Family Traveler

NORTHUMBERLAND130(famousforitskippers),andtransformitintosomethingthatwouldn’tlookamissinthepagesofElleDeco.Andwhenshesaysherplacesarefamilyfriendly,thatdoesn’tmeanastairgateorafewplasticcups.Shemeansageneroussupplyoftoysandbooks,funkybunkbeds,highchairsandtravelcots,properkids’crockeryandcutlery,gamesroomsandtrampolinesinthegarden.WearestayingatNookEnd,inthehamletofSwinhoe,justamilefromBeadnellBeach.Itlooksbijoufromtheoutside,buthasaTardis-likequality,withavastwood-beamedloungewithwood-burningstove,kitchenlargeenoughtodineinandthreegood-sizedbedroomsupstairs.Therearelittlecubbyholesthatkidslove,likethechestunderthestairsnexttoabookshelffullofinterestingbooks.Therearecosyknickknackswithaseasidethemeandeverymodconinthekitchen.Thegardenisvast,withabarbecue,andacrossthelaneisanotherhugelawnwithafootballnet,trampoline,Wendyhouseandgamesroom.Fromourcountryside-meets-coastalidyll,it’saquickdrivetomanyfunplaces.TopofourlistisAlnwickCastleandGardens.The``````second-largestinhabitedcastleintheUK,it’sbeenhometotheDukeofNorthumberland’sfamily,thePercys,forover 700 years.Lookingaroundtheincrediblerooms,youcanseefamilyphotosnexttoancientportraits.ItalsohasthemassiveattractionofbeingthesettingforsomeoftheHarryPotterfilms,andkidscantakepartinbroomsticktutorials,completewithflying.There’salsoaKnight’sQuestourkidsenjoy,Scarlettdressingasamedievalprincessandtryingouttile-making,whileFinpeltshisdadwithfeltratsinthestocks.AlnwickGardensareanattractionintheirownright,withanexcellentfountain,theGrandCascade,thatkidscanplayinatthebottom,collectingwaterinminitrucksanddumpingit,nottomentionaspectaculartreehousewithhighwoodenwalkways.We’revisitinginthesummerholidays,andaredelightedtodiscoverafairytaletrail,offeringfuncluestosolve,suchasfindingCinderella’sslipperinthedelphiniumgarden.ThehighlightformanykidsisthePoisonGarden.Visitorsmustonlyenterthegardenwithaguide,as90%oftheplantscankill,soit’snotfortoddlers.ScarlettandFinlovelisteningtoourdrollguide,whoinformsusthatrhubarbanddockleavesarepoisonous,thatyoucaneatnettlesdespitetheirsting...andthatthreeberriesofdeadlynightshadeisenoughtokillachild.Thenextday,weleavethecoastbehindtoheadinlandtothemightyKielderWater&ForestPark,hometothebiggestman-madelakeinnorthernEurope.It’s``````youngsterslove``````scramblingaround``````inside‘thehead’``````WWFSAYS...MarineProtectedAreas,inwhichfishing,shippingandcoastaldevelopmentarecloselymanaged,restricted,orevenforbidden,canhelptoprotectmarinehabitatsandspecies,allowingthemtorecoverandregenerate.WWFhasshownthatMPAscanalsogenerateenormoussocialandeconomicbenefits.ButdespitestrongcommitmentsbygovernmentsaroundtheworldtoestablishingMPAsin10%ofouroceans,globally,wearewayoffthemark.InEnglandandWales,MarineConservationZones(MCZs),atypeofMPA,arebeingdesignated.Buttobesuccessful,WWFbelievestheUKGovernmentneedstodesignatemorenewMCZstocreateajoined-upnetworkofsites,andinvestmoretimeandresourcesintheirmanagement.TheFarneIslandsarenowhometofourrecentlyestablishedMCZsinCoquetIslandtoStMary’sIslandoffWhitleyBay,FarnesEast,FulmarandRunswickBay.Findoutmore atwwf.org.uk/what_we_do/oceans_and_coastsand learn aboutour workwiththeCelticSeasPart nershipatcelticseaspartnership.eu``````TRAILBLAZERSThekidsmanagedtocycleabitofKielderWater’s 27 -mileshorelinethreeberriesofdeadlynightshadeisenoughtokillachild,wediscoverwellknownforitsdarkskies,andisperfectforstargazingfans.WepickupbikesfromTheBikePlaceandheadoutonasmallpartofKielderWater’s27-mileshoreline.It’shillierthananticipated,andthekidsonlymakeitthreemilestoTheHead,anawesomesculpturelikeagiant’sheademergingfromtheground.Lotsoffunistobehadscramblinginsidetheskullandhangingoutofhiseyes.Afterdroppingoffthebikes,weheadtoKielderCastleCaféforamuch-neededcuppaandthechancetolookataliveTVfeedofanosprey’snest.WeendournortherntravelsbygoingtobacktothecoastandNewton-by-the-Sea,atucked-awayhamletatthestartofanothervaststretchofbeachbackedbyimpressivedunes.Thevillagegreenissurroundedbywhitewashed 18 th-centuryfishermen’scottages,andatitscornerisTheShipInn,aflagstonedpubthatservesthebestcrabsandwichesaround.Aswelieonthegreeninthesunshine,enjoyingoursarniesandEmblestonesrichmaltybrew,Icanhonestlysaythisholidayhasbeenonaparwithanythingoverseas–andalotcheaperthantheGalapagos!n