1

5

2 6 7

8 3 4

With its red-tiled roofs, fortified town is well-rewarded with great views from walls and great bridges spanning the the Iron Age fort at the top. majestic River Tweed, Berwick is a great Down the coast, peaceful Holy Island base for walkers wishing to experience () also has a bloody history; the huge skies, wide beaches and rolling the monks here first saw the red and hills of north Northumberland. Things white sails and carved dragons of Viking were not always so peaceful, however; longships approaching on the horizon Viking pillage and border warfare shaped in AD793. Today the tidal causeway stops this land and that bloody history features it being overrun and it’s a fascinating in many of the walks in this section. place to explore. Following a breezy walk around the Further south are some of the finest walls of what was once Scotland’s richest beaches in . Budle Bay is simply trading port, those with an interest in the stunning and the coastal walking here is history of relations with Northumberland’s second to none. Any visitor to this area northern neighbour shouldn’t miss the must also spend some time exploring short tour of Flodden Field or the walk up and its glorious dune-backed Humbleton Hill near Wooler. beach. The last walk is from the quiet This area was home to people long harbour at Beadnell, with the ruined walls before those battles, however, and a yomp of Dunstanburgh shimmering in the up past the hardy goats on Yeavering Bell distance, to the busy port at Seahouses. 6 Berwick, Wooler and Bamburgh 1 Berwick Walls 8 5 Holy Island 16 Enjoy an easy circular walk around Tour the abbey and castle before the Elizabethan ramparts of this setting off on an easy circular walk border citadel which takes in a nature reserve

2 Flodden Battlefield Trail 10 6 Budle Bay 18 A tour of tranquil farmland by the Explore this fantastic bay with miles village of Branxton where 500 years of golden sand before returning by quiet ago a bloody medieval battle raged farmland to Bamburgh

3 Yeavering Bell 12 7 Bamburgh circular 20 Tackle Northumberland’s largest A short town and beach walk always hillfort on this circular walk in the in the shadow of one of England’s Cheviot foothills greatest castles

4 Humbleton Hillfort 14 8 Beadnell to Seahouses 22 Stretch your legs on an enjoyable An easygoing coastal walk from little hillwalk with a great view and harbour to harbour with stunning historical interest along the way views all the way

7 7 BERWICK, WOOLER AND BAMBURGH

Bamburgh circular Distance 3.5km Time 1 hour 30 the roaring sea as her father helped the Terrain pavements, tarmac roads, sandy survivors aboard. In all, 42 crew and beaches and sand tracks through dunes passengers of the Forfarshire, including the with ascent that are unsuitable for captain and his wife, were lost. buggies Map OS Explorer 340 Grace reluctantly became a popular Access Arriva bus (501) from Berwick, celebrity and was awarded the RNLI Medal Morpeth, Alnwick and Newcastle for Gallantry – the first woman to receive the honour – but sadly died four years Any trip to Bamburgh should include a later from tuberculosis aged just 27. visit to the excellent The museum on Radcliffe Road, with Museum and the Northumbrian the church directly opposite, is the heroine’s elaborate grave in the nearby starting point for this circular walk that churchyard of St Aidans. takes in views of Bamburgh Castle, wide The Longstone keeper’s golden beaches and the picturesque daughter shot to national fame in 1838 village itself. when she rowed out with her father Set off down Church Street and turn left William to rescue nine terrified survivors down The Wynding, which is signed on of a shipwrecked paddlesteamer. Grace the facing stone wall of a house. held the small open cobble boat steady in Take care of the traffic and follow the

20 BAMBURGH CIRCULAR

fortress is built upon. Follow the path tarmac road down past the beautiful around past the Battery Gate and up to houses and into the second car park. the main entrance and gatehouse. From here, you’ll find easy access down Owned by the Armstrong family onto the wide beach through rough high (descendants of the Victorian industrialist grasses on the dune tops by a line of old Lord Armstrong who also built Cragside sunken anti-tank blocks. House near Rothbury), the castle is one of Looking out to sea, you will see the the most impressive in England and is on the horizon and the red- well worth paying to visit. There are more and-white painted Longstone Lighthouse. than 2000 artefacts, including armour, There can be bracing winds whipping arms, paintings and furniture, and 14 down the length of the vast beach so public rooms to explore, as well as an dress appropriately and set off south excellent café in the Clocktower. towards magnificent Bamburgh Castle. From the castle go past the football and Just before you draw level with the cricket pitches – with what must be the Windmill turret and St Oswald’s Gate at most dramatic sporting backdrop in the the front of the castle walls, turn right country – and follow the path back up the and walk over the top of the rough grass other side of the road from Church Street, dunes and onto a sandy path that runs past the triangle of trees in the centre of through the shrubbery and skirts the the village. Turn right to return to the volcanic whinstone outcrop that the Grace Darling Museum. Bamburgh Castle 21