ENGLISH COASTAL PATH
BAMBURGH to Belford AND RETURN
NORTHUMBERLAND
DISTANCE 22KM CLIMB 330M
Saturday 4 December 2021
It was in October 2020 when we did our last walk on the English Coastal Path (ECP), from Beadnell to Bamburgh, today we are continuing north along not only the English Coastal Path but the Northumberland Coastal Path and St Oswald's Way.
Leaving The Sunningdale we walked right, along Front Street towards the Castle. On the small grassed area near Front Street we could see skips of rubble and stacks of tree branches piled high, possibly from last weeks Storm Arwen.
We crossed over Front Street where it joins Radcliffe Road to turn up The Wynding. There are some large interesting houses along here. It was very sunny but cold and the forecast was for showers later.
Through a large gap between the houses we could see Bamburgh Castle across the field on our right. It always looks impressive.
We were continuing along The Wynding and we passed a footpath sign showing we were now on the Northumberland Coast Path, which is also the ECP and the St Oswald's Way. We could see a number of people who had parked up their cars and were sitting with their spyglasses looking out to sea.
Following further along The Wynding we turned a corner and looking ahead we could see The Lighthouse, Beyond The Lighthouse we could see Holy Island, Lindisfarne across the sea.
Approaching The Lighthouse we could see Stag Rock.
This little chap was sitting watching us as we walked up towards The Lighthouse, a Stonechat I believe.
At The Lighthouse we read a couple of information boards. They said there were many stories about Stag Rock which are now lost in the mists of time. The information board suggested a walk around the wall of The Lighthouse to see some interesting images. I saw the date 1910 a shield and a cross, they may be more.
Leaving The Lighthouse we continued along a narrow path trying to see if we could identify some of the pools mentioned on the information boards. The path was very slippery in places so when we got the chance we climbed the steep bank up to a seat beside The Wyndings.
At the top after a short rest on the seat we saw someone parked up with his spyglass, so we asked what was he and everyone we had passed were looking for. He was not very forth coming about what was happening but said the day before was a better day for observing. Observing what? We don't know and he was not going to tell us.
Continuing along The Wynding for a few more meters we reached Bamburgh Castle Golf Club, where a footpath follows along by the coast, heading west.
It was lovely walking along here the sun was shinning and we could hear seagulls calling from the rocks behind some sheds my map shows as Kittling Hill. The wide grass footpath turns right down onto a narrow path rising and falling between gorse bushes. It was lovely.
As we approached Budle Point where the footpath becomes a little more sandy. Looking to our left we could see The Cheviot covered in snow and low clouds, it looked stunning.
After a few meters the footpath turns towards the south and we could see across Budle Bay, where the tide was out. The views were stunning.
Turning further south again we could see The Cheviot in the distance. It had been such a long time since I had last walked there, I must do it again soon. You can follow the link to my last walk on The Cheviot.
I had a look at an old pill box near the Landing Stage while Anne had a short rest on a seat. It was lovely here we will have to come back again on another day.
Passing the pill box the footpath took us up a short rise, south, back onto another part of the Bamburgh Catle Golf Course.
Turning west through a kissing gate. There is a large sign advising the footpath does not follow the track downhill, but continues after a few meters along a grass pass towards a gate up to our left. The grass path passes an old sign showing we had been in the National Nature Reserve.
Through the gate we walked up hill slightly heading towards Newtown, heading south east.
From Newton we cross the track and continue south east along a fence line continuing the gentle climb uphill. Although we were now walking inland away from the coast, we were still following the Northumberland Coastal Path. We also passed signs of St Oswald's Way.
Reaching a gate at the top of the field.
We turned right slightly a little further southerly, back across another part of the Bamburgh Castle Golf Course. Crossing Lonsdales Hill we passed a drinking tap presented by Lord Walton of Detchant and a staircase erected in fond memory to Kathleen and Munro Black past Captains of the Bamburgh Castle Golf Club.
