Dogging in Northumberland: area guide
Northumberland is England's most northerly county, a long, thinly populated stretch of moor, forest and coast with Newcastle at its southern edge. This guide covers the main roads, the rail lines, the weather and the daylight hours. It doesn't point you to any private spots.
- The lie of the land
- Getting about safely
- Daylight through the year
- The law and your safety
- Questions about Northumberland
- Nearby areas
The lie of the land in Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost county in England, and it feels far bigger than its population suggests. Morpeth is the county town. Alnwick, Hexham and Berwick-upon-Tweed are the main market towns, while Blyth, Cramlington and Ashington make up the busier south-east corner, close to Newcastle.
Most of the rest is open country. The Cheviot Hills and the Northumberland National Park fill the north and west, and Hadrian's Wall crosses the county's narrow waist. The North Pennines National Landscape covers the high ground in the south-west. Kielder Forest, the largest planted woodland in England, sits near the Scottish border. The coast is protected too, with long beaches, dunes and castles.
That shapes who travels where. People from Tyneside drive north for an evening, and visitors from Scotland come south on the A1 or the A68. Villages are small and distances are long, so a lane that looks empty on the map can still hold a surprising number of parked cars on a warm night.
Getting about safely
The A1 is the spine of the county, running north from Newcastle past Morpeth and Alnwick to Berwick-upon-Tweed. The A69 heads west along the Tyne Valley through Hexham towards Carlisle. The A68 climbs over the hills to the border, and the A696 and A697 cross wide, exposed country. The A1068 follows the coast through Amble and past Alnmouth.
Trains on the East Coast Main Line stop at Morpeth, Alnmouth and Berwick-upon-Tweed, and the Tyne Valley line links Newcastle with Hexham and Carlisle. Last trains leave early on the quieter stations, and there is no rail at all in the hills or around Kielder. Book a taxi or plan a lift before you go, because a night walk along a dark A-road is not a plan.
Weather and tides need respect here. The causeway to Holy Island floods at high tide, so check the published crossing times. Sea fret can roll in off the North Sea on a clear afternoon. Snow closes high roads such as the A68 and A696 early in winter, and deer and sheep wander onto unlit roads at dusk. Phone signal drops out in the Cheviots and around Kielder, so tell someone your route.
Daylight in Northumberland through the year
Typical times for Morpeth, in UK local time, around the middle of each month. Use them to plan your journey home as well as your arrival.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Dusk ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:24 | 16:08 | 16:52 |
| February | 07:30 | 17:11 | 17:50 |
| March | 06:22 | 18:09 | 18:46 |
| April | 06:04 | 20:10 | 20:50 |
| May | 04:59 | 21:08 | 21:57 |
| June | 04:26 | 21:48 | 22:47 |
| July | 04:46 | 21:37 | 22:31 |
| August | 05:40 | 20:40 | 21:23 |
| September | 06:38 | 19:24 | 20:01 |
| October | 07:36 | 18:07 | 18:45 |
| November | 07:39 | 16:02 | 16:44 |
| December | 08:26 | 15:36 | 16:23 |
Dusk ends is when civil twilight finishes, usually 30 to 50 minutes after sunset in southern England and longer further north. After that you need lights. Times shift by a few minutes across the area.
The law and your safety
England and Wales: sex outdoors is not automatically an offence. It can become one if members of the public are likely to see it. Charities such as the Terrence Higgins Trust give the same advice. Read their public sex environments guide.
Wherever you are, the basics don't change. Get a clear yes from everyone. Tell someone where you're going. Stay sober. Keep out of sight of anyone who hasn't agreed to see you. Use condoms, and use a new one with each partner.
Questions about Northumberland
Is dogging legal in Northumberland?
Having sex outdoors is not automatically a crime in England and Wales. It becomes an offence when members of the public can see it, for example outraging public decency or indecent exposure. Sex in a public toilet is an offence. This is general information, not legal advice.
Do you list dogging spots in Northumberland?
No. This guide covers the area, not private places. We don't name car parks, lay-bys or woods, because other people use them too and visitors can end up in trouble.
Which parts of Northumberland does this guide cover?
The whole county, from the Tyne Valley and Hadrian's Wall country to the Cheviot Hills, the Kielder area and the Berwick-upon-Tweed coast. For the Newcastle conurbation, use the Tyne and Wear guide.
How dark does it get in Northumberland in winter?
Dark early. In December the sun sets around 15:40 in Morpeth, and large parts of the county have no street lighting at all. The daylight table on this page shows sunrise, sunset and the end of twilight for every month.
Can I get around Northumberland without a car?
Only along the main corridors. The East Coast Main Line and the Tyne Valley line serve a handful of towns, and buses thin out in the evening. Anywhere in the hills or on the coast between stations needs a car or a pre-booked taxi.
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