Local Area

The Bay Horse Inn sits by the River Rede in the quiet Northumberland village of West Woodburn. The Rede Valley and its surrounding area is known for its great natural beauty, peace, tranquility and wide open spaces. Northumberland is England's most sparsely populated county, lying at the juncture of the Cheviot and Pennine Hills.

Redesdale is ideal for outdoor pursuits, including many walks directly from The Bay Horse Inn.

The area around West Woodburn is the scene of much of the county's turbulent past. Legend has it that at the Battle of Otterburn, 1388, the fallen dead of the Percy and Douglas armies stained the waters of our river red (or 'rede') with their blood giving the River Rede its name. This part of Northumberland was also the land of the Border Reivers (raiders). They are remembered in numerous surviving 'bastles' (fortified farmhouses). Reminders of Roman occupation are preserved along nearby UNESCO World Heritage site Hadrian's Wall. We even have our own Roman milestone at The Bay Horse Inn!

The county of Northumberland is home to many medieval castles, such as Bamburgh, Alnwick and Warkworth, as well as great houses, such as Cragside, home of the 19th century industrialist and inventor, Lord Armstrong, and Wallington Hall, built by the Trevellyan family.  Kirkharle Courtyard, just 5 miles away, was the birthplace of the famous landscape gardener, Capability Brown. The living museum at Beamish is a must for history lovers.

We have the largest man-made lake and forest in Europe at nearby Kielder; ideal for walking,  boating, mountain biking, watersports and there is the Bird of Prey Centre. Just 30 minutes away, Kielder can boast to having the cleanest air and to  being the most tranquil spot in England. Kielder Observatory offers nights of star-gazing; the skies above Kielder and Northumberland National Park being Protected Dark Skies, the largest in Europe. Fishing enthusiasts can visit Sweethope Loughs or Fontburn.

The glorious beaches of the Northumberland coast, such as Druridge Bay and Bamburgh are just over an hour away, a short drive further is Holy Island and Lindisfarne, and at Seahouses you can take a boat trip to the Farne Islands, which are home to puffins, seals and lots more wildlife.

Visitors to the region looking for shopping will find endless choice in Newcastle upon Tyne, the Metrocentre, Gateshead (one of Europe's largest indoor shopping centres) and the border towns of Scotland, as well as the nearby historic market towns of Hexham and Corbridge.