Overview

Walking Holidays
5 - 7 Nights
64 miles / 103 km
  • Prices from: £580 per person
  • Start: Cresswell, Northumberland
  • Finish: Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland
  • Availability: Any start date from March to October
  • Grading: Moderate
  • Way-marked: Yes

Northumberland Coast Path Highlights

Breathtaking coastline
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Experience the spectacular scenery of the Northumberland coastline and its wonderful sandy beaches.

Charming communities
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Visit traditional seaside towns, charming villages and hamlets, including the tiny fishing harbour at Craster with its famous kippers.

Dramatic castles
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Discover ancient castles including Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh.

Farne Islands
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Visit the Farne Islands – the most famous bird sanctuary in the British Isles.

Holy Island of Lindisfarne
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Explore Lindisfarne Castle and the ruined priory on Holy Island, accessible via a causeway at low tide.

Berwick-upon-Tweed
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Wander along the magnificent town walls, amongst the finest ramparts in Europe, and enjoy spectacular coastal views.

A Diverse Northumbrian Coastal Walk

The Northumberland Coast Path is famous for its wild, unspoilt beauty – sweeping beaches, historic castles, rolling dunes and picturesque old coastal villages hardly changed by time. Its two National Nature Reserves are host to plentiful wildlife and beautiful habitats.

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The trail forms part of the International North Sea Trail, a route that offers spectacular coastal walking passing through the countries that border the North Sea.

The trail begins in the small fishing village of Cresswell and follows the coast northwards past the formidable masses of ancient castles including Dunstanburgh, a romantic ruin jutting out into the crashing waves, past pretty fishing villages and unspoilt harbours.

There is the option to visit Holy Island, which is accessible at low tide across the causeway and where the monastery became a centre for Christianity.

Your walk ends in the historic Border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, with its magnificent town-walls situated at the mouth of the River Tweed.

The Northumberland Coast Path offers some fine coastal walking and is generally level with very few steep climbs and can be covered over a leisurely period of between four to six days.

Northumberland Coast Path Route Map

Recommended Itinerary

Our most popular itinerary is NCP3 which covers the route in 6 days / 7 nights.

Travel to Ellington for your first night’s accommodation
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Arrive at the village of Ellington. There is no accommodation in Cresswell so you will spend the evening at your first night’s accommodation in this small village, close to the start of the walk.

Day 1: Cresswell to Warkworth (10.5 miles / 17 km)
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A short walk or bus journey will bring you to the start of the Northumberland Coast Path in the village of Cresswell.

The path leaves the village and follows the sweeping sands of Druridge Bay to the fishing port of Amble. Behind the sand dunes are a series of important wetland nature reserves and you may be able to spot some of the abundant birdlife.

Offshore, Coquet Island can be seen, where there are also large seabird colonies. From Amble, it is just a short walk to the beautiful village of Warkworth, situated in a meander of the River Coquet beneath its imposing castle.

Day 2: Warkworth to Craster (13 miles / 21 km)
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The Coast Path leaves Warkworth and the route quickly returns to the beach and continues onwards to the pretty village of Alnmouth, another great spot for wildlife enthusiasts.

Continuing north, the path passes through Boulmer, one of the only true remaining Northumberland fishing villages, well-known for its smuggling activities in the past. Finally you will arrive in the picturesque village of Craster with its attractive harbour and famous for its delicious kippers produced in the village smokehouse. From here there are stunning views towards the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle.

Day 3: Craster to Seahouses (10 miles / 16 km)
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A picturesque coastal footpath from the village crosses fields and leads to the dramatic ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle.

The rest of this section is characterised by the two long sandy beaches of Embleton and Beadnell Bays and finally ends-up in the bustling holiday town of Seahouses, gateway to the Farne Islands.

The Farne Islands are the most famous bird sanctuary in the British Isles and are home to an abundance of wildlife including puffins, guillemot, and grey seals. If you have time it is definitely worth adding an extra day in Seahouses in order to visit the Islands.

Day 4: Seahouses to Belford (10.5 miles / 17 km)
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On leaving Seahouses, the trail travels inland for a while to the historic village of Bamburgh which is dominated by one of Northumberland’s most familiar landmarks, magnificent Bamburgh Castle.

