Northumberland Coast Road Trip 📍🌊
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This 65-mile coastal route takes you along one of the most unspoiled and beautiful stretches of coastline in the UK, filled with castles, beaches, fishing villages, and wildlife. Ideal for a relaxed seaside adventure.
🚗 Need a car for this road trip?
If you don’t have your own car, I’d really recommend renting one — it gives you the flexibility to stop at each waterfall and explore at your own pace.
I usually use DiscoverCars to compare prices and find the best deals across different rental companies.
👉 It’s really easy to use:
- Compare multiple providers in one place
- Cheaper than booking direct
- Free cancellation on most options
- Their 3rd party insurance is a lot cheaper
- They have a great customer service for claims (though I hope you won’t have to use it!
🛏️ Where to Stay on the Northumberland Coast 🌊
Here’s a selection of places to stay that work particularly well for this itinerary, with great locations for beaches, coastal walks and historic towns.
📍 The Amble Inn, Amble
Private rooms with a family-friendly restaurant. Pet-friendly and well located for exploring the harbour and coastline.
📍 The Cookie Jar, Alnwick
Beautiful accommodation close to the town centre, with a bistrot on site. Pet-friendly and ideal for visiting Alnwick Castle and gardens.
📍 The Victoria Hotel, Bamburgh
A welcoming hotel with a brasserie restaurant. Some rooms have views of Bamburgh Castle, and it’s just a short walk to the beach.
📍 The Lindisfarne Inn, near Holy Island
A comfortable, pet-friendly inn with a restaurant on site, perfectly placed for visiting Lindisfarne and the surrounding coast.
Northumberland Coast Road Trip Itinerary Summary
📍 Amble – Friendly harbour town known for its seafood 🎣🦐
📍 Warkworth – Picturesque village with a medieval castle and riverside walks 🏰🌿
📍 Alnmouth – Colourful seaside village with sandy beaches and a golf course 🏖️🏘️
📍 Boulmer – Quiet fishing village with coastal views and rock pools 🐚🌊
📍 Longhoughton Beach – Peaceful spot for a walk or a picnic by the sea 🌅🧺
📍 Craster – Home of the famous Craster kippers and gateway to Dunstanburgh 🎣🐟
📍 Dunstanburgh Castle – Dramatic coastal ruins accessible by a scenic walk 🧱🏞️
📍 Seahouses – Bustling harbour with boat trips to the Farne Islands 🛥️🐦
📍 Bamburgh – Iconic castle on the dunes and a vast sandy beach 🏰🏖️
📍 Budle Bay – Tranquil wildlife haven with wide tidal sands and birdwatching spots 🦆🌾
📍 Holy Island of Lindisfarne – Historic island with a priory and castle (check tide times!) ⛪🌉
📍 Berwick-upon-Tweed – Walled town with bridges, beaches, and centuries of border history 🏰🌁
Total Distance: 🚗 Approx. 65 miles
📸 Photos & Info are located further down. Keep scrolling to see all these places. ⬇️
This Northumberland Coast Road Trip is perfect for history buffs, beach walkers, nature lovers, and anyone who enjoys a slower pace with epic views and charming villages. 🌤️📸🐚
Get the FREE Northumberland Coast Road Trip Map!
Additional Information & Highlights
📍 Amble
📍 Warkworth
📍 Alnmouth Beach
📍 Longhoughton Beach
📍 Craster
📍 Dunstanburgh Castle
Located near Craster, Dunstanburgh Castle is set in an idyllic location with beautiful sea views.
🥾 How to get there: Walk from Craster along the coast. It’s a flat 1.3 mile walk which takes around 20-30 minutes.
🅿️ You can park at Craster Quarry Car Park or Craster Turn Field Car Park. Both are pay and display
🎟️ This is an English Heritage site which means it’s free for members. Alternatively, tickets can be booked here.
⌛Opening dates: The castle is open all year round but only on weekends in winter.
💡 My Top Tip: Make sure to go to the fishmonger in Craster as their kippers are delicious!
Also, the walk to the castle is by the sea which means it can be quite windy so make sure to wear a good windbreaker.
🐶 Dogs on leads are allowed.
📍 Seahouses
📍 Bamburgh
Built 1,400 years ago, Bamburgh Castle is one of the most iconic and largest inhabited castles in Britain. It was the first castle in the world to fall to gunpowder (during the War of Roses) and now belongs to the Armstrong family.
🅿️ There is a dedicated car park by the entrance of the castle (£6/day charge). Alternatively, you can park in Bamburgh and walk up to the castle.
🎟️ Tickets can be booked on the official website or on-site.
⌛Opening dates: The castle is open all year round.
💡 My Top Tip: Check the event schedule as Bamburgh Castle often has special events on (especially for Christmas).
❤️ The views from Bamburgh Castle are unbeatable! You can fully see how big Bamburgh beach is and can see as far as the Farne Islands. I also recommend going for a walk on the beach after visiting the castle as it will give you a completely different perspective.
🐶 Dogs are allowed in the castle ground but not inside. The café is dog-friendly too and set in the old stables which is quite nice.
📍 Holy Island
📍 Berwick-upon-Tweed
