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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