The footpath levels across the Bamburgh Castle Golf Course then drops slightly to a gate on the B1342.
Turning left and walking easterly, sunlight reflected off the puddles and wet tarmac, we headed downhill. After a few hundred meters we turned right, south onto a narrow road. At the junction looking to the east we could see Bamburgh Castle, we were so close.
After a few steps, almost hidden in the high hedge we found the footpath stepping up to the right.
We headed south westerly around the bottom of a hill the map shows as Shada Plantation.
Dropping down to the edge of the field we passed beside the redundant stile to climb the footpath into the next field.
Walking into the next field we crossed over to the right to walk along the right hand side of a line of trees. We could see our path as it climbed south westerly.
Crossing the stile we started the gentle climb walking south westerly. There were horse hoof prints all heading towards the stile but I don't think they jumped the fence so must have followed around the edge of the field?
It was slippery in places but it was ok walking, the field levels off as we headed towards the top corner. It was cold here and very exposed to the cold wind. Never mind it did not take us long to reach the road.
Turning left onto the road then right at the next junction.
We found ourselves walking towards Waren Campsite and the Witch and Worm.
The Witch and Worm was open so we had a short rest and a coffee. This gave us an opportunity to read the interesting folklore story about the Witch and Worm.
After our coffee and rest we followed the footpath through the campsite.
Saw a part of Laidley Worm's Trough. Walking westerly we continued along the footpath, through a gate and walked down hill south of Spindlestone Heughs. This looks an interesting place to explore.
At the bottom of the bank we passed through a gate into an open field.
The footpath heads down hill as it bends slightly right, still following below Spindlestone Heughs, before we passed through another gate. Here the footpath is narrow with bracken and tall brown ferns on either side.
At another gate I could see a number of bee hives behind us. Sheltered to the east by a rocky outcrop.
The footpath was blocked by a fallen tree as we walked around it I could hear the sound of a stream running down to our right.
Ducking under a couple of other fallen trees on the slippery path down hill we soon reached the bottom and turned left onto the road.
We were walking south and within a few meters we were walking under fallen trees which must be from Storm Arwen.
At the top of the road we reached a T junction with Spindlestone Mill directly to our front.
Turning right along the road we were heading west over a bridge crossing Waren Burn. Which was very full and fast flowing.
Following the road as it climbed first north west then turned and climbed south west levelling off as we reached the Outchester Ducket. We found we were now not only on the ECP, the Northumberland Coastal Path and St Oswald's Way we were also on the No1 Cycle Route.
The Ducket is shown on the map as a windmill but an information board shows there is no evidence of this but there are signs that it has been used for navigation at sea. It looks interesting.
At the junction in front of The Ducket we turned right, continued north easterly along the ECP, the Northumberland Coastal Path, St Oswald's Way and No 1 Cycle Route.
The road drops a little before a slow climb for a few meters up to a junction with a sharp bend on the B1342. From the broken sign and the police tape it looks like a few people have been caught out on the bend.
Turning right on the B1342 we only had a few meters to walk northerly before the B1342 bends to our right. We could see the sea over the field to our right. Our route was to continue onto the narrow road heading northerly.
After a few hundred meters of walking along the narrow road our route took us left, west through a wooden gate. We could see our path climbing slightly following a line of pylons on the edge of a field. We were still on the ECP the Northumberland Coastal Path and St Oswald's Way but I think we had left the No 1 Cycle Route.
After a few hundred meters the footpath drops to follow on the top of a line of stone before climbing again. Passing a gate warning of a bull we continued west.
At the top of the rise we could see Belford across the fields ahead of us.
Walking down the other side we could see trains on the busy Edinburgh to Newcastle Trainline, as well as cars and lorries on the busy A1 a little further beyond.
At the bottom we had to climb a high stile over a wall that took our footpath right slightly across what looked like a newly planted area. Out the other side and we walked up into an area that must have something to do with Easington Quarry.
We stepped up onto an old road that led to Easington Quarry, continuing westerly.
