Northumberland Coast Path

Arrive at the village of Ellington. There is no accommodation in Cresswell so you will spend the evening at your first night’s accommodation in this small village, close to the start of the walk.

A short walk or bus journey will bring you to the start of the Northumberland Coast Path in the village of Cresswell.

The path leaves the village and follows the sweeping sands of Druridge Bay to the fishing port of Amble. Behind the sand dunes are a series of important wetland nature reserves and you may be able to spot some of the abundant birdlife.

Offshore, Coquet Island can be seen, where there are also large seabird colonies. From Amble, it is just a short walk to the beautiful village of Warkworth, situated in a meander of the River Coquet beneath its imposing castle.

The Coast Path leaves Warkworth and the route quickly returns to the beach and continues onwards to the pretty village of Alnmouth, another great spot for wildlife enthusiasts.

Continuing north, the path passes through Boulmer, one of the only true remaining Northumberland fishing villages, well-known for its smuggling activities in the past. Finally you will arrive in the picturesque village of Craster with its attractive harbour and famous for its delicious kippers produced in the village smokehouse. From here there are stunning views towards the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle.

A picturesque coastal footpath from the village crosses fields and leads to the dramatic ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle.

The rest of this section is characterised by the two long sandy beaches of Embleton and Beadnell Bays and finally ends-up in the bustling holiday town of Seahouses, gateway to the Farne Islands.

The Farne Islands are the most famous bird sanctuary in the British Isles and are home to an abundance of wildlife including puffins, guillemot, and grey seals. If you have time it is definitely worth adding an extra day in Seahouses in order to visit the Islands.

On leaving Seahouses, the trail travels inland for a while to the historic village of Bamburgh which is dominated by one of Northumberland’s most familiar landmarks, magnificent Bamburgh Castle.

Just after Bamburgh you will reach the vast sands of Budle Bay, a National Nature Reserve and an important habitat for waterfowl. Holy Island and Lindisfarne Castle can be seen across the water.

The scenery starts to change as you walk through fields instead of along the coast before arriving into the pretty village of Belford which sits below the Kyloe Hills and is home to an original 18th Century coaching Inn.

From Belford the route heads inland as woodland and farmland replaces the coast and there are stunning views towards Holy Island from Kyloe Ridge.

We recommend taking a short side trip to see St Cuthbert’s Cave, a dramatic sandstone overhang where the monk’s body was brought for safety in AD875, to escape from the Viking raids on Lindisfarne. From here you will continue to the small village of Fenwick.

Your final day on the Northumberland Coast Path will take you past the causeway over to Holy Island before following clifftop paths with dramatic views to historic Berwick-upon-Tweed. If you have the time it is a 3-mile walk to the centre of Holy Island, but you will need to check the tide times to ensure a safe return crossing.

If you to wish to visit Holy Island we would suggest an additional night in Fenwick. As well as its many historic attractions, Holy Island is situated at the heart of the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve. The Castle is closed on Mondays.

Your walk will end in the lovely Border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed which has a fascinating history and has changed hands between Scotland and England for centuries. Explore the history of this lovely town and celebrate the end of your walk.

After breakfast, you will start your journey home after a wonderful walking holiday on the Northumberland Coast Path.