5 Days & 4 Nights

4.5

Best of the Northumberland Coastal Path

Escape to the Northumberland Coast for a refreshing short break
Step back in history visiting the ancient castles of Warkworth, Dunstanburgh & Bamburgh
Stay in welcoming fishing villages and seaside towns
Enjoy views to Holy Island and walk along clifftop paths to Berwick-upon-Tweed
Sample the local seafood speciality 'Craster Kippers'

Take on a classic walk along the beautiful Northumberland Coastal Path. This area is not only known for its rich history but it also offers some of the finest coastal walking in Europe. Follow uncrowded paths along the seafront, through nature reserves and past deserted beaches. Enjoy the ever-changing views, from wide sweeping bays and secluded coves to friendly fishing ports, rocky headlands and striking castles, such as Warkworth, Dunstanburgh and Bamburgh. Visit the local pubs and learn how the North Sea has shaped the lives of the communities beside it. Smell the fresh salty air and listen to the songs of seabirds on the coast. This trip is guaranteed to leave you feeling energised upon return!

From £570.00

Select Date Enquire Tour Brochure

Gallery

All Photos (13)

Itinerary

Expand all

Day 1 Arrival Alnmouth. Transfer to Warkworth

Begin your adventure along the Northumberland Coast in the ancient village of Warkworth, right next to the seafront. A short taxi transfer from Alnmouth Train Station (15 min) will take you straight to your accommodation allowing you to have a relaxing start to your trip. Explore the streets that are filled with artisan shops, book stores and restaurants. Perhaps enjoy a refreshing, homemade ice cream in one of the cafes nearby. Famed for its rich history the well-preserved Warkworth Castle dominates the skyline wherever you turn.

Overnight Warkworth

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Bertram’s B&B | Bed and breakfast

This boutique bed and breakfast rooms opened in May 2017. All rooms have been decorated and furnished to a very high standard with Voyage Maison wall art and fabrics and Barker and Stonehouse furniture. You will enjoy a warm welcome along with a hearty breakfast which is served downstairs in the café.

Morwick House | Bed and breakfast

A well presented modern B&B with well maintained gardens.

Warkworth House Hotel | Hotel

In the heart of the village of Warkworth, this 18th-century coaching inn offers comfortable accommodation with a range of rooms, each with a digital flat-screen TV and an en suite bathroom. Some also have luxurious toiletries.

Day 2 Walk Warkworth to Howick 12 miles / 19 km

Today’s walk is all about pretty Northumbrian fishing villages. Arrive first in the picturesque Alnmouth and another great spot for wildlife enthusiasts at the Aln Estuary. From here, head towards the old smuggling town of Boulmer. Enjoy taking in the delightful seaside smells - catch here includes crab, lobsters and sea salmon. Finally, you will arrive in Howick, just 2 miles before Craster, where you can quench your appetite and sample some of the delicious local cuisine, smoked herring or kippers.

Overnight Howick

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Old Rectory | Bed and breakfast

This is a lovely B&B set in its own grounds surrounded by fields and woods near Craster. Rooms are comfortably furnished and have all the amenities you require for a great overnight stay. They have a seating area exclusively for guests and free Wi-Fi.

The Cottage Inn | Country Inn

The Cottage Inn provides B&B accommodation just outside the pretty village of Craster. All bedrooms have been renovated to a comfortable standard, room are en-suite with flat screen TV’s, garden views, complimentary bathroom products, hairdryers and complementary beverage tray. During your stay you will be able to sample some of Northumberland’s best foods and ales, they are committed to using local produce where possible. They pride themselves on their cask conditioned ales and always have a good selection from the local micro-breweries.

Day 3 Walk Howick to Bamburgh 15.5 miles / 25 km

Not long after leaving today, you will marvel at the ancient ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle which you can see from Craster. Following this, some delightful walking alongside the sandy bays of Beadnell and Embleton will bring you to Seahouses.

Seahouses is a bustling harbour town, most famous as the hopping off point for the fascinating 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.

You will continue along the coast until the historic village of Bamburgh. Bamburgh Castle is a magnificent sight, sitting high on an outcrop over the beach.

Overnight Bamburgh

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

The Victoria Hotel | Hotel

The Victoria Hotel is a welcoming AA 3 Star hotel that overlooks the village green in the heart of historic Bamburgh. The village is overlooked by magnificent Bamburgh Castle which has featured in many historical films. All of their bedrooms offer high quality furnishing and all modern conveniences including hairdryer, complimentary refreshment tray, and LCD TV. Opened in 2012, Baileys Bar & Restaurant offers high quality, locally sourced food, cooked free to Rosette standard.