Just after Bamburgh you will reach the vast sands of Budle Bay, a National Nature Reserve and an important habitat for waterfowl. Holy Island and Lindisfarne Castle can be seen across the water.

The scenery starts to change as you walk through fields instead of along the coast before arriving into the pretty village of Belford which sits below the Kyloe Hills and is home to an original 18th Century coaching Inn.

Day 5: Belford to Fenwick (6.5 miles / 11 km)
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From Belford the route heads inland as woodland and farmland replaces the coast and there are stunning views towards Holy Island from Kyloe Ridge.

We recommend taking a short side trip to see St Cuthbert’s Cave, a dramatic sandstone overhang where the monk’s body was brought for safety in AD875, to escape from the Viking raids on Lindisfarne. From here you will continue to the small village of Fenwick.

Day 6: Fenwick to Berwick-upon-Tweed (13 miles / 21 km)
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Your final day on the Northumberland Coast Path will take you past the causeway over to Holy Island before following clifftop paths with dramatic views to historic Berwick-upon-Tweed. If you have the time it is a 3-mile walk to the centre of Holy Island, but you will need to check the tide times to ensure a safe return crossing. Click here to check tide times.

If you to wish to visit Holy Island we would suggest an additional night in Fenwick. As well as its many historic attractions, Holy Island is situated at the heart of the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve. The Castle is closed on Mondays.

Your walk will end in the lovely Border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed which has a fascinating history and has changed hands between Scotland and England for centuries. Explore the history of this lovely town and celebrate the end of your walk.

Onward travel
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After breakfast, you will start your journey home after a wonderful walking holiday on the Northumberland Coast Path.

What’s Included?

Your Northumberland Coast Path walking holiday includes:

  • Carefully selected accommodation along the route and trail transfers when applicable
  • En-suite or private bathroom facilities whenever possible
  • Daily door-to-door baggage transfers
  • Comprehensive information pack, kit list, guidebook and map (one set per room)
  • Personalised itinerary with details of your accommodation, route and recommendations for lunch and dinner
  • Traditional English breakfast
  • 24-hour emergency contact number
  • Full financial protection

Your walking holiday doesn't include:

  • Travel insurance
  • Transport to and from the start and end of the walk
  • Lunches and evening meals

Itineraries & Prices

We offer 3 suggested itineraries for walking the Northumberland Coast Path.

Our most popular itinerary is NCP3 which covers the route in 6 days.

Tour code
Itinerary
Average miles infoAverage miles per day
Difficulty infoLevel of difficulty
Price per person
NCP1
4 Days / 5 Nights
16 miles per day
Moderate
From £580
Average miles infoAverage miles per day 16 miles per day
Tour code: NCP1
Difficulty infoLevel of difficulty Moderate

4 Days / 5 Nights (NCP1)

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this package. Transfers are included when you are staying away from the trail.

Additional nights can be added at any stage along the walk and we would be delighted to adjust it for you.

All of our prices are per person based on two people sharing a room. Our packages include all accommodation, baggage transfers and full information pack.

Additional information

If you wish to make the crossing to Holy Island, the causeway road and the Pilgrim’s Path across the sands can only be crossed during low tide. Please contact us to check the safe crossing times before confirming your holiday.

Single room & solo walker supplements

Single rooms are available at a supplement which covers the additional costs of a single room or single occupancy of a twin or double room. 

  • Premium: £70 per night
  • Standard: £50 per night

As we incur additional costs for transferring a single bag there is a solo walker supplement of £10 per day in addition to the single supplement.

Arrive Travel to Ellington for your first night's accommodation
1
Day 1 Cresswell to Alnmouth 15 miles / 24km
2
Day 2 Alnmouth to Seahouses 18 miles / 29km
3
Day 3 Seahouses to Fenwick (overnight in Lowick) 17.5 miles / 28km
4
Day 4 Fenwick to Berwick-upon-Tweed 13 miles / 21km
Depart Onward travel from Berwick-upon-Tweed

Prices

Premium
Best available Guest Houses, Inns & Hotels
From £650 per person

Carefully selected guest houses, inns and hotels throughout your walk, which will be the best available in each location. As premium accommodation is in short supply on this trail, please note that some establishments will be of a higher standard than others. En-suite facilities or private bathroom guaranteed. 

