The Area

Our charming bed and breakfast near Morpeth in Northumberland provides the ideal base from which to explore the UK’s most northernmost county. If you are looking for places to visit and things to do during your stay then you’ll find a wealth of tourist information on the  Visit Northumberland website.

The Weil Library

We were great friends with the late international artist and sculptor Barbara Weil who lived and worked in Puerto Andratx, Mallorca for over forty years, where she built a wonderful studio to work in and display her work. The architect was Daniel Libeskind, designer of the Jewish Museum in Berlin and the master plan for the 9/11 memorial in New York.

Barbara was staying with us when we were designing our library; she gifted us some original work to hang in the library – so we have called it the Weil Library!
The Guardian had an artical mentioning Barbara: Studio Weil

It is a lovely room and where we serve breakfast for our guests.

Abbey Taxis
We recommend “John the taxi” should you require a taxi. He has a Mercedes E class and is very reasonable, and he knows the countryside exceptionally well. His number is 07734 796195. Do say you are staying with Jane and Alun.

Barter Books, Alnwick Station.
We suggest that you visit Barter books if you are in the area. This marvellous shop is housed in the massive Victorian Railway station in Alnwick and along with the books there is a super diner and you can eat all day, perhaps sitting in the Third Class waiting room to eat! Whatever there are always roaring fires and a great buzz about this magnificent modern “institution” – for that is what it has become.

The original “Keep Calm and Carry on Poster” was found here and it has subsequently swept the world.

See the excellent video at Keep Calm in Alnwick.

Belsay Hall and Castle
This English Heritage property is 5 miles from Throphill and we love it! The rather stern classical Hall is strongly at variance with the old Castle. Between the two lies a marvellous Quarry garden, unique in formation and scale. I urge everyone to go there – we go about ten times a year.
Belsay Hall

The best Café in the area!
The Blacksmith’s Café at the entrance to Belsay Hall, just off the main road, is without doubt the best café or tea room in the county and you can combine it with a visit to Belsay Hall. The tearoom in Belsay Hall is in the old servants kitchen and it is a bit grim – good enough for the servants was probably the 19th century view – but certainly not good enough for visitors to Throphill Grange.

Everything in the Blacksmith’s Café is home made on the premises and in nice weather the tables in the garden offer a wonderful place to enjoy home cooking at its best. If you like calories come here to get them.

Other things worth visiting

In this area the list is virtually endless. Wallington Hall, Cragside, Herterton Garden, Alnwick Castle and Garden, Howick Hall and Arboretum, Chillingham Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Embleton Bay (the best beach in the county and that is saying something) and Dunstanburgh Castle etc. etc.

In this day of Google there is no need for us to give details of all these places but in your bedroom is a file with a mass of suggestions and in the library we have lots of books on the local area to help you plan your day.

This is a stunning historical area and we will give you as much information as possible to help you have a wonderful trip.