Tag: bamburgh

Spotlight on Bamburgh Castle

Posted on September 9, 2024 by - North East Attractions, Northumberland, Visitor Attractions

Bamburgh Castle has stood guard above the spectacular Northumberland coastline for over 1400 years, a royal fortress, a Norman stronghold and today a coastal home. This national treasure is an imposing and dominant structure that sits 150ft up on a rocky plateau and spans across nine acres of land and is one of the largest inhabited castles in the country.

alt="Bamburgh Castle with sand dunes below"

The castle and grounds are simply magnificent and there is so much to admire and enjoy, wander around the superbly kept grounds which include the ruins of St Peter’s Chapel, Windmill cannons and of course the opportunity to take in the striking views of the north east coast looking over as far as The Farne Islands and Lindisfarne, and you’ll see almost a bird’s eye view of the village of Bamburgh itself. Visit The Battery Terrace, The Inner Ward, Neville Tower, the Victorian stables and The West Ward which contains the Armstrong & Aviation Museum, the castle’s windmill and the original entrance to the medieval fortress called St Oswald’s Gate. The 12th century Keep is the oldest surviving part of the castle and the walls, in parts, are an incredible eleven feet thick and this massive block like structure sits on a huge plinth which was to stop attackers digging underneath to collapse the walls. Today it houses an impressive Armoury, a collection of weapons that includes muskets, pikes, halberds, composite bow and crossbow.

alt="cannon terrace looking out over the North Sea with blue skies"

Inside the castle itself is even more impressive and there are fourteen state rooms to discover that are packed with heirlooms and artefacts and stories covering the hundreds of years of history, including the medieval kitchen, The Cross Hall, The Library, The Faire Chamber and the magnificent Victorian masterpiece, The King’s Hall with its incredible teak ceiling. Bamburgh Castle is one of the most important Anglo-Saxon sites in the world and the Archaeology Museum housed within the castle is home to some of the most extraordinary collections and finds such as the gold Bamburgh Beast and a rare pattern welded sword.

Amongst the historic collections you may also spot mementos from guests including items from members of The Royal Family, authors, politicians and actors. Bamburgh Castle has featured in countless films and small screen productions, from Transformers The Last Knight, to Netflix hit Frontier and of course, The Last Kingdom.

alt="King's Hall in Bamburgh Castle"
alt="armoury in Bamburgh Castle"

If all those views and history have you left you peckish then the Clock Tower Café and Tack Room Takeaway offer a great selection of hot and cold food to choose from including freshly made sandwiches, hearty soups and homemade cakes. Sit indoors or there’s plenty of outdoor seating around the grounds where you can take in the views while enjoying something to eat.

Bamburgh Castle is a definite must see whilst visiting Northumberland, once you’ve enjoyed the castle be sure to take in the ambience of the pretty village with it’s church and of course the beautiful beach. It’s such a lovely day out and if you’d like to know more about visiting the castle then please go to their website.

Beautiful Beaches

Posted on August 19, 2024 by - North East Attractions, Northumberland

Every holiday in Northumberland should include a day taking in the stunning North East coast and enjoying at least one of our beautiful beaches. With over 30 miles of golden sands to choose from you can be certain that whichever beach you choose to visit you won’t be vying for space to enjoy a stroll or to sit and take in the sea views. We’re often asked which is the best beach to go to and we genuinely struggle to answer as there are so many gorgeous beaches but this is our top pick of where to go when a day at the seaside beckons.

If you’re heading to north Northumberland then Budle Bay is a hidden gem that boasts peace and tranquillity along it’s pristine sands and offers the most gorgeous walk around the bay. The bay is part of the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve and therefore popular with birdwatchers all year round and particularly in winter when the mud flats attract thousands of wildfowl and waders. The walk from Waren Mill to Bamburgh is one of the most spectacular in the whole of the UK and is probably at its most attractive at low tide when the wide golden sands are at their best, but it is truly beautiful at any time. As far as beaches go, you probably can’t get better!

Budle Bay

The picturesque village of Bamburgh is a popular destination and the beach is simply breathtaking, it’s the perfect place to sit and take in the sea views over to The Farne Islands and there’s always the chance of spotting dolphins or even whales (top tip – take your binoculars). The wide and expansive sands are backed with dunes that are filled with grasses, flowers and wildlife and with the almighty Bamburgh Castle towering above this part of the coastline it is the most iconic sight and whether you choose to visit the castle and admire the sands or walk the beach and look up at the castle, either is equally impressive. If you wish to give your legs a good stretch then you can head south on the sand and walk the 3 miles to the livelier village of Seahouses where you can enjoy the harbour area and of course no trip to the coast would be complete without indulging in some fish and chips. Local buses run between Bamburgh and Seahouses so you can always catch the return bus if you don’t wish to walk the return journey.

alt="beautiful beaches at Bamburgh with canons at the castle in the foreground"
View from Bamburgh Castle

A little further down the coast you will find the pretty little village of Alnmouth. The beach here is a wide sandy bay that sits at the mouth of the River Aln and is backed by a clutch of elegant red-roofed houses that almost appear that they spill down to the sand and they look a real postcard picture, and when the tide is out the vast expanse of sand is nothing short of magnificent. Alongside the same stretch of coastline and just 7 miles further south lies Warkworth with a beautiful beach that is often missed by visitors as it sits about a mile from the village itself that attracts visitors to the castle, hermitage, quaint shops and riverside. The short drive or 20 minute walk to the beach at Warkworth will reward you with golden sands as far as the eye can see.

alt="Alnmouth estuary and golden sands and driftwood"
Alnmouth

Druridge Bay is another favourite and runs from Amble to Cresswell and is a beautiful beach stretching out for a whole seven miles. Druridge Bay Country Park has a large car park and a visitor centre and cafe as there is so much to explore with sand dunes and pools and the 100 acre Ladyburn Lake which is surrounded by pretty woodlands and countryside and together with the sand dunes it’s a paradise for wildlife and birdlife and you may spot wildfowl, teal or even an otter. At Druridge Bay you will also see remnants of history, and you’ll spot the anti-tank blocks and pill boxes that were installed there to protect our shores from enemy advances during World War II, although now they are particularly handy for drying wet swimwear!

alt="Beautiful beach at Druridge bay with golden sands and blue skies and grassy dunes"
Druridge Bay

From Blyth beach in the south of the County to Spittal Beach in the north, there are 35 beautiful beaches to choose from in Northumberland and whichever one you choose and whenever you choose to visit you’ll be delighted at the sheer beauty of the vast, sweeping unspoilt coastline and the peaceful golden sands you will find there.