The Valley & Beyond It.

Newton sits in the Tyne Valley, one of the quietest, least-visited stretches of countryside in England, and one of the most rewarding. The Duke makes a good base for all of it.

Most people who come for the food find themselves staying, or at least considering it. The valley is that kind of place. Hadrian's Wall is twenty minutes west. The Northumberland coast, with its empty beaches and enormous skies, is an hour north. Corbridge, one of the northeast's best market towns, is minutes away.

Below are a few places worth knowing about. There are many more. The bar staff are happy to help.

5 MINUTES

A village street in Corbridge, tyne valley with string lights, stone buildings, and a small antique and vintages shops, Near The Duke of Wellington Inn, Newton, Northumberland.

Corbridge

One of Northumberland's finest small towns. Roman remains, independent shops, and the kind of high street that still functions as one.

25 MINUTES

Sycamore Gap in Northumberland, stay near by at the Duke of Wellington.

Sycamore Gap

The most photographed tree in the north of England, set into a dip along Hadrian's Wall. Now sadly just a gap, part of the tree is on display at the visitors centre A short walk from the Steel Rigg car park.

15 MINUTES

Northumbrian landscape in the Tyne Valley, near the Duke of Wellington Inn

Hadrian’s Wall

The Roman frontier, still legible in the landscape. The stretch near Housesteads is the most dramatic. Allow a full day.

1 HOUR

the view of northumberland coast line, holy Island, Lindisfarne, driving distance from The Duke of Wellington Inn

Northumberland Coast

Bamburgh, Alnmouth, Seahouses. Some of the emptiest beaches in England, with Lindisfarne reachable at low tide.

30 MINUTES

Vindolanda Roman ruins, in the Tyne Valley near Hadrians wall in northumberland, close to The Duke of Wellington Inn

Vindolanda

One of Europe's most significant Roman excavations, with live archaeology most of the year. The writing tablets found here ‘Britain's 'Top Treasure' are on display in the museum.

30 MINUTES

The drive through Northumberland to get to The Duke of Wellington, 5 star inn and gastropub.

Northumberland National Park

The least populated national park in England. The Cheviots, the dark skies, and walking that goes on for as long as you want it to.

A few things people ask about visiting:

  • One of the closest and most comfortable. The stretch near Housesteads and Steel Rigg is around twenty minutes by car. Vindolanda is thirty minutes, Corbridge Roman Town is five. You can walk the Wall, come back to a proper dinner and a five-star room, and be out again the next morning. Not a bad way to do it.

  • Corbridge is five minutes, one of the northeast's finest small towns with Roman remains, independent shops and a proper high street. Hadrian's Wall twenty minutes west. Vindolanda thirty minutes. The Northumberland coast, including Bamburgh and Alnmouth, an hour north. The National Park and the Cheviots forty minutes. The bar staff know the area well and are happy to point you in the right direction.

  • About an hour. Bamburgh is fifty-five minutes, Alnmouth fifty, Seahouses just over an hour. Holy Island is reachable via the tidal causeway and is around an hour and ten minutes from Newton. The Northumberland coast is among the emptiest and most rewarding in England, even in summer.

  • About thirty minutes by car. Vindolanda is one of the most significant Roman excavation sites in Europe, with active digs running most of the year. The writing tablets found there, named Britain's top treasure, are in the museum on site. It combines well with Housesteads on the same day.