Visiting Warkworth Castle

Spoiler - We're going back, this time with warmer coats and a baby carrier.

There’s something about Northumberland in spring that tricks you into optimism. After a few days of gloriously warm weather, I made the rookie error of assuming it would stay like that. So naturally, when we decided to head out for a family day out in Northumberland with the main aim of visiting Warkworth Castle, I dressed like it was mid June. It wasn’t. It was freezing. Even Morris our whippet was more suitably dressed than I was in his fleece lined coat.

But, despite being cold and comically underprepared, Warkworth still managed to charm us, just maybe not in the relaxed, serene way I’d imagined.

warkworth castle cross stitch kit framed with white frame next to daffodils, a blue spotted ceramic vase and dmc threads on bobbins — Completed 'Daffodils At Warkworth' Cross Stitch

First Stop: The Beach (...Sort Of)

Dog (whippet) in green coat sniffing sand on a cloudy, deserted Warkworth beach. North Sea waves to the left, distant dunes on the right and Coquet Island in distance on left. Calm atmosphere.

We decided to begin our day at Warkworth Beach. It's a beautiful, wide-open stretch that’s usually quiet and perfect for dog zoomies. There was free parking nearby, and the beach was really quiet which is perfect for a super fast whippet to be able to really get up speed. However...

Sandy path winds through grassy dunes under a cloudy sky, creating a serene, natural landscape. Warkworth Beach, Northumberland

What I hadn’t considered was that the path through the dunes is, of course, sand. And what doesn’t mix well with sand? Prams. So while Morris got to run free, and Jonnie disappeared onto beach, I was left stranded with the pram and a bored toddler, listening to their fun from afar.

Lesson number 1: Sand dunes and prams are not friends.

Blue and yellow background with text: "Free Pattern! Heart of Northumberland." Features a heart cross-stitch design in a hoop on houndstooth fabric.

into the village: ducks, dogs and defrosting

Ducks gather on green grass near a leafless tree and the river coquet in warkworth, northumberland, surrounded by shrubbery under an overcast sky.

After giving up on the beach, we drove into the village and parked (for free again) at The Stanners car park, right by the River Coquet. It’s a lovely little spot with ducks to entertain little miss TSK, benches for potential picnics (had it not been baltic), and it seemed to be a popular stop for families with a few groups enjoying some paddleboarding on the river.

We, however, were on a mission to find warmth and food. I had my heart set on Bertram’s as it looked so cosy and the food looked amazing. Sadly, it was fully booked, and my cold and hungry toddler was on the edge of a meltdown, so the kindly offered 'waiting list' wasn’t an option.

Enter The Masons Arms: our unexpected hero.

A table with fish sandwich, chips, and peas on plates. A child reaches for peas, while an adult holds a sandwich. Casual dining setting.

They could not have been more welcoming and helpful. They made room for the pram, got us a high chair, plastic plates and cups for the little one, were super dog friendly (they even had a doggy Sunday dinner for Morris which he loved!), and our lunch portions were humungous (understatement of the year). I had a fish butty that could have fed a small army. Delicious, but I only made it halfway through.

Lesson number 2: Always have a backup lunch spot (and thank goodness for kind pub staff).

visiting warkworth castle (a.k.a toddler herding 101)

Stone castle gate with iron portcullis partially open, revealing a courtyard. The textured stonework is set against a clear blue sky. Warworth Castle Entrance — Entrance to Warkworth Castle

After lunch, we had a quick wander through some of the little shops (Warkworth really is lovely for a mooch), then headed up to Warkworth Castle for the final item on the day's itinerary. First, bless the ticket office for having coffee. A small mercy because yes, still freezing.

The castle grounds are beautiful, with loads of space for little legs to run. Unfortunately, we hit another planning snag. Castles, being castles, are not made for prams. We had to leave ours by the main entrance, which meant taking turns carrying our (suddenly very heavy) toddler, or letting her run wild and spending the entire time trying to prevent any minor disasters.

White stone model of a castle on a base with a plaque reading "Warkworth As It Was." Set in a grassy area with stone walls.

There were a few moments of calm while Mr TSK took over toddler management where I was able to read some of the information displays which were fascinating, and I loved this model of what the castle would have looked like in it's heyday.

We did unfortunately make the decision to give the Hermitage a miss this time which was a shame because it was something I’d really wanted to visit (I've been before but quite a long time ago and I'd love another to go again). So that’s officially on the list for next time, when we will have a toddler carrier. And maybe gloves.

a quick snap and we're off

I had one last thing on my Warkworth bucket list which was snapping a photo of my design with the castle and the iconic daffodils. We walked down into the moat and under the bridge into the castle then rounded the corner… only to find a huge wedding party mid-photo shoot. Not wanting to gatecrash, I had to grab a quick snap and flee, so it’s not exactly my best work, but it will do!

Framed cross-stitch of "Warkworth Castle" held up in front of the actual castle, with yellow flowers daffodils on grassy hill in the background.

Warkworth is undeniably lovely and is full of charm, history, and dog-friendly spots. But if you're going with a toddler and a dog, preparation is everything. Next time, we’re taking a carrier, dressing for actual April weather, and maybe planning a bit more flexibly. Still, even with the chaos and cold, we had a genuinely lovely day... just not quite the one I’d pictured.

We’ll be back though, warmer, wiser, and 100% ditching the pram.

Daffodils At Warkworth Cross Stitch Kit

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