Walk the Northumberland Coast Path
The Northumberland Coast Path follows the coast for 63 miles from Cresswell to Berwick-upon-Tweed. Much of the route passes through the Northumberland Coast National Landscape, connecting long sandy beaches, dunes, nature reserves, fishing villages and historic castles along the North Sea coast.
From Cresswell, the trail heads north beside Druridge Bay, where an extensive sweep of beach and dunes forms the landscape between the sea and a series of wetlands and nature reserves. The route continues towards Amble at the mouth of the River Coquet, with views towards Coquet Island offshore.
Beyond Amble, the path continues through Warkworth, where Warkworth Castle overlooks the River Coquet, before returning to the coast towards Alnmouth. Beaches, estuaries and low coastal countryside characterise this part of the route as the trail continues north.
From Alnmouth, the Northumberland Coast Path follows the coast towards Craster and the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle. The castle occupies a prominent headland above the sea, with the trail continuing beyond it towards Embleton Bay and the coastal village of Low Newton-by-the-Sea.
Further north, the route reaches Beadnell and Seahouses before continuing towards Bamburgh. This part of the coast combines sandy beaches, dunes and rocky shoreline, with views towards the Farne Islands and Bamburgh Castle forming prominent features along the route.
Beyond Bamburgh, the path continues north through the coastal countryside towards the tidal causeway to Holy Island. Lindisfarne lies just off the main northbound route and can be reached across the causeway when tide conditions allow, providing an opportunity to explore Holy Island, Lindisfarne Castle and Lindisfarne Priory.
The Northumberland Coast Path then continues north through the coastal landscapes around Goswick and towards Berwick-upon-Tweed. The historic border town marks the end of the trail, with its walls, bridges and position beside the River Tweed forming the final part of the route.
Across the trail, destinations including Amble, Warkworth, Alnmouth, Seahouses, Bamburgh, Holy Island and Berwick-upon-Tweed provide useful bases for exploring individual stretches of the Northumberland coast as well as places to stay while walking the complete route.
Overview
Distance: 63 miles / 101 km
Typical duration: 5–7 walking days
Difficulty: Easy-going to Moderate
Start: Cresswell, Northumberland
Finish: Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland
Terrain: Coastal paths, sandy beaches, dunes, grassland, tracks, quiet lanes and sections of rocky shoreline
Waymarking: Northumberland Coast Path waymarkers along the route
Check availability
Select your dates to check current availability and prices.