Northumberland Coast

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Sand dunes above Bamburgh Beach, with Bamburgh Castle in the background, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Getty Images/Robert Harding World Imagery

Overview

Northumberland's coast, like its wild and remote interior, is sparsely populated. You won't find any hurdy-gurdy seaside resorts, but instead charming, castle-crowned villages strung along miles of wide, sandy beaches that you might just have to yourself.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Alnwick Castle

Northumberland Coast

Set in parklands designed by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, the imposing ancestral home of the Duke of Northumberland has changed little since the 14th…
Berwick Walls

Northumberland Coast

You can walk almost the entire length of Berwick's hefty Elizabethan walls, begun in 1558 to reinforce an earlier set built during the reign of Edward II…
Bamburgh Castle

Northumberland Coast

Northumberland's most dramatic castle was built around a powerful 11th-century Norman keep by Henry II. The castle played a key role in the border wars of…
Farne Islands

Northumberland Coast

During breeding season (roughly May to July), you can see feeding chicks of 20 seabird species (including puffin, kittiwake, Arctic tern, eider duck,…
Alnwick Garden

Northumberland Coast

This 4.8-hectare walled garden incorporates a series of magnificent green spaces surrounding the breathtaking Grand Cascade – 120 separate jets spurting…
RNLI Grace Darling Museum

Northumberland Coast

Born in Bamburgh, Grace Darling was the lighthouse keeper's daughter on Outer Farne who rowed out to the grounded, flailing SS Forfarshire in 1838 and…
Dunstanburgh Castle

Northumberland Coast

The dramatic 1.5-mile walk along the coast from Craster (not accessible by car) is the most scenic path to this moody, weather-beaten castle. Its…
Old Lifeboat House

Northumberland Coast

From the 1820s to the 1960s, Holy Island was a launching point for hundreds of dramatic lifeboat rescues. The island's last remaining lifeboat station is…