Northumberland beach break – a late summer treat
The Northumberland coast is one of the most beautiful places in the world. The beaches are outstanding with swathes of yellow sand, sparkling rock pools and swirling skies.
Many of my childhood summer holidays were spent camping in a field near Seahouses. We loved playing by the seaside, eating fish and chips and venturing into the amusement arcades. Seahouses is north of Alnwick and tourists often drop in whilst visiting the Northumberland National Park, and the Farne Islands. Seahouses also has a working fishing port, and several boat companies will take you out to the Farnes, to see colonies of seals and seabirds. The current Seahouses lifeboat is named after Grace Darling a lighthouse keeper’s daughter who risked her life to save survivors of a shipwreck in 1838.
Northumberland – an ideal weekend destination
We stayed in Beadnell a small Northumberland village just outside Seahouses with its own charming little bay. It also has a great little eaterie, the Salt water Cafe, and a couple of nice pubs. One of the nicest walks in the area is along the beach from Seahouses to Bamburgh castle. We have had some amazing weather this summer and this makes beach life very popular. It never gets too crowded though and out of season these beautiful beaches are often all but deserted.
Northumberland = the most castles in England
Bamburgh Castle is one of the most impressive castles in the country. A grade 1 listed building, it was originally a fort, destroyed by the vikings and rebuilt by the Normans as a castle. After a revolt in 1092 it became the property of the English Monarch. It was finally bought by the Victorian industrialist William Armstrong, who completed its restoration. The castle still belongs to the Armstrong family and is open to the public. There’s quite a lot to see in this substantial fortification and the turreted walls have witnessed a lot of English history. Northumberland has more castles per square mile than any other county in England.
Traditional seaside pass times are as popular as ever. Paddling. sand castle construction, sunbathing, kite flying, picnicing and dog walking among them. Surfing is also now very popular, with a wet suit of course. The North Sea is pretty cold all the year round.
Northumberland – fish and chips and fun
There is nothing better than a beach walk to ‘blow the cobwebs away’ or indeed to clear your blocked sinuses. The rock pools are home to hermit crabs, periwinkles, mudskippers and small fish. In the sunshine the sea and the sky are forever changing variations of green and blue and grey. In the distance the white lighthouse of one of the main Farne islands rising from the horizon. You may feel the need to sample the local dish from many of the available fish and chips emporiums. Or why not pop in to a wet fish shop and get your own fresh seafood to eat. It’s a lovely place to visit especially in the summer months.
While we were there we met a couple from Suffolk who said they were there for the first time. We asked the purpose of their trip. ‘Because we haven’t been before and we heard how beautiful it was.’ They had a treat in store!
