The Northumberland Coastal Path meanders previous windswept seashores, rocky headlands and dramatic ruins steeped in historical past. Right here is our choose of one of the best brief walks alongside the Northumberland Coast.
Stretching from Cresswell within the south to Berwick-upon-Tweed within the north, the Northumberland Coastal Path is a 62-mile stretch of dramatic coastal surroundings with sweeping golden seashores, windswept grassy dunes, and crumbling castles on rocky headlands.
It’s a pleasant, usually under-visited area within the nation with a number of fantastic experiences. We’ve lined all our favorite issues to do in Northumberland after a number of visits.
All the Northumberland Coastal Path takes between 3 to six days to finish. However, it’s solely doable to finish one of the best sections on shorter day walks.
Most of those walks use the Northumberland Coastal Path sooner or later, however to create fascinating round walks, some head inland by way of grand stately properties or mighty castles.
Every could be accomplished in beneath 4 hours and none of them are notably difficult.
We have now included detailed maps for every hike, suggestions for what to see and do, plus the place to remain.
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1 – BAMBURGH & BUDLE BAY WALK
Problem – Straightforward | Distance – 7 kilometres | Time – 2 hours | Begin – Bamburgh Hyperlinks Highway Automobile Park | Instructions – Anti-clockwise on our Bamburgh Budle Bay Stroll Map
The centrepiece of this beautiful round Northumberland coastal stroll is mighty Bamburgh Citadel. Hovering above the windswept dunes and crashing waves, this imposing edifice has stood the take a look at of time for nearly 1,000 years.
The stroll begins at Bamburgh Hyperlinks Highway Automobile Park and heads throughout the undulating dunes to a powerful seaside. From right here, it follows the Northumberland Coastal Path over the cliff tops round Budle Bay, earlier than monitoring again throughout a golf course and alongside the street into Bamburgh village.
There are quite a few alternatives for glorious images of the fort and bay, and the island of Lindisfarne shimmers within the distance. Upon returning into city, cease in on the Grace Darling Museum and the churchyard through which she rests.
There’s a row of pubs on the Bamburgh excessive road to cease for a pint. For a espresso pick-me-up, head to The Hut hidden within the automobile park behind the dunes.
OUR BAMBURGH WALK TIP
Go on a Sunday in summer season and you might get the quintessential English scene of cricket being performed proper beneath the fort partitions.
2 – LINDISFARNE CIRCULAR WALK
Problem – Straightforward | Distance – 9 kilometres | Time – 2 hours 40 minutes | Begin – Holy Island Chare Ends Automobile Park | Instructions – Clockwise on our Lindisfarne Stroll Map
In 635 AD Saint Aidan made the journey from Iona and based a brand new monastery on the island of Lindisfarne. Over the centuries it could turn into a celebrated place of Christian studying. In the present day, the remnants of this historic life present intriguing focal factors on a stunning Northumberland coastal stroll.
Begin on the Holy Island Chare Ends Automobile Park and head throughout the island to the northern coast. From right here it’s merely a matter of heading clockwise alongside the shore. The primary half is about within the Holy Island Nature Reserve the place undulating dunes drop all the way down to golden seashores. We have now marked our advisable route on the map beneath, however so long as you stick close to the coast, it doesn’t matter should you’re on the seaside or up within the dunes.
Two-thirds of the best way round you come to Lindisfarne Citadel. Inbuilt 1550, it’s set on a tiny rock rising above sheep-strewn fields. There’s a small harbour behind the fort, then a small climb brings you to Heugh Hill with views over the encompassing coast. Lastly, the trail brings you to Lindisfarne village the place you’ll discover the traditional, ruined priory and the extra lately constructed church.
After the stroll seize a espresso at Pilgrims Espresso Home or pattern the Lindisfarne Mead – a singular alcoholic fortified wine manufactured on the island.
OUR LINDISFARNE WALK TIP
The Causeway to Lindisfarne Island is tidal and is impassable at excessive tide. Be sure to verify the protected crossing occasions and provides your self loads of time to cross the causeway, full the stroll after which return earlier than the tide rises once more. View crossing occasions right here.
3 – CRASTER, DUNSTANBURGH & LOW NEWTON WALK
Problem – Straightforward to Medium | Distance – 13 kilometres return | Time – 3 hours half-hour | Begin – Craster Quarry Finish Automobile Park | Path – Craster to Dunstanburgh return map
This gorgeous stroll is centred across the magnificent break of Dunstanburgh Citadel. From the north it seems little various remnants of wall reaching for the sky. However from the south, this big defensive fortress seems rather more foreboding and offers one of the crucial photographic websites in Northumbria.