Standard
Good quality B&Bs, Guest Houses & Hotels
From £580 per person

Good quality and comfortable B&Bs, guest houses and some hotels located as close to the trail as possible. We will prioritise en-suite facilities or a private bathroom, although in remote areas with limited accommodation this may not always be possible.

NCP2
5 Days / 6 Nights
13 miles per day
Moderate
From £670
Average miles infoAverage miles per day 13 miles per day
Tour code: NCP2
Difficulty infoLevel of difficulty Moderate

5 Days / 6 Nights (NCP2)

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this package. Transfers are included when you are staying away from the trail.

Additional nights can be added at any stage along the walk and we would be delighted to adjust it for you.

All of our prices are per person based on two people sharing a room. Our packages include all accommodation, baggage transfers and full information pack.

Additional information

If you wish to make the crossing to Holy Island, the causeway road and the Pilgrim’s Path across the sands can only be crossed during low tide. Please contact us to check the safe crossing times before confirming your holiday.

Single room & solo walker supplements

Single rooms are available at a supplement which covers the additional costs of a single room or single occupancy of a twin or double room. 

  • Premium: £70 per night
  • Standard: £50 per night

As we incur additional costs for transferring a single bag there is a solo walker supplement of £10 per day in addition to the single supplement.

Arrive Travel to Ellington for your first night's accommodation
1
Day 1 Cresswell to Warkworth 10.5 miles / 17km
2
Day 2 Warkworth to Craster 13 miles / 21km
3
Day 3 Craster to Bamburgh 14 miles / 22.5km
4
Day 4 Bamburgh to Fenwick (overnight in Lowick) 13.5 miles / 22km
5
Day 5 Fenwick to Berwick-upon-Tweed 13 miles / 21km
Depart Onward travel from Berwick-upon-Tweed

Prices

Premium
Best available Guest Houses, Inns & Hotels
From £790 per person

Carefully selected guest houses, inns and hotels throughout your walk, which will be the best available in each location. As premium accommodation is in short supply on this trail, please note that some establishments will be of a higher standard than others. En-suite facilities or private bathroom guaranteed. 

Standard
Good quality B&Bs, Guest Houses & Hotels
From £670 per person

Good quality and comfortable B&Bs, guest houses and some hotels located as close to the trail as possible. We will prioritise en-suite facilities or a private bathroom, although in remote areas with limited accommodation this may not always be possible.

NCP3
6 Days / 7 Nights
10.5 miles per day
Moderate
From £795
Average miles infoAverage miles per day 10.5 miles per day
Tour code: NCP3
Difficulty infoLevel of difficulty Moderate

6 Days / 7 Nights (NCP3)

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this package. Transfers are included when you are staying away from the trail.

Additional nights can be added at any stage along the walk and we would be delighted to adjust it for you.

All of our prices are per person based on two people sharing a room. Our packages include all accommodation, baggage transfers and full information pack.

Additional information

If you wish to make the crossing to Holy Island, the causeway road and the Pilgrim’s Path across the sands can only be crossed during low tide. Please contact us to check the safe crossing times before confirming your holiday.

Single room & solo walker supplements

Single rooms are available at a supplement which covers the additional costs of a single room or single occupancy of a twin or double room. 

  • Premium: £70 per night
  • Standard: £50 per night

As we incur additional costs for transferring a single bag there is a solo walker supplement of £10 per day in addition to the single supplement.

Arrive Travel to Ellington for your first night's accommodation
1
Day 1 Cresswell to Warkworth 10.5 miles / 17km
2
Day 2 Warkworth to Craster 13 miles / 21km
3
Day 3 Craster to Seahouses 10 miles / 16km
4
Day 4 Seahouses to Belford 10.5 miles / 17km
5
Day 5 Belford to Fenwick (overnight in Lowick) 6.5 miles / 11km
6
Day 6 Fenwick to Berwick-upon-Tweed 13 miles / 21km
Depart Onward travel from Berwick-upon-Tweed

Prices

Premium
Best available Guest Houses, Inns & Hotels
From £880 per person

Carefully selected guest houses, inns and hotels throughout your walk, which will be the best available in each location. As premium accommodation is in short supply on this trail, please note that some establishments will be of a higher standard than others. En-suite facilities or private bathroom guaranteed. 

