The Northumberland Coastal Path - Finding Joy in Every Step 

Meet Kate - a lifelong lover of the outdoors who set out with her sister to walk the Northumberland Coastal Path. Facing stage 4 cancer, she embraced the chance to make memories, raise awareness, and discover the beauty of one of England’s most unspoilt coastlines. This is her story of strength, sisterhood, and finding joy in every step. 

Walking With Purpose 

When I told people I was going to walk the Northumberland Coastal Path with my sister, Susie, a lot of them said the same thing: “Why Northumberland?” 

The truth is, there were a lot of reasons. 

For one, I’d never been there. People had told me it was beautiful - wild beaches, ancient castles, windswept dunes - but somehow, over the years, I’d never quite made it that far north. And now? Well, there’s nothing like a stage 4 cancer diagnosis to focus the mind. 

I was diagnosed with uterine Leiomyosarcoma last year - a rare, aggressive cancer that most people have never even heard of. My treatment is thankfully keeping it stable, and I’m tolerating it well, but I know that may not always be the case. Right now, while I’m feeling well, I want to do the things that matter most. For me, that meant three things: walking somewhere beautiful, spending time with my sister, and raising money and awareness for Leiomyosarcoma Research UK - the only UK charity dedicated to this disease, and still just a year old. They’ve given me so much support - this felt like my way to give something back. 

Time With My Sister 

Susie and I live in different parts of the country, so we don’t get to spend long stretches of time together. In fact, I don’t think we’d been away together, just the two of us, since we left home. This walk felt like a chance to change that. 

We booked through Macs Adventure so we could focus on the fun stuff - chatting, enjoying the views, looking out for wildlife - without worrying about navigating, carrying our bags, or finding somewhere to sleep. We did a bit of training in the weeks before, upping our daily steps and breaking in my boots. Growing up in the Shropshire Hills, walking has always been second nature to me. I’ve hiked all over the UK and even further afield - the Andes, the Inca Trail, Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair. I’ve trekked through jungles and along rugged coastal paths. But still, there was something about this trip that felt extra special. 

Day One – An Easy Start 

The first day was glorious - the kind of walking that makes you feel like you could go on forever. The air smelled faintly of salt, even before we saw the sea. The path curved gently towards the coast, the grass dancing in the breeze, and then - there it was. A sweep of golden sand, stretching so far it seemed to melt into the horizon. We stopped for tea on a dune, watching gulls wheel overhead. The whole day felt easy, like the miles were sliding under our boots without effort. 

Day Two – The Big One  

Day two, though… well, that was the one I’d been a bit apprehensive about. 16 miles (26km) sounded like a lot, and it was. We took it slower, with plenty of tea breaks and long sits in the shade. Every time we turned a corner and saw another stretch of empty sand, one of us would say, “This is the best beach yet!” - only to be proven wrong by the next one. By the time we finally arrived in Bamburgh, hot, sticky, and tired, we just sat on our beds, staring into space, before summoning the willpower to go down for dinner. 

More Than Just a Walk 

The coastline kept surprising us. Sweeping dunes. Castles perched on cliffs like something out of a storybook. Empty beaches where the only footprints were our own. Wildlife was everywhere - oystercatchers calling, seals bobbing in the surf, and on the last day, a pod of dolphins that seemed to follow us for a while, breaking the surface in perfect arcs.  

The scenery kept us going. So did the thought that we were walking for something bigger than ourselves. Knowing we were raising awareness for a rare cancer - my cancer - gave me a quiet determination. We talked about everything and nothing - childhood memories, the kids, what we’d do if we won the lottery.  

The Final Day – Finishing Strong 

The final day was special. Two friends I’ve known for over 25 years joined us for the last stretch into Berwick-upon-Tweed. They're fit, outdoorsy types, so when they admitted their legs were aching, I realised just how much of an achievement this was. 

We reached the end grinning, tired, and a little sunburned. We celebrated in the best way - fish and chips, ice cream, and a promise to come back with our families.  

The walk exceeded every expectation. I thought it would be beautiful, but it was more than that. It was healing, empowering, and full of joy. It reminded me how good it feels to move, to talk, to laugh, to be in the moment. Walking helps me sleep better, gives me more energy, and makes me feel more like me. 

Northumberland gave me more than just a scenic walk. It gave me time with my sister, memories I’ll treasure, and the reminder that - for now - I can still keep going. And I will. 

If you’d like to support Kate’s journey, you can click the link to donate to her fundraiser here. 

To learn more about Leiomyosarcoma and the charity's work, click this link.