Visit Ashington and Northumberland

Queen Elizabeth 2 Lake (NE63 9AT) is situated 1 mile north of Solar Shack HQ. There is a large daytime parking area with a Premier Inn and restaurant on the site right next door. This is a popular beauty spot for joggers, walkers, cyclists, families and wildlife-watchers alike. The country park, offers a stunning area for dog walking and picnics, plus windsurfing and paddle boarding on the lake.

  Ashington Community Woodland is right next to the QE2 country park. Created on the former Ashington Colliery site, this beautiful green space covers 135 hectares which is immediately to the north of Ashington. It boasts wildlife including deer and a colony of red squirrels. Walks and maps are  available at Solar Shack.

 Ashington's ultra modern leisure centre has something for everyone. Situated in the town centre, it has a well-equipped gym, two swimming pools (One large and one smaller warm water pool for kids), a luxury Tranquillity Spa and a large soft-play area, we have everything under one roof. We also house the Ashington Library and have a café on site. Parking is free for all users of the centre. 

 Bettini's Coffee Shop and Restaurant (@lovebettinis) is open 9am to 5pm. (@lovebettinis) is a family run coffee shop specialising in great drinks, cakes, pastries, breakfast & lunches, plus delicious homemade ice cream. Whether you fancy a mid-morning scone & coffee or a lunch time get together with friends, we guarantee to have something for everyone. *Only five minutes walk from our Solar Shack workshop and 5 minutes walk to Ashington town centre.

 Woodhorn Mining Museum https://museumsnorthumberland.org.uk/woodhorn-museum/ is a great attraction for the whole family, with plenty of hands on activities, some blockbuster exhibitions, and a great events programme. It is located in a delightful country park with a lake at its heart, and it is possible to walk or cycle around the lake, with public access from the museum end and the northern approach, there's also a cafe.

 Bus 35 or X21 will take you from Ashington to the beautiful seaside town of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. It's a great spot to enjoy the fantastic Northumberland coastline. From St. Bartholomew’s 13th century church you can take in the stunning views of the golden sandy bay. Visit Bertorellis Cafe http://www.caffebertorelli.co.uk and the many small, seaside food and gift shops the high street has to offer.  

 *Ashington Hotel (Premier Inn) and Cookhouse Restaurant + Pub, Queen Elizabeth II Lake and Country Park, Ashington NE63 9AT.  A large parking area, a Premier Inn with restaurant and pub on site. This is a popular beauty spot for joggers, walkers, cyclists, families and wildlife-watchers alike. The country park, offers a stunning area for dog walking and picnics, plus windsurfing and paddle boarding on the lake. Parking is available for motorhomes.

   Ashington High Street boasts a variety of mainstream shops, and small businesses running cafes, cake shops, ice cream parlours, milk shake bars, restaurants, chemists, charity shops and the usual banks and building society premises.  There is a huge choice of local pubs and clubs and a large Asda superstore just off the high street with an Asda fuel station just over the road next to the Leisure centre and Bus station. 

From the bus station in Ashington town centre. https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/ 

Bus 35 or X21 to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.

Bus 35 to Morpeth Historic Market Town

Bus 35 to Widdrington Train Station

Bus X21 or X22 to Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Bus 35 to Morpeth then X18 to Alnwick Castle

Bus 35 to Morpeth then X18 to Amble

Bus 35 to Morpeth then X18 to Bamburgh Castle

 Morpeth Town is only a short bus ride away from Ashington. (Bus 35 from Ashington Bus Station). Morpeth is a historic market town lying on the River Wansbeck. The are lots of small boutique shops in Sanderson Arcade to visit and many restaurants, as well as Marks & Spencer, Sainsburys and Morrisons for your shopping. Carlisle Park is on the southern bank of the River Wansbeck in Morpeth town centre. The park has rowing boats for hire, a William Turner Garden, an aviary, a paddling pool, an ancient woodland, tennis courts, several bowling greens, mini putting and a skate park. Morpeth Train Station is on the East Coast Main Line, which runs between London King's Cross and Edinburgh Waverley.  https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g504049-Activities-Morpeth_Northumberland_England.html

 The River Wansbeck runs through the town of Ashington before flowing into the Sea at Sandy Bay between Cambois beach and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. The well paved route follows the woodland path of the river. Swans, Geese and Ducks are commonplace along with Cormorants fishing along the river. The Riverside Pantry https://wrcp.co.uk/the-riverside-pantry is a dog friendly, modern cafe with an excellent, fenced children's play park right next door. The river walk leads to the beautiful golden sands of Cambois beach https://www.aboutbritain.com/towns/cambois.asp with a restaurant and fish and chip shop right next to the sandy beach. 

From mighty castles that tower over towns, to once-grand, romantic ruins, Northumberland boasts over 70 castle sites for you to explore.
With a legacy of a turbulent history, they're scattered along our coastline, perched on rugged islands, and sitting in the hearts of cobbled market towns. See impressive castle ruins like Dunstanburgh Castle, fully restored sites that dominate the Northumberland coast, visit Alnwick Castle where you can ‘fly’ a broomstick just like Harry Potter, and take a ghost tour around both the castle and the grounds of Chillingham Castle and stay overnight if you're brave enough.