Retirement properties in Northumberland

You won’t be short of events, clubs and hobbies in Northumberland, to meet new friends and share with old ones. This rural and coastal county is rich with natural produce, which it proudly shows off at its many annual food festivals. England’s most northerly town, Berwick upon Tweed, for example, holds the Berwick Food and Beer Festival in the town’s 18th Century Barracks. Berwick also holds its own walking festival every year – again one of many in the region, it is a great way to explore the dramatic landscape. 

If you love music, there’s plenty of choice. Alnwick International Music Festival offers a week of traditional music and folk dancing over the summer, while the boutique Bfestival in Bamburgh puts on all styles of music from jazz to pop, against the beautiful backdrop of the castle.

Searching for retirement properties for sale in Northumberland? Who can blame you! Did you know 83% of McCarthy & Stone homeowners experience a sense of community in their new retirement home? 

If you are looking for retirement property for sale in Northumberland, it’s reassuring to know that McCarthy & Stone only build developments in locations with good transport connections, so amenities like shops, restaurants and attractions are easy to get to. Ideal for retirement living. We also have retirement property for rent too.

The A1 and A69 provide access to Newcastle and Edinburgh from around the county, while the rail network provides good links to towns and cities throughout the region. From Alnwick to Newcastle takes just over half an hour in a car. Whereas Berwick upon Tweed to Edinburgh takes around 45 minutes by train. From Hexham, you can reach Newcastle in 33 minutes by train and Sunderland and Durham in just under an hour. 

Bordered by Cumbria, County Durham, Tyne and Wear and bonnie Scotland, Northumberland is not short of attractive places to visit just outside the county. 

Scotland is renowned for its stunning landscapes, and is home to Ben Nevis, Loch Ness and Eilean Donan, as well as the beautiful Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye. In County Durham you’ll find the North Pennines, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Durham Dales, as well as the lovely UNESCO World Heritage Site of Durham Cathedral and Castle. Whereas Cumbria offers the mountains, forests and open waters of the Lake District.

If this rural paradise leaves you craving a bit of big city action, you have some gems nearby, packed with arts, culture and buzzing nightlife, from beautiful Edinburgh to lively Newcastle

You can’t talk about things to do in Northumberland without mentioning the Northumberland Coast. This National Landscape offers attractions for walkers, wild swimmers, surfers, birdwatchers, photographers and more. 

The village of Bamburgh, for example, has pristine beaches, dramatic coastline and the ancient iconic Bamburgh Castle. If castles are your thing, you’re in luck. From medieval Alnwick Castle – which was the location for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films - set in a gorgeous market town with the same name, to the imposing ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle and the romantic isolation of Lindisfarne Castle on the Holy island, there are plenty to explore.

The county boasts multiple attractions for shopaholics and foodies too, from pretty and bustling little market towns like Hexham, the fishing village of Craster, famed for its seafood and kippers, or the birthplace of Earl Grey tea, Howick, where tea and cake at the Earl Grey Tea House is a must.