Things to Do in Northumberland

Beaches of Northumberland

The Spectacular Beaches of Northumberland

Here in Northumberland we are particularly proud of our vast, unspoilt beaches as they are undoubtedly some of the finest in the UK. Every one of our beaches is dog-friendly all year round so you don’t need to worry about any restrictions.

The Cleanest Beaches

Northumberland has some of the cleanest beaches in England – every major beach has been passed by the Environment Agency for the cleanliness of its water.  The following beaches have gained the highest rating in the Marine Conservation Society’s (MSC) Good Beach Guide:

  • Warkworth
  • Amble Links
  • Druridge Bay
  • Seahouses
  • Beadnell
  • Low Newton

The Good Beach Guide is produced annually by the Marine Conservation Society (MSC) and ranks beaches around the country with either ‘fail’, ‘basic pass’, ‘guideline’ or ‘MSC Recommended’.

When planning your beach trips, remember to check the tide timetables in the information file in your cottage, as it’s not only safer to enjoy the beach when the tide is mostly out, but the beach is at it’s most dramatically beautiful then.

Which beach is right for me?

Warkworth Beach

Unmissable if you are staying in beautiful Warkworth village; this gorgeous soft golden-sanded beach is just a short walk from the heart of the village and is over 5 miles long, stretching from the southern side of Alnmouth Estuary to the north, right down to the northern side of the Coquet Estuary at Amble.  Bordered by huge dunes, which provide fun for children and dogs, it also has an expanse of rock pools full of interesting sea-life for children to safely explore.  The beach slopes gently into the sea with no hidden shelves or drops and when the tide is out, it stretches for miles!

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Warkworth Beach

Alnmouth

Soft, golden sands on the north side of the quaint, red-roofed holiday resort of Alnmouth. A river flows out from Alnmouth, separating Alnmouth beach from Warkworth beach. You are not advised to cross this – even at low tide, due to dangerously deep channels with fast tide speeds.

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Amble Links

An unspoilt beach with occasional rocky pools, sheltered by an extensive range of dunes. A Rural Seaside Award winner, graded “A” or very good for its absence of litter – the cleanest beach in the County.  A long, gently curving sandy beach, best reached from the Druridge Bay Country Park which is also very beautiful with a large lake, home to many swans, geese and other migrating birds. There is a visitor centre with a small cafe with toilets open in the summer months.  This bay becomes very popular in the summer, but is so vast it can never be described as “crowded”! One of our favourites.  You will need some coins to pay for parking here.

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Bamburgh Beach

Mile upon mile of long, golden sands overlooked by the magnificent Bamburgh Castle and looking out over the beautiful Farne Islands. Some of Northumberland’s most breathtaking and iconic views are hear, in this area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

A Rural Seaside Award winner, graded excellent for its absence of litter. The pretty village is perfect to visit too, especially for a cup of tea in one of the little boutique tearooms or great restaurants, or to stock up on some of the best meat in the area at the renowned multi-award winning Carter’s butchers shop there.

 

Beadnell Bay

A golden, sandy horse-shoe-shaped beach overlooked by sand dunes and a small harbour.  This is the only west facing harbour along the length of England’s east coast. A Rural Seaside Award winner.  Great for watersports and families.

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Blyth South Beach

Soft, golden sands to the south of Blyth Harbour, overlooked by a line of windmills on the harbour wall.

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Boulmer Haven

A really interesting stretch of coastline, it’s a narrow sandy beach which is bordered by about 2 miles of rocky reef running parallel to the shoreline. When it’s exposed at low tide, it has deep gullies and lots of overhangs which are home to a myriad of plants and sea creatures such as crabs, seashells, sponges, sea firs, dead-mans fingers and lots of seaweed. Great for kids to explore.

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Druridge Bay

Can be found around a mile south of Amble from the main coastal route it’s signposted ‘Druridge Bay Country Park’. When you drive in you see a great country park with a lake which is home to many different types of migratory birds, swans and Canadian geese.  You can walk all around the lake, which is very nice.  There is a part where you walk alongside a field containing sheep however, so at that point you need dogs on leads.  There are also stepping stones at the far side, which are large and flat.  There’s a little visitor centre, cafe and toilets, although the cafe may not be open during the winter months. You need to pay to park in the car park so have some coins with you. A short walk through the dunes takes you to magnificent Druridge Bay beach – certainly one of our favourites!  It’s vast and beautiful but check tide times before going there, as it’s best experienced when the tide is well out. Click here for a beautiful panaramic view of the beach, provided by The Guardian.

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Embleton Bay

Awarded Beach of the Year by the readers of Countryfile magazine in 2017, this gorgeous white-sandy beach is reached from the villages of Low Newton and Embleton, this dramatically beautiful and quiet, sandy bay is overlooked by the dramatic ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle.  Another iconic Northumberland view. A Rural Seaside Award winner and certainly one of the best beaches in the UK.  The families that stay with us vote it the very best for children!  It’s just perfect, with towering dunes and quaint 1950’s seaside chalets atop which are thankfully protected by The National Trust as they seem a national institution somewhat – we certainly appreciate the absence of any kind of commercialisation here!  The golf course is very popular and the clubhouse welcomes visitors (including children) for food and drinks.  This would make a great seaside day out.

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Newbiggin Beach

The beach is framed by the town itself and its new sea walls and esplanade, overlooked by St Bartholomew’s Church above a rocky outcrop.

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Seaton Sluice Beach

Long, golden sands stretching north from the picturesque harbour of Seaton Sluice.

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Spittal Beach

Soft golden sands on the south side of the Tweed estuary at Berwick.

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Sugar Sands

This is a very special section of the coast and a closely guarded secret as it’s a trek to get to them. The sands are virtually white and resemble Barbados more than Beadnell! Access is from the village of Longhoughton, along a path past Low Stead Farm. See this map of Sugar Sands for more idea. It’s a decent walk from parking the car at Longhoughton, but well worth the walk.

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St Aiden's Beach at Seahouses

An arc shaped sandy beach with rocky outcrops and rock pools offering good views of the Farne Islands. A Rural Seaside Award winner.

Not quite sure where to start?

We know all of our cottages and Northumberland inside out, so if you have any particular queries, please don’t hesitate to call or email us. We’re more than happy to help!

Telephone: 01665 710 700 or click here to email us.

SAMPLE OF OUR COTTAGES NEAR A BEACH

Amble

Bay View - Cottage with Sea Views

Sleeps: 5 2 Dogs

Holidays from £519

Amble

Sea Gem in Amble

Sleeps: 6 No Pets

Holidays from £499

Alnmouth

Prudhoe Villa

Sleeps: 6+2 2 Dogs

Holidays from £911

VIEW ALL OUR COTTAGES NEAR A BEACH