C&C Insiders: Angie on Berwick-Upon-Tweed
Angie is our Assistant Property and Finance Manager, and a long-standing member of the team at C&C. Having lived in Berwick-Upon-Tweed since 2020, Angie shares her top insider recommendations for enjoying the very best of the region, from breathtaking beaches and the tastiest food spots to family-friendly hideouts.
What is your favourite way to spend a day in Berwick-Upon-Tweed?
Putting together a picnic and packing all the kids beach toys and heading down to Spittal beach in the sunshine has to be my favourite day. There’s a great playpark with a splash park too right next to the beach which is perfect for little ones.
Do you have a favourite walk, view or nature spot that you love in the area?
You get amazing sea and coastal views along the Spittal cliff route, which is particularly beautiful at sunrise and you can see Bamburgh Castle in the distance on a clear day. You can do a big loop round by Marshall’s café, which is the best spot for lunch and cakes.
I also love walking round Berwick Walls for some beautiful views of the town, historic buildings and the sea. You can add extra steps and head along what is known locally as the “New Road” which runs along the northside of the River Tweed and past one of our properties, Whitesand Shiel. The walls and the New Road route are mostly traffic-free.
If you had to plan a perfect foodie day in Berwick-Upon-Tweed, what would it include?
Brunch at Marshall’s is a must and dinner at Mavi’s Turkish restaurant. Charcuterie, cheese and antipasti small plates at Atelier are a firm favourite too. Or grabbing a coffee from Northern Edge before heading for a walk along the pier to the lighthouse. Just out of Berwick is the village of Norham, there you can find The Victoria Hotel & Bistro (locally known as The Vic) – great cocktails, lovely lunch menu and great cakes and traybakes! The Cross at Paxton is just 10 minutes away too and their food is outstanding. The Allanton Inn is just 15 minutes away and has a great menu and a superb beer garden where they often run pizza nights during the summer months.
The Berwick Food Festival takes place every August and is one of my annual highlights – amazing food. I’m not a beer drinker but have heard it’s also very good!
Are there are any spots that are great for four-legged friends?
I love the walks along the River Tweed by Paxton House to the Chainbridge, dogs love to swim in the river and there’s always plenty for them to sniff along the way. You can actually walk from Berwick along the River Tweed to the Chainbridge – you get stunning views, especially on a sunny day, and it’s always worth stopping at The Cross Inn for (in my opinion) the BEST Sunday lunch ever. Dogs are welcome in the bar.
Are there any must visit independent shops in the area?
Derrants have lovely gifts, homeware and other bits – I love their candles and reed diffusers. Gill Moor Womenswear is great for women’s clothing and accessories – they have some great brands such as White Stuff and French Connection. On West Street, you have Puddles and also Whin and they both have some stunning homewares, gifts and prints. Slightly Foxed bookshop on Bridge Street is great too – it’s an independent second-hand bookshop with an amazing interior! We are blessed with lots of independent shops in Berwick so it’s a lovely place to have a stroll and a browse.
Where could families go for a fun day out locally?
We are spoilt with beaches here, I love spending days at the beach building castles and paddling in the sea. My children love the play park (and splash park in the summer) at Spittal beach. The boat trips are very popular with locals and visitors and you get a chance of catching sight of the dolphins – I’ve not been lucky enough to see them yet but I think just about everyone else in Berwick has seen them!
Slightly further afield, my children love a day out at Alnwick Gardens and Lilidorei, Northumberland Zoo or Whitehouse Farm near Morpeth. When they are a little older, we’re looking forward to trying kayaking, standup paddleboarding, surfing, GoApe at Matfen or Glentress, Foxlake in East Lothian and the Rib Rides at St Abbs.
Do you have a favourite beach in or around Berwick-Upon-Tweed, and why do you love it so much?
Cheswick Beach is my favourite beach. It’s beautiful and vast, and at certain times of day or season, you can have the whole beach to yourself. Without being soppy, my partner and I had our first date there 7 years ago – we’re still happily together with two kids in tow, so you could say it went quite well!
Holiday Homes & Cottages in Berwick-Upon-Tweed
At the most northerly tip of Northumberland lies Berwick-upon-Tweed, a historic walled town on the England-Scotland border. With mile upon mile of beaches nearby, including Spittal, Cocklawburn, Goswick, and Cheswick, in addition to attractions like Bamburgh and Holy Island within easy reach, Berwick is ideal for a coastal getaway.
