
Northumberland, Britain's least densely populated county not only boasts its own National Park but its own flag, tartan and own dialect. It also has the largest man made forest and lake in the country.
Northumberland is well served by numerous good restaurants that remain loyal to the county's famous produce. Especially look out for oak-smoked kippers, wild salmon, organic lamb from the heather clad hills, North Sea shellfish, local cheeses, grouse from the moors and Lindisfarne oysters.
The Treehouse RestaurantThe Alnwick Garden is a world-class horticultural enterprise and charity dedicated to delivering all kinds of programmes and activities. It's also a great place if you fancy something to eat: daytime visitors can make use of the Pavilion and Visitor Centre for morning coffee, light lunches and afternoon teas, but the serious eating takes place three evenings a week in the Treehouse.
The Alnwick Garden, Alnwick, Northumberland - Cuisine: Modern British
Lord Crewe Arms HotelBamburgh's imposing Norman castle towers in the background behind this Grade II-listed hotel. Informal meals (Seahouses kipper pβtι, steak and ale pie, mushroom Stroganoff) are served in the beamed Forsters Bar, but the main business is dinner in the contemporary Olive Tree restaurant.
Front Street, Bamburgh, Northumberland - Cuisine: Italian
Victoria HotelDominating the centre of Bamburgh and overlooking the historic village green, this eye-catching stone-built hotel makes quite an impression with its steeply pitched roof, bay windows and dormers.
Front Street, Bamburgh, Northumberland - Cuisine: Brasserie
Blue Bell HotelStanding in Belford town square, this 250-year-old privately run hotel is justly proud of its history and reputation for comfort and hospitality.
Market Place, Belford, Northumberland - Cuisine: Modern British
Waren House HotelOnce owned by the third Lord Derwentwater, this pleasing Georgian house provides the prospect of genuine relaxation in its charming gardens, comfortable lounge or adjacent library.
Waren Mill, Belford, Northumberland - Cuisine:
Riverdale HallA full-size cricket pitch within the hotel grounds is just one of the sporting attractions at this creeper-clad country house close to many of Northumberland's finest tourist sights.
Country House Hotel, Bellingham, Northumberland - Cuisine: Modern British
Crown and Anchor HotelVisitors making the modern-day pilgrimage to Holy Island (aka. Lindisfarne) with its Tudor castle and ruined priory often use this popular bar/restaurant-with-rooms on the edge of the village as a refuelling point or stopover.
Market Place, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland - Cuisine: Gastro pub
Marshall Meadows Country House HotelEngland's 'most northerly hotel' is situated just a quarter-of-a-mile from the Scottish border, and only two miles from Berwick-on-Tweed. It's a Georgian mansion standing in 15 acres of mature grounds within easy access of the A1.
, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland - Cuisine: Modern British
The Angel InnThe Angel's proud boast is that it's not only the oldest hostelry in the historic town of Corbridge, but also the largest.
1 Main Street, Corbridge, Northumberland - Cuisine: Modern British
The Valley'Passage to India' deals bring customers by train to this intriguing Indian restaurant in an old station house alongside the Newcastle to Carlisle railway.
Old Station House, Corbridge, Northumberland - Cuisine: Indian
Tillmouth ParkBuilt in 1882 with stones from nearby Twizel Castle, this magnificent late-Victorian country mansion is set in 15 acres of mature grounds and woodland beside the River Till (renowned for its fishing).
County House Hotel, Cornhill on Tweed, Northumberland - Cuisine: Modern British
The Pheasant InnBuilt close to Kielder Water Reservoir (the largest artificial lake in Europe), this creeper-covered, seventeenth-century free house-with-rooms makes an ideal basecamp if you want to explore the local area.
Stannersburn, Falstone, Northumberland - Cuisine: Gastro pub
Queens Head InnThree centuries old and reputedly one of Northumberland's oldest hostelries, this out-of-the-way village inn not far from Hadrian's Wall now does a good line in twenty-first century gastropub food.
, Great Whittington, Northumberland - Cuisine: Gastro pub
General Havelock InnGary and Joanna Thompson are welcoming hosts at this long-running two-centuries-old roadside inn not far from Hadrian's Wall. At the front is the main bar, while further back in a converted barn is a pleasant dining room boasting fine views over the South Tyne river.
9 Ratcliffe Road, Haydon Bridge, Northumberland - Cuisine: Gastro pub
Barrasford ArmsWithin easy trekking distance of Hadrian's Wall, this Victorian sandstone pub (circa 1870) stands on the fringes of Barrasford village with fine views of medieval Haughton Castle in the distance.