Standard
Good quality B&Bs, Guest Houses & Hotels
From £795 per person

Good quality and comfortable B&Bs, guest houses and some hotels located as close to the trail as possible. We will prioritise en-suite facilities or a private bathroom, although in remote areas with limited accommodation this may not always be possible.

Northumberland Coast Path Accommodation

All of the accommodation that we reserve for you has been personally selected by our expert team to ensure it meets our exacting standards. We regularly review our extensive database.

We will always prioritise accommodation as close to the walking trail as possible. Occasionally, your accommodation may be located a short distance from the trail, or you may need to spend more than one night in the same place, in which case we will provide return transfers.

Travel Information

As an environmentally conscious tour operator, we actively encourage the use of public transport by providing clients with a detailed breakdown of travel options in their information packs. The following information may help with your pre-trip planning.

As there is no accommodation in Cresswell you will spend your first evening in Ellington. A short walk or bus journey the next morning will bring you to the start of the Northumberland Coast Path in the village of Cresswell.

Getting to Ellington
By Air

Nearest major International Airport: Newcastle

The Metro train service operates between Newcastle Airport and Newcastle city centre (journey time 23 min). From here you can catch a train to Widdrington, followed by a bus to Ellington.

By Public Transport

Nearest Railway Station: Widdrington

There are regular train services from London Kings Cross to Newcastle (journey time 3 hours).

From Newcastle you can catch a train to Widdrington (journey time 30 min). From Widdrington you can catch a bus directly to Ellington (journey time 5 min).

Newcastle is also accessible by National Express coaches.

By Car

Long term car parking provision at Ellington is possible, although we recommend that you travel by public transport.

If you do plan to travel by car, it may be possible to leave it at the start of your walk for the duration of your holiday. We can check this for you when your booking is confirmed.

Departing from Berwick-upon-Tweed
By Air

Nearest International Airports: Newcastle Airport and Edinburgh Airport.

You can catch a train from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Newcastle city centre (journey time 45 min), and from here the metro train service operates to Newcastle Airport (journey time 23 min).

Alternatively, you can catch a train north, from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Edinburgh city centre (journey time 45 min). From here you can travel to Edinburgh Airport by tram or bus. 

By Public Transport

Nearest Railway Station: Berwick-upon-Tweed

Regular train services operate from Berwick-upon-Tweed to London Kings Cross (journey time 4 hours), Newcastle (journey time 45 min), Manchester (journey time 3 hours 30 min) and Edinburgh (journey time 45 min).

Berwick is also accessible by National Express coaches.

By Car

Long term car parking provision at Berwick-upon-Tweed is possible, although we recommend that you travel by public transport.

If you do plan to travel by car, it may be possible to leave it at the end of your walk for the duration of your holiday. We can check this for you when your booking is confirmed.

Additional Days

We would be delighted to arrange additional accommodation for you along the Northumberland Coast Path.

You may wish to plan a rest day or have an additional night at any of the locations along the route which offer activities or sightseeing opportunities – we’ve made some suggestions below. Please request this when you make an enquiry.

Warkworth
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  • Warkworth is a delightful little village with some interesting shops in addition to a wonderful castle
Seahouses
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  • The Farne Islands are the most famous bird sanctuary in the British Isles and are home to an abundance of wildlife including puffins, guillemot, and grey seals. Boat trips depart from the harbour in Seahouses
Fenwick (for Holy Island of Lindisfarne)
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  • Explore incredible Lindisfarne Priory – an expansive Medieval monastery ruins with ornately sculpted stonework, and visit 16th century Lindisfarne Castle
  • Enjoy peaceful walks observing the abundant bird life on the dunes and beaches
Berwick-upon-Tweed
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  • A walk around the ramparts offers a succession of fine views out to sea, across the River Tweed and over the red roofs of the town’s elegant Georgian mansions
  • Explore the history of this lovely town and its various shops and restaurants

Make an enquiry

Northumberland Coast Path

Need something more tailored?
Contact us via email:
enquiries@absoluteescapes.com

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