5 Northumberland beaches you need to visit.
Northumberland may be famous for its grand castles and rolling hills that appear to stretch ahead of you for miles on end. But we have something else to boast about as well: our beaches. Northumberland beaches are capable of taking your breath away from that first visit to your first brave dip in the north sea. You will be returning wanting more. The Northumberland coast covers over forty miles and is a designated area of outstanding natural beauty. From backdrops of magnificent castles to dolphin spotting from the shoreline, these are 5 Northumberland beaches that you need to visit.
The beaches in Northumberland not only provide a gorgeous spot to walk the dog or to let the kids blow off steam, they also come with a decent coffee shop or traditional Northumbrian pub nearby serving locally sourced food, making these beaches the perfect location for a day out in Northumberland.
Bamburgh Beach
I don’t think I could possibly create a list of the best of Northumberland beaches and not start with Bamburgh. This stunning beach (no exaggeration) is perfect for a family day out, a windswept walk or the place to sit and watch the sunset over the iconic Bamburgh Castle.
This beach has even been used in movies such as Steven Spielberg’s The BFG (2016) for it’s dramatic location, striking north sea waves and vast area of sand. Great location for building sandcastles, relaxing with a good book (or hot chocolate because this is the north east coast after all) and to eat your fish and chips, which always taste better at the coast.
A walk towards the north of the beach will bring you to stag rock, named so because of the white stag painted on the rocks, also a great spot for rock pooling and fishing.
Opposite the beach are the Farne Islands and if you look north you will be able to see the iconic Holy Island and Lindisfarne Castle. A short walk will take you into Bamburgh itself, which has a selection of tearooms, pubs, restaurants and gift shops. Public toilets can be found here too.
This is a popular tourist spot so I personally would arrive earlier on in the day, however because of the size of the beach it rarely feels crowded.
To visit use postcode: NE69 7DF
Beadnell Beach
Growing up, our family holidays would be in Northumberland and I have many happy memories of spending the day on Beadnell beach. I love the fact I now live close enough to bring my own family here, whether it is to spend the day or just to enjoy some fish and chips at the coast.
Beadnell beach is that unique location, where on a sunny day, you could be anywhere in the world. The beach is naturally in a bay which means the sea of flat and great for water sports enthusiasts. Jet skies are particularly popular here and it is great for children who want to swim in the sea as it doesn’t get very deep.
There are huge sand dunes to run up and down, and the car park is close by so great for bringing all the gear for a day out at the beach. Toilets are located in the car park which lies next to the beach.
The majority of Beadnell village is made up of holiday lets and it is easy to see why this area is so popular for holiday makers. There is a small shop and popular pub in the village. Make sure you leave time to have a wander round and take in the views over to the Farne Islands and Bamburgh Castle.
Alnmouth Beach
This is my favourite beach to come to with the kids. The main reason being the car park is right next to the beach, so those trips with all the gear are easily achieved at Alnmouth. There is a parking charge of £3 for a full day during the summer season, which runs to October (slightly more for campervans). But if it means you don’t have far to drag the buckets, spades, tents, windbreaks, picnic bags and towels, well then I would say it was worth it wouldn’t you?
This beautiful stretch of beach runs alongside the picturesque, postcard village of Alnmouth, which comes with its own supply of tearooms, pubs, independent shops and colourful houses. The high street provides you with everything you would need for a typical day at the seaside, with gift shops selling buckets and spades and your all important postcards. The best part? It is only a short walk away from the beach.
The beach itself is flat and looks out to the rocky outline of Coquet Island, with Warkworth beach literally a stones throw away over the estuary. If you walk right round to the end of the beach where the estuary starts, there is also a cute little play park and space for picnics and BBQs if you don’t fancy sandy sandwiches.
Alnmouth is perfectly located north of Amble but south of Craster, meaning you are pretty central here for exploring the rest of the Northumberland coast.
Please note that swimming is not advised at this Northumberland beach due to the mouth of the estuary having a dropping tide.
To visit use postcode NE66 2RW
Embleton Bay
A stretch of unspoiled beach, Embleton Bay was voted as the best beach in the UK 2017 by readers of BBC’s Countryfile Magazine. It is easy to see why…
With its golden sands, over looked by the dramatic ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, this romantic beach is truly special. Great for a family day out if you enjoy games such as rounders or football as there is so much running around space and it very rarely gets busy.
Make sure you try out The Ship Inn, just up the road in Low Newton, a real place to escape the rest of the world.
To visit use postcode NE66 3XQ
Druridge Bay
The most southern of the Northumberland beaches mentioned in this round up, Druridge Bay lies north of Cresswell and stretches seven miles to Amble. It is easily accessible from the Druridge Bay country park, so if you are planning a day out you have everything on hand, including a café, toilets, visitor centre and play park. There is also a nature reserve so if you have a keen bird spotter in your party, this is a haven for a variety of birds and wildlife.
Climb through the rugged dunes to be rewarded with miles of golden sand, the north sea and views over to Coquet Island (great for puffin spotting).
To visit use postcode: NE61 5BX
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