The linear stroll begins in Craster, a cute fishing village, and visits a lot of our favorite locations in Northumberland. It heads north alongside the Northumberland Coastal Path with gorgeous views of Dunstanburgh. After half-hour you should have reached the fort and will simply flip round and head again to finish a satisfying 1 hour stroll. However there’s extra to see additional on.
The golden sweep of Embleton Bay is without doubt one of the most beautiful seashores alongside the Northumberland Coast. Low Newton – about 90 minutes after you begin – is a tiny village with a wonderful pub, The Ship Inn. They brew three sorts of ales, the Indian Summer season, Newton Gold and Squid Ink.
You possibly can both head again the best way you got here or stroll as much as Excessive Newton and catch the bus again to Craster. Nevertheless, remember that the bus solely goes as soon as each two hours (and never on Sundays), so both plan forward or simply keep longer within the pub.
OUR CRASTER TO DUNSTANBURGH TIP
The Jolly Fisherman in Craster has a wonderful terrace overlooking the ocean. Finish the stroll by eating on Lindisfarne Oysters or Craster Kippers whereas watching the solar go down.
4 – CRASTER & HOWICK HALL CIRCULAR WALK
Troublesome – Straightforward to Medium | Distance – 11-kilometre return | Time – 3 hours | Begin – Craster Quarry Finish Automobile Park | Instructions – Anti-clockwise on our Craster & Howick Corridor Stroll
That is an especially diverse and scenic round stroll that explores the Northumberland Coastal path to the south of Craster. It begins by heading inland over a patchwork of fields, rocky outcrops, and wooded valleys earlier than arriving at Howick Corridor.
At Howick Corridor you will have a alternative. Pay to go in and discover the gardens, earlier than making your approach downstream alongside the river and exiting the grounds close to the coast. Alternately, skip the gardens and go round them by way of the street (the purple path on the map).
Should you head into Howick Corridor (the ancestral dwelling of Lord Gray) take an additional hour to discover the gardens and check out a cup of Earl Gray tea. The tea was particularly blended by a Chinese language mandarin for the twond Earl Gray, apparently to go well with the water within the properly at Howick.
After the corridor, it’s an excellent stroll again alongside the Northumberland Coastal Path. Go to the secluded cove of Sugar Sands, excellent for a dip on a sizzling day, or take a break on the rocky outcrops of Rumbling Kern and search for sea creatures within the swimming pools.
The stroll conveniently ends by passing by means of the terrace on the Jolly Fisherman, so there’s no going out of your approach for a post-walk beer or a domestically caught fish.
OUR CRASTER & HOWICK HALL WALK TIP
Should you intend to enter Howick Corridor, you could full this stroll anti-clockwise since that you must purchase an entrance ticket from the ticket workplace earlier than coming into the grounds. Be sure to arrive throughout opening hours.
CRASTER AND HOWICK HALL WALK MAP
5 – INNER FARNE ISLANDS
Problem – Straightforward | Distance – 0.75 kilometres | Time – half-hour | Begin – Interior Farne Islands | Instructions – Observe the laid-out path on the island.
The Farne Islands are one of many richest chook wildlife locations on the planet and though this barely classifies as a stroll, its is properly price finishing.
Boat excursions out to the island final two to a few hours visiting seal colonies and chook ladened cliffs earlier than touchdown on the shore for one hour permitting you to walk round. It might solely be a brief stroll, however what a stroll it’s. A fastidiously minimize path meanders round nesting birds permitting you possibly can rise up near razorbills, puffins, shags, guillemots, and an entire host extra.
It’s merely one of many greatest issues to do in Northumberland which is at its peak in the course of the chook nesting season from April to July.
OUR INNER FARNE ISLANDS TIP
This can be a nice location for photographing birds of their pure habitat. Carry a telephoto lens, a tripod and a really regular hand.
6 – ALNMOUTH CIRCULAR WALK
Troublesome – Straightforward | Distance – 4.5 kilometres | Time – 1 hour 20 minutes | Begin – Alnmouth Seaside Automobile Park | Instructions – Anti-clockwise on our Alnmouth Stroll Map
This beautiful brief round stroll not solely explores some advantageous shoreline but additionally visits the charming village of Alnmouth. Caught out into the River Aln estuary it’s a mixture of grand previous homes peeking over dunes, colored facades shimmering within the solar and fishing boats idling within the pure harbour.
The excessive road is a blast of previous England with a stunning church, a quaint previous submit workplace and a few good pubs. Scott’s of Alnmouth offers all of the tasty deli objects you would wish to create a beautiful picnic to tackle the stroll with you. Additionally they work with Lindisfarne’s Pilgrim Espresso, however sadly, they don’t make it with the identical dedication because the chaps on Lindisfarne so skip the espresso.
