Northumberland Coast Path

Cresswell to Alnmouth

After spending your first night in Warkworth, a taxi will take you to Cresswell. The route starts in Cresswell village and follows 8 miles of the sandy Druridge bay to the fishing port of Amble. Offshore Coquet Island can be seen, where there are large seabird colonies. The river Coquet is then followed upstream to Warkworth, dominated by Warkworth castle, the ancient seat of the Percy family.

On leaving Warkworth, the route quickly returns to the beach and onwards to Alnmouth. The Aln Estuary provides an important habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. Alnmouth was once Northumberland’s major port, today’s hotels and guesthouses were once vast silos storing wheat.

Alnmouth to Seahouses

Continuing north, the path passes through Boulmer, one of the only true remaining Northumberland fishing villages, having changed very little in over 100 years. It’s then on to Craster, another fishing village dating back to the 17th century, famous for the kippers produced in the village smokehouse.

Just beyond Craster, the route reaches the imposing ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, originally built in the 14th Century by Thomas Earl of Lancaster. Puffins and guillemots nest on the cliffs below.

The rest of this section is characterised by the two long sandy beaches of Embleton and Beadnell Bays, a haven for birdwatchers and beach goers! Low Newton is home to sea and shore birds, whilst the nearby pool with its bird hide is a good place to see wildfowl, especially in winter.

Beyond Beadnell the route continues along the coast to Seahouses, once an important fishing port and now a centre for the local tourist industry. Boats can be taken from the harbour to the Farne Islands, a cluster of small islands lying just offshore.

Seahouses to Fenwick

From Seahouses harbour head towards the village centre to then pick up the coastal path towards Bamburgh. Founded in 547 by King Ida, Bamburgh was once the capital of ancient kingdom of Northumbria. Perched on a basalt outcrop, Bamburgh Castle now dominates the village.

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 quiet village of Belford sits below the Kyloe Hills on the fringe of the fertile Northumberland coastal plain. A change of scenery follows as our route heads inland, woodland and farmland replacing seascapes. The route briefly visits the hills and passes close to the dramatic sandstone overhang of St. Cuthbert’s Cave. Near to Fenwick you will pass through Kyloe Old Wood, which in the 19th Century was owned by the Leyland family of nearby Haggerston Castle.

Fenwick to Berwick-upon-Tweed

The final stage starts near the causeway to Holy Island, it then heads north through some of the remotest areas of the coast. Cliff top paths and more beaches lead to historic Berwick-upon-Tweed, with its magnificent town walls, spectacular riverside and three bridges, the oldest of which was built in 1624. Take time to explore this lovely old town and in particular the Victorian ramparts.

Easy to Moderate

This is a mainly flat coastal walk, and can be completed by people with limited walking experience.

Terrain: Flat walking along the edge of the coastal plateau. A small excursion into the low lying Kyloe hills. Coastal paths, and country lanes, beaches, a couple of sea cliffs, and a golf course or two!

What’s it like underfoot? On the whole the paths are well defined and maintained, but at times a bit sandy. Walking in soft sand on the beach can get tiring – but there’s usually a parallel path further inland.

How much up & down? Not very much at all! Most days are pretty flat. The high point of the route, near St Cuthbert’s Cave, is only just over 200m.

Signposting: Generally good.

Navigation: Pretty straightforward.

Good accommodation and friendly hosts are an essential part of any holiday. We understand this and go out of our way to find the best. We put a great deal of effort into hand picking our accommodation and matching it to individual customer requirements. As well as visiting the accommodation ourselves, we ask all our customers to complete a short evaluation on each night’s accommodation, which then gives us an insight into the day-to-day operation and lets us spot any potential issues before they become a problem.

We use a variety of accommodation. Over the course of your trip you might stay in a village inn, a bed and breakfast in a converted barn, a Victorian guest house, or on a working farm. In selecting the accommodation we look for helpful, friendly hosts with good quality, characterful accommodation close to the trail. Occasionally we may use a chain hotel.

We always try to arrange en suite accommodation, i.e. rooms with their own bathrooms for each night of your stay. However, in some of the more remote locations accommodation is limited and occasionally we may have to book rooms with shared bathrooms for one or two nights of your holiday, (especially if the booking is made at short notice), but we will always let you know if this is likely to be the case.

We are happy to book single rooms on our holidays but cannot normally book more than two for any one group. Single room bookings include a supplement.

Here are some examples of the accommodation we use on the Northumberland Coast Path:

Mandy assures you of a warm welcome at Fairfield House, a 5-star Gold Award guesthouse. This charming Victorian house, located on the edge of the pretty village of Warkworth was built in 1890 and retains many original features. Guests can unwind in the tranquil garden after a day exploring the beautiful Northumberland coast. Visit their website

The Old Rectory in Howick, a charming Georgian country house B&B, is nestled in its own grounds just 400 yards from the sea and a secluded beach. Surrounded by fields and woods, it’s ideally located near Craster, Howick Hall, Alnwick Gardens, and Alnwick Castle, offering a perfect base on the Northumberland Heritage Coast. Visit their website

The Victoria Hotel in Bamburgh is perfectly situated for exploring Northumberland’s most picturesque beach and stunning coastline. Guests can enjoy sunsets over Holy Island, cosy moments by the fire, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Start your day with a famous hearty Northumberland breakfast, ideal for fueling your day on the Coast Path. Visit their website

Louise and Stephen welcome you to The Walls Bed and Breakfast in Berwick-upon-Tweed. This beautifully refurbished period townhouse, perched on the Edwardian Walls of the historic old town, boasts stunning views over the River Tweed. With spacious, stylish rooms and 5-Star Gold Award service, it’s an ideal place from which to explore. Visit their website

General travel information for the Northumberland Coast area will be in your holiday pack including train and bus timetables where available.

Detailed instructions on getting to your first night’s accommodation by car, or on foot from the nearest train or bus station, will also be included in the holiday pack on individual accommodation maps.

To view train times please visit trainline where you can also purchase tickets in advance. For information on bus timetables please visit traveline

If you require secure car parking whilst walking this route, please contact us for information.

Getting There:
By Air: The nearest airport to Warkworth is Newcastle (NCL). Travel by train to Alnmouth (followed by bus or taxi to Warkworth (5 miles).
By Public Transport: Travel by train to Alnmouth, followed by bus or taxi to Warkworth (5 miles).
By Road: Warkworth is 32 miles north of Newcastle via the A1.

Returning from Berwick upon Tweed:
By Public Transport: There is a railway station in Berwick upon Tweed. Trains to London take approximately 4 hours.
By Road: From Berwick upon Tweed you can take the A1 north or south. To travel west take the A698.

Warkworth

In addition to its 12th century church and magnificent castle, the ancient village of Warkworth boasts a variety of artisan shops. It’s also just a stone’s throw from Amble, where you can take a boat trip out to Coquet Island, home to 40,000 nesting sea birds such including puffins, rare roseate terns, kittiwakes and eider ducks.

Seahouses

Seahouses is known as the Gateway to the Farnes and is well worth a rest day. Famous for its outstanding natural beauty, superb attractions and bustling harbour. Boat trips can be taken to the Farne Islands where you can experience an abundance of wildlife, including entertaining puffins and lazy seals.