Budle Hall | Bed and breakfast

Budle Hall is a family run B&B and is said to be one of Northumberland’s loveliest small country houses. They have 5 well-appointed en-suite rooms and they have all the amenities you require for a comfortable and relaxing overnight stay.

Sunningdale Hotel | Hotel

The Sunningdale is family owned and offers a warm welcome to all. It is their aim to offer excellent service and quality during your stay. They have 21 en-suite bedrooms, all of which are comfortably furnished and include colour televisions and complimentary tea and coffee making facilities and toiletries. Their restaurant offers a superb selection of delicious home made excellent value food. They use high quality delicious produce such as locally reared and butchered lamb and pork, Lakeland matured beef and a superb selection of daily fresh fish.

Day 4 Transfer Bamburgh to Fenwick. Walk to Berwick-upon-Tweed 11 miles / 18 km

A short taxi transfer (15 min) will drop you off just outside of Fenwick. Your final day’s walking will take you past the causeway over to Holy Island before following clifftop paths with dramatic views to the historic Berwick-upon-Tweed. If you have time (and the safe crossing times permit) you may even wish to visit Holy Island. Safe crossing times can be checked here.

Berwick-upon-Tweed has a fascinating history, with hands changed between Scotland and England for centuries. Enjoy taking in some of the many interesting architectural features such as its old defence ramparts or ancient town walls. Berwick also has a wide variety of shops, restaurants and cafes making it the perfect place to celebrate the end of your walk.

Overnight Berwick-upon-Tweed

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Tweed View House | Bed and breakfast

You are assured a very warm welcome from Liz and Graham at the Tweed View House. The rooms have free WiFi, flat screen televisions, a fridge, tea/coffee making facilities, fresh milk, bathrobes, hairdryer, toiletries, information pack & much more.

Cowrie Guest House | Bed and breakfast, Guest House

A quality Bed & Breakfast with 4 ensuite rooms and set in the heart of Berwick-upon-Tweed, just minutes from the railway station. With a tasty breakfast and a very warm welcome from the owners, you are sure to enjoy your stay here.

Roxburgh Guest House | Bed and breakfast

Roxburgh Guest House is situated by the beach in the Spittal area of historic Berwick-upon-Tweed. The Roxburgh is a delightful bed and breakfast ideal for exploring the unspoilt coastline. All the rooms are comfortable and spacious, and come complete with satellite TV, tea/coffee and a hair dryer.

Day 5 Onward Travel

THIS TRIP'S CARBON SCORE

This trip has a carbon score of 12kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 12kg is equivalent to 5 bunches of flowers (grown in the Netherlands). Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.

Reviews

Expand all

Other Information

Expand all

Is it for me?

This is an energising walk along the Northumberland Coastal Path through a landscape that has been recognised as a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Dive into the local history and visit some of the most unspoiled beaches in Europe. If you are looking for a short walking itinerary visiting the most beautiful stretches of the coastal path, this is the walk for you.

Trip Type:

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers, Families with Teens

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Long-Distance Trails

Grade & Terrain

This short break itinerary has been graded as easy to moderate and showcases the best of the Northumberland Coastal Path. You are right by the sea for most of the walk as we have taken out the inland detour between Belford and Holy Island on this itinerary. This is a low-level route with very few climbs, nothing that involves too much ascent/descent and perfect for the regular walker. Most of the walk you will be following well-waymarked footpaths and bridleways, and some sections include some beach walking which can slow down your progress along the route.

Accommodation & Meals Navigation What's Included

Included

Overnight stays in handpicked B&Bs, guest houses and small hotels in en-suite rooms wherever possible
Breakfasts
Luggage transfers (as noted in the itinerary)
Taxi transfer from Alnmouth to Warkworth (Day 1)
Taxi transfer from Bamburgh to Fenwick (Day 4)
Access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure navigation app
Emergency telephone support from our office in the event of a problem.

Excluded

Travel to Warkworth & From Berwick-upon-Tweed
Lunch & Dinner, Snacks & Drinks
Travel Insurance
Personal Equipment
Public transportation and/or taxi transfers not listed under inclusions

Extras

Additional nights before, during or after your walk.

When to go Travel & Transfers Info & FAQ

General Information

Online Documents

At Macs Adventure we care about the environment! We’re taking action to minimise the impact we have by converting the majority of our tour documentation for online delivery.

On this tour, all your detailed tour information will be digitally delivered.

Equipment

You will need good walking shoes (ideally waterproof), comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, a daypack as well as sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. This route involves a few climbs where you may find it useful to have your walking poles. As this route primarily follows the coast, we recommend bringing windproof clothing to make it easier to progress.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.