Leaving the old road as it turns south our footpath led us to cross an old railway line.
We were still following the pylons and in this area the ground was very wet.
Looking to our left we could see a number of trees that had been blown over.
After a few hundred meters we approached the busy Edinburgh to Newcastle railway line at Belford Burn. Following the instructions we rang the Signalman who said it was safe to cross the line.
Safely over the line we were walking by some large silos, my map shows this is an Industrial Estate.
More gates, a fallen fence and water and we soon reached a kissing gate.
Through a new kissing gate we followed a new fence on our left. As it turns left we thought we were now walking into the Industrial Estate.
Thinking we had missed the footpath we stepped over the low wire fence on our right and followed the edge of the field. To the end of the field and the stile up towards the A1.
It was only as we turned that we saw we had been on the correct footpath and did not need to cross into the field.
Up over the stile we were soon on the A1.
We had timed it just right as no vehicles were coming in either direction so we crossed straight over.
Through the hedge we could see the large old split tree across our path ahead of us. Looking at the worn flattened grass around the tree this had happened some time ago, I don't think it had anything to do with Storm Arwen.
Once around the tree we were in a field of sheep after a few meters our footpath took us over a track. We followed the footpath markers down to the right slightly and we were following the edge of the field.
We were also following by Belford Burn. After a few meters we were walking by a high wire fence and through the fence we could see the Belford Golf Course Driving Range. After a few meters we crossed a narrow footbridge.
Belford Burn was very full. The wire fence became a wooden fence as we approached and passed the Belford Golf Course Club House.
It did not take us long before we were leaving the Belford Golf Club to turn right on the B6349, South Road.
South Road soon became High Street. Passing some interesting buildings.
At the top of High Street we turned right following Church Street for a few meters.
Crossing Church Street we took the narrow path beside Belford Museum up to St Mary's Church.
After a little walk around the back of the Church. We walked back down High Street where we stopped for a short rest at the Salmon Inn.
After our rest and refreshment we set off back to Bamburgh. It was raining a little as we headed down the High Street. I knew it would be dark before we would return to Bamburgh. Nothing to worry about though.
So setting off along the same route as our outward walk. Crossing the A1 we followed the footpath sign around the silos at the Industrial Estate.
The rain was getting a little heavier as we crossed the fields towards the railway line.
Another call to the Signalman from Belford Burn to check the line was clear before we crossed.
Strange how these photos came out so light as it was turning rather dark. Returning across the bull field it was dark and the rain had a few flurries of snow.
On the road we had to step into the side a couple of times but the roads were not busy. As we approached the Ducket I tried to take some photos but in the dark they did not come out.
Climbing the steep bank through the woods at the bottom of Spindlestone Heughs was great and reminded me of exciting challenging times. Despite the warnings from the folklore tales not to be in the area at night. We continued up through the gates reaching Waren Campsite and continued straight through. Continuing along the road to then cross into the fields exactly in reverse to our outward journey. Crossing the fields it was easier to see our way on the grass without the torchlight. In the ambient light we could see where people had worn the footpath. In the torchlight it was all just green. So for the most part the torch was off. I tried to take some photos of Bamburgh Castle as passed below Shada Plantation. Unfortunately they did not come out.
Stepping back through the high hedge we were on the narrow road that was a few meters from the B1342. Reaching the B1342, we now made a change to our return route. Instead of turning left and walking up the hill to walk around Bamburgh Castle Golf Club. We turned right and walked the 2km into Bamburgh. We had to step off the road a few times but soon reached Bamburgh. Where we passed the Grace Darling Museum on our way to The Victoria Hotel, where we had a well deserved meal, including a pudding.
It had been a good walk and I enjoyed it so much. We had walked 22km with 330m climb. It has been some time since my last walk in Cambridgeshire. Much has changed, things ending and new beginnings so it was good to be out walking again.
More to follow
Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.
If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done on The English Coastal Path or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.