Barrasford, Hexham, Northumberland - Cuisine: Gastro pub
Bouchon BistrotA beautiful honey-hued, three-storey, imposing stone building opposite Hexham swimming pool is the setting for this engaging slice of rural France in Northumberland.
Gilesgate House, Hexham, Northumberland - Cuisine: French
De Vere Slaley Hall HotelA grand retreat and symbol of Edwardian elegance, Slaley Hall is awesomely set in 1,000 acres of Northumbrian forest and moorland with dazzling views over the Tyne Valley.
Slaley, Hexham, Northumberland - Cuisine: Anglo French
Diwan E Am TandooriDiwan-E-Am has been delivering the goods in Hexham since 1983, making it arguably the standard bearer for Indian restaurant food to the Tyne Valley.
4-5 County Mills, Hexham, Northumberland - Cuisine: Indian
The George HotelCharmingly situated where the old Roman road crosses the River Tyne, this delightful hotel dates back to the seventeenth century and has its own terraced and landscaped gardens (complete with a giant chess board) running down to the water's edge.
Chollerford, Hexham, Northumberland - Cuisine: International
Valley Connection 301The youngest of a trio of unusual Indian restaurants in the North-East, this branch of Daraz Aziz's mini-empire is situated next to Hexham Abbey, overlooking the Market Place.
Market Place, Hexham, Northumberland - Cuisine: Indian
Matfen HallThis is a country house on an awesomely grand scale. Built in 1830, it's a colossal baronial pile complete with its own PGA championship golf course set amid a sprawling estate not far from Hadrian's Wall.
, Matfen, Northumberland - Cuisine: Modern British
Black Door Bar & Dining RoomsDavid Kennedy and the Newcastle-based Black Door group have expanded their horizons by taking over this local bistro (formerly Henri's) in the Northumberland market town of Morpeth.
59 Bridge Street, Morepth, Northumberland - Cuisine: Modern British
Cook and Barker Inn'A real traditional Northumbrian country inn' aptly sums up the virtues of this forward-looking hostelry high up on a hill with views across the Cheviots towards the North Sea.
Newton on the Moor, Morpeth, Northumberland - Cuisine:
Granby Inn and RestaurantSet in the heart of rural Northumberland, between the Cheviots and the coast, this 250-year-old coaching inn still puts on an exceedingly friendly face thanks largely to its welcoming family owners.
Front Street, Morpeth, Northumberland - Cuisine: English
Linden Hall HotelA mightily impressive Georgian mansion, dating from 1812 and designed by Sir Charles Monck and John Dobson (the architect responsible for many of Newcastle's finest buildings).
Longhorsley, Morpeth, Northumberland - Cuisine: Modern British
Longhirst HallDesigned in 1824 by the renowned Newcastle architect John Dobson, this Georgian-style luxury hotel stands grandly in 75 acres of woodland and landscaped gardens.
Longhirst, Morpeth, Northumberland - Cuisine:
The Otterburn TowerFounded by a cousin of William the Conqueror in 1086 as a bastion to repel the marauding Scots, this fortified Northumbrian country house is etched with history.
Country House Hotel, Otterburn, Northumberland - Cuisine: Anglo French
Cafe LowreyOut in the leafy fringes of Tyneside commuter land not far from the airport, this lively double-fronted bistro in a modest shopping precinct continues to do great work for the local neighbourhood.
35 The Broadway, Ponteland, Northumberland - Cuisine: Modern European
The Manor House InnChris and Moira Brown have been at the tiller of this remote country inn-with-rooms since 1997, and continue to run the Manor House in exemplary style.
Carterway Heads, Shotley Bridge, Northumberland - Cuisine: Gastro pub
The Feathers InnAward-winning local food hero and crusading chef Rhian Cradock is really making an impact in the North East, and has helped to transform the Feathers into a very special gastropub devoted to all things local.
Hedley on the Hill, Stocksfield, Northumberland - Cuisine: Gastro pub
Warkworth House Hotel, No 16 RestaurantOriginally built as a coaching inn on the site of four eighteenth-century burgage cottages, the Warkworth House Hotel sits comfortably in a village cradled by the a loop in the River Coquet, just a mile from the Northumbrian coast.
16 Bridge Street, Warkworth, Northumberland - Cuisine: Modern European