Wide beaches, island views, and slow coastal walking along England’s northern shore
The Northumberland Coast Path follows England’s northern shoreline through North East England, running along the coast of Northumberland between Cresswell in the south and Berwick-upon-Tweed near the Scottish border. Much of the route passes through the Northumberland Coast National Landscape, where protected beaches, dune systems, low cliffs, and historic coastal settlements shape a coastline defined by space, light, and continuity rather than dramatic relief.
Walking here is defined by steadiness rather than effort. The terrain is largely gentle, with minimal ascent, allowing the character of the coast to unfold gradually on foot. Long beaches, wide horizons, and open skies create a calm, sustained rhythm, where progress is measured in headlands passed and villages reached rather than elevation gained. This makes the route particularly well suited to first-time long-distance walkers or those seeking an unhurried coastal journey.
The landscape changes subtly as the path moves north. From the wide sands and dune-backed shoreline near Druridge Bay and Amble, the route passes river mouths and low headlands before reaching a more castle-studded coast around Alnmouth, Craster, Seahouses, and Bamburgh. Offshore island views become a defining feature, culminating in the tidal crossing to Holy Island (Lindisfarne), one of the most atmospheric and historically significant places on the route, shaped by tides, isolation, and early Christian settlement.
Beyond Lindisfarne, the path continues through dune systems, saltmarsh, and open coastal edges before arriving in Berwick-upon-Tweed, a fortified border town whose walls and streets reflect centuries of movement, conflict, and trade along the North Sea coast. Throughout, the Northumberland Coast Path remains a route where landscape, history, and settlement are encountered gradually, with space and atmosphere playing as central a role as individual landmarks.
Trail Overview
Distance
62 miles / 100 km
Typical time on foot
4–6 days (often walked in sections)
Start
Cresswell, Northumberland
Finish
Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland
Terrain
Beaches, dune systems, low cliffs, farmland tracks, coastal paths, occasional road sections