OUR ALNMOUTH WALK TIP
Not a lot a tip as it’s a necessity. Sadly, you can not swim within the sea right here because the River Aln has approach an excessive amount of sewage in it.
7 – WARKWORTH CASTLE WALK
Problem – Straightforward | Distance – 4 kilometres | Time – 1 hour 10 minutes | Begin – Warkworth Citadel Automobile Park | Instructions – Clockwise on our Warkworth Stroll Map
The brief round stroll to Warkworth Citadel will not be on the Northumberland Coastal Path however provided that it’s such a stunning exploration of an previous market city, we determined to incorporate it.
The River Coquet is a lazy winding stream because it heads to the coast. Wedged into one among its u-shaped loops, excessive up on the hill, is Warkworth Citadel. As soon as dwelling to the Dukes of Northumberland this now-ruined medieval fort retains watch over the city.
This beautiful stroll begins on the fort, heads over fields, and drops all the way down to the river. You possibly can take a fast elective detour on a (fairly expensive) ferry to discover a hermitage (cave within the wall), earlier than persevering with alongside the riverside path.
The views as much as the fort are magnificent however earlier than lengthy you arrive out there city. An enthralling church and a advantageous stone bridge sit amongst the cherry blossoms that are in full bloom in Could. There’s a few pubs for a ‘barely deserved’ relaxation on the finish.
It will be beautiful should you may be a part of this walk-up with the Alnmouth Round close by. Sadly, there isn’t any path over the estuary, making it an extended stroll round on a fairly busy and uninspiring street.
WARKWORTH CASTLE TIPS
The River Coquet is a fantastic winding river with glorious views up the fort and the right spot for a little bit of stand-up paddleboarding.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING OUR NORTHUMBERLAND COASTAL WALKS MAPS
We have now included all our Northumberland Coastal Walks on the beneath map, nevertheless, every of the precise route directions are on the maps linked beneath every stroll.
Tips on how to use this map / Click on on the highest left of the map to show the record of areas, then click on on the areas to show additional info. Click on on the highest proper nook of the map to open a bigger model in a brand new tab or the star to avoid wasting to your Google Maps.
HOW TO GET AROUND THE NORTHUMBERLAND COAST
BY CAR
The easiest way to get to those Northumberland Coastal walks is to drive. They’re all conveniently situated on a 45-minute stretch of the A1 between Lindisfarne within the north and Warkworth Citadel within the south. If that you must rent a automobile for the journey, we advocate Auto Europe.
Automobile parks are unfold all through Northumberland in handy areas for a lot of of those walks. Parking prices can add up alongside the coast, nevertheless, most parking areas use Pay By Telephone so that you don’t have to have a load of cash with you.
CHECK PRICES — RENTALCARS.COM
BY BUS
There’s a very useful bus service that connects most of the greatest sections of the Northumberland Coastal Path. The 418 runs each two hours (though not on Sunday) connecting Berwick on Tweed with Bamburgh, Seahouses, Beadnell, Excessive Newton, Embleton, Dunstan, Craster, Howick and Alnwick.
The X18 is hourly and connects Alnwick, Alnmouth and Warkworth with Newcastle within the south and Berwick-upon-Tweed within the north.
BY TRAIN
A quick prepare service operates alongside the east coast with 15 companies per day. Journey time is round 3 hours and half-hour from London to Berwick-upon-Tweed, making the prepare an excellent choice to discover the Northumberland coast. Verify costs and occasions on The Prepare Line.
WHERE TO STAY ON NORTHUMBERLAND COAST
In case you are exploring the Northumberland Coast with out a automobile, we advocate staying in Alnwick which has handy buses to the close by villages and an excellent stroll proper from the centre of city.
You will discover all our favorite locations to remain on our greatest Northumberland lodges submit. However if you’re targeted on climbing listed below are some notably well-located areas preferrred for exploring the Northumberland Coastal Path.
ALNWICK
POSTHOUSE
Good finances self-catering flats proper within the centre of Alnwick from the place buses go away to everywhere in the Northumberland Coast.
NEWTON BY THE SEA
JOINERS ARMS
An enthralling pub within the village of Newton by the Sea, the meals is great, and it’s properly situated close to magnificent seashores and Dunstanburgh Citadel.
ALNWICK
THE COOKIE JAR
A Grand previous resort with a superbly designed inside that’s excessive on fashion and low on stuffiness. It’s a stone’s throw from Alnwick Citadel so that you’re properly situated to discover the world.
