the following day’s guided walks (held before dinner every evening). Self-guided walking guests are, of course, welcome.

The walking day
Prior to setting off on guided walks, your HF Holidays Leader will run you through a short safety briefing. There’s also an up-to-date weather forecast on display at the house to ensure you have appropriate clothing and footwear. If you choose to do your own walks or are on a self-guided walking holiday, we ask that you please complete an Independent Walker Card each day. These can be found near the Discovery Point in the house.

Check in & check out

You are welcome to check in from 4pm at the earliest. HF Members can check in earlier, from 2pm. On arrival, you’ll enjoy a complimentary cream tea and get to meet your fellow guests, our HF Holidays Leaders, and the rest of the friendly team. Check out 10am.

• 34 well-appointed guest rooms • Exclusive occupancy: 44 guests minimum • Check in from 4:00pm • For members check in from 2:00pm • Free Wi-Fi • Boot room and drying room • Discovery Point offering a wide range of local area maps, route guides, and information for self-guided walks • Books and games to borrow • Licensed bar • Lounge • Garden • Outdoor chess set

Seasonal dining, tailored for you

Our team of skilled chefs design our dinner menus to showcase the best of each season, from warming winter comfort food to vibrant summer dishes, including vegetarian, vegan and high-protein options. We also source fruit and vegetables within a 40-mile radius of each house, open every break with a Chef’s Special menu inspired by dishes and flavours of the local area, and are able to adapt dishes to suit special dietary requirements.

Welcome Cream Tea

What better way to start your stay than with a cream tea, served fresh on arrival to make you feel instantly at home. A quintessentially English tradition, our scones are baked in-house and served with preserves and clotted cream, providing the perfect opportunity to meet fellow walkers.

A hearty breakfast to start the day

Start the day with a freshly-prepared cooked breakfast and a wide choice from our continental buffet, including hot drinks, juices and fresh fruit. Our team offer a quick and friendly service, leaving you fuelled and ready for your day’s adventures.

Our famous picnic lunch

Our personalised picnic lunches are perfect for a day out walking, ready to enjoy when hunger strikes. Choose from a large selection of fresh sandwiches and salads, freshly baked cakes and snacks, including the ever-popular Freddos chocolate bar! Everything is designed to fit neatly into your rucksack, and all of the packaging we provide is recyclable or compostable.

3-course evening meals

Our à la carte evening menus feature a wide choice of starters, mains, and desserts, made with seasonal ingredients and, wherever possible, herbs and vegetables from our own gardens. Shared around sociable tables, dinners are relaxed occasions, with drinks available to order at the table or from the bar, and a traditional Sunday roast to round off the week.

Designed with your comfort in mind, Nether Grange has 36 well-appointed guest rooms available in two categories: Classic and Premium.

Classic Rooms are comfortable en-suite guest rooms, ideal for a peaceful night's sleep. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, and shower gel), and a TV.

Premium Rooms are more spacious en-suite guest rooms*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.

We love: The sea-facing rooms are especially lovely.

The Choose Your Room service is available at our UK country houses, allowing you the option of choosing and confirming a specific room for an extra charge of £30 per room. This is subject to availability. Upgrade supplements apply.

Room supplements

Premium single	Premium double/twin	Choose your room
£20 pppn	£20 pppn	£30 per room

*Views and layout reflect each properties unique character and location

For accessibility and assistance information, please contact our expert team on 020 3974 8865 or view the accessibility information online for Nether Grange

View more details View holidays here

More Information

Carbon Footprint

We see it as our responsibility to minimise our emissions, not just for this year but every year to come. Our work with sustainability experts, ecollective, has enabled us to measure our carbon footprint and create a strategy to reduce the carbon intensity of our product by 5% each year. Our ambition is to be net zero by 2040 – earlier if we can.

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Pilgrim's Way

What You’ll Love

What's Included

Itinerary

Daily Walk Options