Overview

Walking Holidays
6 - 10 Nights
97 miles / 156 km
  • Prices from: £785 per person
  • Start: Holy Island of Lindisfarne
  • Finish: Heavenfield, near Hexham
  • Availability: Any start date from March to October
  • Grading: Moderate
  • Way-marked: Yes

St Oswald's Way Highlights

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne
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Discover Lindisfarne Castle and the Priory – nearly 1,400 years old.

The Pilgrim’s Path
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Enjoy an unforgettable walk across the Pilgrim’s Path from Holy Island to the mainland.

Dramatic castles
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Visit the impressive coastal fortresses of Bamburgh Castle and Dunstanburgh Castle. 

Golden beaches
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Walk along some of Northumberland’s finest beaches, golden sands stretching into the distance.

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

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

A Stunning Coastal and Moorland Walk

The St Oswald’s Way begins in one of England’s holiest places, Lindisfarne. Explore the Northumberland coast and all its natural wonders — sweeping beaches, historic castles, rolling dunes and picturesque old coastal villages hardly changed by time. Before travelling inland across beautiful heather-clad moorland.

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St Oswald’s Way is a wonderful long-distance walking route, exploring some of the finest landscapes and fascinating history of Northumberland. The route links places associated with St. Oswald, the 7th-century King of Northumbria, who played a major part in bringing Christianity to his people.

Beginning on Holy Island with its fairytale castle, the 97-mile St. Oswald’s Way follows the stunning Northumberland coast, before heading inland across beautiful countryside to Heavenfield and Hadrian’s Wall in the south.

The route passes the famous Bamburgh Castle, the quaint fishing village of Craster, and over the sweeping golden sands to Warkworth—a beautiful village dominated by one of the most impressive fortresses in Northern England.

From here, the St Oswald’s Way heads inland to the lovely old market town of Rothbury, before heading over heather-clad moors and past sleepy villages to reach Hadrian’s Wall and the historic site of Heavenfield.

St Oswald's Way Route Map

Recommended Itinerary

Our most popular itinerary is SOW2 which covers the route in 7 days / 8 nights.

Travel to Lindisfarne for your first night’s accommodation
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Arrive in Lindisfarne, 15 miles south of England’s most northern town, Berwick-upon-Tweed and spend the evening at your first night’s accommodation. The tides will determine your arrival time on Holy Island as the causeway is flooded by the sea for 5 hour periods over high tide.

Day 1: Lindisfarne to Belford (12 miles / 19 km)
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The St Oswald’s Way begins at Lindisfarne Priory and heads towards the mainland via the causeway (please check the tide times in advance).

After reaching the mainland, the path heads south through Fenwick and Kyloe Woods, with its surviving population of red squirrels. There are wonderful views of the coast before reaching the village of Belford.

Day 2: Belford to Seahouses (11 miles / 17.5 km)
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The route then heads east-wards to Budle Bay and through stunning coastal scenery to the attractive village of Bamburgh which is dominated by one of Northumberland’s most familiar landmarks; magnificent Bamburgh Castle.

From here the St. Oswald’s Way heads towards the popular seaside village of Seahouses, where boat trips depart for the nearby Farne Islands – home to the most famous bird sanctuary in the British Isles. If you have time it is certainly worth adding an extra day in Seahouses in order to visit the islands.

Day 3: Seahouses to Craster (10 miles / 16 km)
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Today you’ll follow the coast south past seaside villages to Embleton Bay, where if tides allow you can walk on the beach as an alternative to the path.

The St. Oswald’s Way then passes the romantic ruins of Dunstanburgh, a famous Northumbrian Castle, before arriving at the picturesque fishing village of Craster, famous for its oak-smoked kippers produced in the village smokehouse.

Day 4: Craster to Warkworth (13.5 miles / 21.5 km)
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From Craster continue south-wards along the coastline and pass the site of Northumberland’s earliest Stone Age settlement at Howick, before arriving at the village of Boulmer.

As you head towards Alnmouth, you can walk along the beach which passes two golf courses, including one of the oldest in England.

After reaching the seaside village of Alnmouth, the route goes through the coastal dunes with splendid views of Amble and Coquet Island. The path meets the River Coquet for the first time at Warkworth, a beautiful village set in a meander of the river beneath imposing Warkworth Castle and Hermitage.

Day 5: Warkworth to Rothbury (18 miles / 29 km)
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From Warkworth, the trail wanders up the scenic Coquet valley on one of the longest sections of the route. It passes through the village of Felton then through woodland and along riverside paths to Weldon Bridge.

The route then stays on the south side of the river and passes through attractive rolling farmland to reach the picturesque, lovely old village of Rothbury – the ‘Capital of Coquetdale’,

Day 6: Rothbury to Kirkwhelpington (15 miles / 24 km)
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Today the route leaves the River Coquet and heads south over remote but lovely countryside and enters the Northumberland National Park.

