Coastwalk

Craster → Bamburgh

Distance: 14.21 miles
Ascent: 285 metres
Duration: 4 hours 44 minutes

Castle to Castle
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A mile or so north of Craster is Dunstanburgh Castle. Its toothy form has been visible on the horizon for a few walks now, so we were pleased to see it close-up at last. Its scale intimidates, even in its ruinous state. Feeling pushed for time we decided to postpone looking around inside but this is definitely somewhere to revisit.

It would be easy to omit walking down to the harbour at Beadnell, but we strongly recommend you take time to visit it. This tiny haven is backed by large lime kilns which were stacked high with lobster pots, providing an atmospheric (and sheltered) lunch spot.

Between Beadnell and Seahouses we walked on the beach, crossing an ankle-deep stream at the northern end before climbing up to the golf course on North Sunderland Point.

To the east the Farne Islands lay low on the horizon all day. Even now, in early February, one kiosk in Seahouses was selling tickets for a boat tour of the rocks but the biting wind and choppy seas deemed the prospect highly unlikely.

Between Seahouses and Bamburgh the Northumberland Coast Path's official route runs about half a mile inland from the shore but we stayed on the sands. It was easy walking with only one minor challenge: clambering up and across the sand dunes beneath the impressive Bamburgh Castle.