Northumberland: where wonderful walks and stunning scenery are a given whatever the season. As winter approaches we crave the simple pleasures of a bracing frost-nipped walk, returning to a crackling fire and top-notch food. When it comes to walks we’re blessed with choices – seemingly endless blustery coastal routes and moorland stomps. We recommend visiting Northumberland National Park’s website for their extensive list of route suggestions. But this being Britain, it’s always good to have a plan B for the days…

Involving parents and stepparents so that they get to play a part in your day without treading on each other’s toes can feel like a daunting task. After all no one wants an Eastenders’ worthy family feud unfolding on their big day. Whilst sticking firmly in the domain of weddings manager, not relationship expert, Angela Carruthers, Weddings & Events Manager at Doxford Hall, has seen her fair share of ‘potentially complicated’ weddings and shares her advice based on what’s worked…

You’ve dreamed of a big wedding with all of your nearest and dearest present. You’ll be gliding down the aisle, a throng of cherubic children at your heels. Everyone together, the group shots complete and captured for the family album. But if you’re planning an all-inclusive, family-oriented wedding celebration it’s worth considering some form of entertainment for children during the day. While your adult guests may happily quaff Champagne all day long, bored and irritable children can quickly derail the…

There’s always plenty going on in Northumberland over the summer and even if you’re a seasoned visitor to the county, the chances are there’ll be a few new sights to surprise you on your next visit. 2023 has been an exciting year of new openings here and, combined with the much-loved but ever evolving attractions, you’ll likely have a lengthy to-visit list. Here’s our round up of sights to see and activities to plan on your forthcoming trip.   Spellbinding…

Meet Angela: planner extraordinaire, self-proclaimed ‘list queen’, wedding fairy godmother and zip-lining ninja (okay, we may have over-egged that last one). When it comes to Doxford Hall weddings, Angela’s your gal so we thought it fitting to introduce her properly. Angela joined the team at Doxford in the summer of 2022, bringing bags of wedding experience and a little black book of helpful contacts with her – and a lot of energy to keep her working tirelessly to ‘get stuff…

Spring is here, and it’s a wonderful time to celebrate the picture-perfect beauty of our island’s coast and countryside and the reopening of many of our favourite local attractions. Bring on the longer, warmer days, nature’s colourful displays and put Northumberland on your ‘to-visit’ list for spring. From wide sandy beaches and iconic castles to the bountiful local produce on our menus and the nature on our moors and shores, you won’t be short of things to do this spring. And…

There’s a new face in the spa. Not one achieved through a skin boosting and sculpting Guasha massage but a new manager of our spa and leisure facilities. Welcome to Morgan who will be overseeing the day-to-day running of the department and making sure that our spa guests are impeccably cared for. With experience spanning sports and beauty therapies at home and abroad Morgan’s relishing the chance to get to know our many visitors. What’s your background in spa and…

Planning a get-together? Maybe you’ve been tasked with booking somewhere suitable to celebrate a friend’s significant birthday, forthcoming nuptials or simply a long overdue catch-up with old pals you’ve not seen for far too long. It can be a daunting task choosing a venue that fulfils everyone’s criteria. Somewhere you don’t have to worry about catering or drawing straws for who gets the ‘duff’ bedroom or worse still, deploying a rota to cover the cooking and washing up. We’re well…

Doxford Hall is delighted to have been shortlisted in the North East Tourism Awards as one of three hotels in the category Large Hotel of the Year. In what has been a record year for entries with 160 tourism businesses applying, the awards showcase the range of high-quality experiences, establishments and employees from across the region and inspire excellence in tourism in the North East, highlighting the importance of the sector to the local economy. The prestigious awards which are…

Head Chef David Wrigley may be new to the team at Doxford Hall but with an impressive 36 years as a chef already under his belt he’s slotted right in. With stints most recently at Mallory Court Country House Hotel & Spa and 13 years as owner of his own bakery and patisserie business, he brings a wealth of experience to the role. As we mark the 21st year of British Food Fortnight, we asked David to tell us a…