Bolam Lake Country Park Bolam A short but interesting circular walk. Can be combined with a visit to newarby Wallington or Belsay Hall, Castle and gardens. Starting Point: Bolam Lake Country Park car park | 30 miles from Alnwick.
Dunstanburgh Castle from Craster Holy Island (Lindisfarne) Starting Point: Craster harbour | 7 miles from Alnwick.
Holy Island Circular Holy Island (Lindisfarne) Before travelling to Holy Island you’ll need to check the tide timetable, as the causeway road over to the island is underwater during high tide.
Alnmouth Beach Alnmouth’s wide sandy beach stretches out north of the Aln estuary towards Boulmer. Big Skies, wide vistas and backed by the pictureque village of Alnmouth. 4 miles from Alnwick
Bamburgh Beach A big sandy beach backed by dunes and in the shadow of Bambugh Castle. 17 miles from Alnwick
Beadnell Bay An arced sandy dune-backed bay with a picturesque harbour. A popular beach for kitesurfers. 14 miles from Alnwick
Sandham Bay On the northern coastline of Holy Island and only accessible on foot over the dunes, Sandham Bay is one of two beautiful and isolated beaches on the north of the island. You’ll need to check the tide tables for when the causeway road is open. 28 miles from Alnwick
Beadnell Bay, Bamburgh Beach & Sandham Bay
Into the Wild
Farne Islands Sailings from Seahouses harbour The chance to sail around or land on the Farne Islands. Lighthouses, seabirds and seals. 16 miles from Alnwick
Coquet Island Sailings from Amble harbour The seabird sanctuary of Coquet Island is just a mile’s boat trip from Amble harbour. You can’t land, but you can get a good view of the colonies of puffins, terns and eider duck nesting here in the summer, as well as island’s year around seal colony. 9 miles from Alnwick Web: Dave Gray’s Puffin Cruises | Facebook: @puffincruisesamble
Chillingham Wild Cattle Join a guided tour to encounter the world’s last remaining herd of wild cattle who’ve roamed around Chillingham for over 800 years. Around 100 of these untamed and pure-bred survivors of the ancient wild herd which one roamed Britain remain. Web: chillinghamwildcattle.com
Farne Islands
Into the City
Newcastle Take the train (from Alnmouth, 30 minutes) or bus (from Alnwick, 90 minutes) into Newcastle.
Edinburgh You can reach Edinburgh from Alnmouth in just over an hour.
On the rails again
Aln Valley Railway Lionheart Railway Station, Alnwick (SatNav: NE66 2HT) A trip on a re-opened one mile section of the old branch line towards Alnmouth from Alnwick’s new enthusiast-built Lionheart station on the outskirts of the town towards Greenrigg Halt. (The original line into Alnwick was severed by the A1(M) and the town’s old station now hosts Barter Books). Web: www.alnvalleyrailway.co.uk | @AlnValleyRail
Newcastle & Edinburgh by rail You can travel into the heart of Newcastle (30 minutes away) or Edinburgh (60 minutes away) for a day’s city sightseeing from Alnmouth station. Check travel times at www.nationalrail.co.uk.
