Alnwick Castle, the Northumberland Coast & the Borders Day Trip

HIGHLIGHTS - Places you'll explore

Kelso - A ruined abbey, a stunning, cobbled town square, and beautiful boutique shops.

The Borders - The gentle valleys and rolling hills are a delight to explore.

Alnwick Castle - This gorgeous castle was used as a set for both Harry Potter and Downton Abbey.

Northumberland Coastline - This captivating coastline is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

River Tweed - A graceful, salmon-filled river that winds through the borders.

East Lothian - Home to famous golf courses and expanses of splendid green farming plains.

ITINERARY

Your tour begins by following the road that connected Caledonia with Roman Britannia.

You stop in Kelso, where you can explore this handsome town and what is thought to be Scotland’s largest market square. You also see the ruins of Kelso Abbey, a reminder of the many ancient conflicts between Scotland and England.

Continuing South, you cross the border and travel to Alnwick Castle, an immense fortification that has stood strong for nearly a millennium.

It was originally built to assert Norman rule over newly conquered lands. But more recently Alnwick Castle and its perfectly manicured gardens have found fame as one of the settings for the fictional Hogwarts school in the Harry Potter movie series.

Book lovers should take the opportunity to explore one of the largest and most impressive second-hand book shops in Britain.

After around three hours at Alnwick, you travel north along the Northumberland Coast, one of the UK’s most outstanding areas of natural beauty. You stop along the way to admire some of the area’s best known beaches, castles, and ancient Border towns.