It crosses the heather-clad moors of the Simonside Hills and reaches Harwood forest which is protected by the Forestry Commission. Pass through attractive farmland and head down past Knowesgate until you reach the scenic small village of Kirkwhelpington.

Day 7: Kirkwhelpington to Heavenfield (17.5 miles / 28.5 km)
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The final section of the St. Oswald’s Way heads south-wards through picturesque rolling farmland – this part of the walk is fairly remote – before reaching the village of Great Whittington.

South of here, the route joins Hadrian’s Wall Path and runs west along the famous Roman frontier to the historic site of Heavenfield and the end of the St. Oswald’s Way. There is no public transport or accommodation available in Heavenfield, so we will book your last nights accommodation in Wall or Chollerford – just a mile from the end of the walk. 

Onward travel
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After breakfast, you will start your journey home after a wonderful walking holiday on the St Oswald’s Way.

What's Included?

Your St Oswald's Way 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 5 suggested itineraries for walking the St Oswald’s Way.

Our most popular itinerary is SOW2 which covers the route in 7 days.

Tour code
Itinerary
Average miles infoAverage miles per day
Difficulty infoLevel of difficulty
Price per person
SOW1
6 Days / 7 Nights
16 miles per day
Moderate
From £785
Average miles infoAverage miles per day 16 miles per day
Tour code: SOW1
Difficulty infoLevel of difficulty Moderate

6 Days / 7 Nights (SOW1)

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.

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: £60 per night
  • Standard: £50 per night

As we incur additional costs for transferring a single bag there is a solo walker supplement of £20 per day in addition to the single supplement.

Arrive Travel to Lindisfarne for your first night's accommodation
1
Day 1 Lindisfarne to Bamburgh 19 miles / 31 km
2
Day 2 Bamburgh to Craster 12 miles / 19 km
3
Day 3 Craster to Warkworth 13.5 miles / 21.5 km
4
Day 4 Warkworth to Rothbury 18 miles / 29 km
5
Day 5 Rothbury to Kirkwhelpington 15 miles / 24 km
6
Day 6 Kirkwhelpington to Heavenfield (overnight Wall) 17.5 miles / 28.5 km
Depart Onward travel from Wall

Prices

Premium
Best available Guest Houses, Inns & Hotels
From £995 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 £785 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.

SOW2
7 Days / 8 Nights
14 miles per day
Moderate
From £945
Average miles infoAverage miles per day 14 miles per day
Tour code: SOW2
Difficulty infoLevel of difficulty Moderate

7 Days / 8 Nights (SOW2)

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.

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: £60 per night
  • Standard: £50 per night

As we incur additional costs for transferring a single bag there is a solo walker supplement of £20 per day in addition to the single supplement.

Arrive Travel to Lindisfarne for your first night's accommodation
1
Day 1 Lindisfarne to Belford 12 miles / 19 km
2
Day 2 Belford to Seahouses 11 miles / 17.5 km
3
Day 3 Seahouses to Craster 10 miles / 16 km
4
Day 4 Craster to Warkworth 13.5 miles / 21.5 km
5
Day 5 Warkworth to Rothbury 18 miles / 29 km
6
Day 6 Rothbury to Kirkwhelpington 15 miles / 24 km
7
Day 7 Kirkwhelpington to Heavenfield (overnight Wall) 17.5 miles / 28.5 km
Depart Onward travel from Wall

Prices

Premium
Best available Guest Houses, Inns & Hotels
From £1050 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 £945 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.

SOW3
8 Days / 9 Nights
12 miles per day
Moderate
From £1040
Average miles infoAverage miles per day 12 miles per day
Tour code: SOW3
Difficulty infoLevel of difficulty Moderate

8 Days / 9 Nights (SOW3)

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.

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: £60 per night
  • Standard: £50 per night

As we incur additional costs for transferring a single bag there is a solo walker supplement of £20 per day in addition to the single supplement.

Arrive Travel to Lindisfarne for your first night's accommodation
1
Day 1 Lindisfarne to Belford 12 miles / 19 km
2
Day 2 Belford to Seahouses 11 miles / 17.5 km
3
Day 3 Seahouses to Craster 10 miles / 16 km
4
Day 4 Craster to Warkworth 13.5 miles / 21.5 km
5
Day 5 Warkworth to Rothbury 18 miles / 29 km
6
Day 6
7
Day 7 Rothbury to Knowesgate 13.5 miles / 21.5 km
7
Day 7 Knowesgate to Great Whittington 12 miles / 19 km
8
Day 8 Great Whittington to Heavenfield (overnight Wall) 7 miles / 11 km
Depart Onward travel from Wall

Prices

Premium
Best available Guest Houses, Inns & Hotels
From £1170 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 £1040 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.

