Northumberland Coastal Path

It is always exciting and uplifting for children and adults when walking by the sea. And walking on a coastal path is the best way to do it. The Northumberland coastal path is split into 6 stages, each of which can be done in a day. We did part of Stage 3 which runs from Seahouses to Craster.

Whilst staying in Beadnell we decided to walk a stretch of the coastal path to Low Newton. You can park at Beadnell in the free car park close to the historic harbour. And either do as we did which was to walk there and back. Or you can walk there and catch the bus back.

The walk was a relatively easy one as most of it was along the beach and lovely and flat.

On reaching Low Newton we enjoyed the view of the beautiful sandy bay spread out in front of us. It took us an hour and a half to walk one way and three hours to walk back!

On arrival in Low Newton we headed to the Ship Inn for lunch. This popular pub right on the beach is a microbrewery. The local beer, called Dolly Daydream washed down the crab sandwiches beautifully.

A locally made bread roll called stottie was on the menu too. 

Along this tiny stretch of coast there is a smokehouse at Craster. We bought some locally smoked kippers for our supper and they were enjoyed with local Alnwick gin and Fentimans pink grapefruit tonic which is made in Northumberland. 

On our way back to Beadnell we stopped to do some stone balancing. Very therapeutic.

We also stopped to chat to the rangers at Long Nanny, a little tern breeding colony run by the National Trust. We saw little terns and arctic terns sitting on their eggs   Apparently little terns are in decline and are amber listed as a species of conservation concern. At Long Nanny they have rangers guarding the birds from predators 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Apart from people the birds are also in danger from foxes, badgers and stoats. And the silly things lay their eggs too close to the water and the high tide can wash them away.

The wild flowers along the walk were beautiful too. 

Next time we go we plan to do the driving Trail from Craster to Warkworth too.