SOW4
9 Days / 10 Nights
10.5 miles per day
Moderate
From £1140
Average miles infoAverage miles per day 10.5 miles per day
Tour code: SOW4
Difficulty infoLevel of difficulty Moderate

9 Days / 10 Nights (SOW4)

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.

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: £60 per night
  • Standard: £50 per night

As we incur additional costs for transferring a single bag there is a solo walker supplement of £20 per day in addition to the single supplement.

Arrive Travel to Lindisfarne for your first night's accommodation
1
Day 1 Lindisfarne to Belford 12 miles / 19 km
2
Day 2 Belford to Seahouses 11 miles / 17.5 km
3
Day 3 Seahouses to Craster 10 miles / 16 km
4
Day 4 Craster to Warkworth 13.5 miles / 21.5 km
5
Day 5 Warkworth to Weldon Bridge 11.5 miles / 18.5 km
6
Day 6 Weldon Bridge to Rothbury 6.5 miles / 10.5 km
7
Day 7 Rothbury to Knowesgate 13.5 miles / 21.5 km
8
Day 8 Knowesgate to Great Whittington 12 miles / 19 km
9
Day 9 Great Whittington to Heavenfield (overnight Wall) 7 miles / 11 km
Depart Onward travel from Wall

Prices

Premium
Best available Guest Houses, Inns & Hotels
From £1270 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 £1140 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.

SOW5
10 Days / 11 Nights
9.5 miles per day
Moderate
From £1260
Average miles infoAverage miles per day 9.5 miles per day
Tour code: SOW5
Difficulty infoLevel of difficulty Moderate

10 Days / 11 Nights (SOW5)

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.

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: £60 per night
  • Standard: £50 per night

As we incur additional costs for transferring a single bag there is a solo walker supplement of £20 per day in addition to the single supplement.

Arrive Travel to Lindisfarne for your first night's accommodation
1
Day 1 Lindisfarne to Belford 12 miles / 19 km
2
Day 2 Belford to Seahouses 11 miles / 17.5 km
3
Day 3 Seahouses to Craster 10 miles / 16 km
4
Day 4 Craster to Alnmouth 6 miles / 9.5 km
5
Day 5 Alnmouth to Warkworth 6 miles / 9.5 km
6
Day 6 Warkworth to Weldon Bridge 11.5 miles / 18.5 km
7
Day 7 Weldon Bridge to Rothbury 6.5 miles / 10.5 km
8
Day 8 Rothbury to Knowesgate 13.5 miles / 21.5 km
9
Day 9 Knowesgate to Great Whittington 12 miles / 19 km
10
Day 10 Great Whittington to Heavenfield (overnight Wall) 7 miles / 11 km
Depart Onward travel from Wall

Prices

Premium
Best available Guest Houses, Inns & Hotels
From £1375 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 £1260 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.

St Oswald's Way 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.

Getting to Lindisfarne
By Air

Nearest International Airports: Newcastle and Edinburgh Airport.

An airport shuttle bus operates between Edinburgh Airport and Edinburgh city centre (journey time 25 min).

If you arrive at Newcastle Airport the metro train service operates between the airport and Newcastle city centre (journey time 25 min).

By Rail

Nearest Railway Station: Berwick-upon-Tweed.

The closest train station is at Berwick-upon-Tweed which links with bus services seasonally to Lindisfarne. This is the Travelsure service No 477 (journey time 40 min). Alternatively, we recommend you take a taxi from Berwick.

By Road

We recommend using public transport as parking is generally not available on Lindisfarne.

Departing Heavenfield
By Rail

Nearest Railway Station: Hexham.

Regular buses operate between Wall and Hexham and from Hexham there are train services (journey time 20 min) to Newcastle. Alternatively we recommend you take a taxi to Hexham.

There are regular train services from Newcastle to London Kings Cross (journey time 3 hours) and north to Edinburgh (journey time 2 hours). 

By Road

From Wall you can travel to Hexham via bus and then we’d recommend continuing to Newcastle. Newcastle is also accessible by National Express coaches.

By Air

Nearest International Airports: Newcastle Airport and Edinburgh Airport.

There are regular shuttle services from Newcastle city centre to the airport (journey time 25 min). You can also travel from Edinburgh city centre to Edinburgh Airport on a regular shuttle service (journey time 25 min).

Additional Days

We would be delighted to arrange additional accommodation for you along the St Oswald’s Way.

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.

Lindisfarne
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  • Enjoy peaceful walks observing the abundant birdlife on the dunes and beaches
  • Explore incredible Lindisfarne Priory – an expansive Medieval monastery ruins with ornately sculpted stonework, and visit 16th century Lindisfarne 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
Warkworth
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  • Warkworth is a delightful little village with some interesting shops in addition to a wonderful castle

Make an enquiry

St Oswald’s Way

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

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