Northumberland Coast - Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The second place we plan to visit for our holidays is the Northumberland Coast – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. (AONB) So over the next week or so I plan to wet your appetite by showing you some of the delights of this beautiful corner of England.

This part of Northumberland is littered with castles (Lindisfarne, Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh, Alnwick and Warkworth to mention but a few) and this was due to its proximity to the Scottish Border. It was here that the Border Reivers would dash across the border, do a quick raid, and dash back home again.

Lindisfarne Castle

Bamburgh Castle

Dunstanburgh Castle

Alnwick Castle

Warkworth Castle

It is also the Cradle of Christianity. Holy Island (or Lindisfarne) was the site of a monastery associated with the likes of St Cuthbert and Saint Aidan.

Lindisfarne Priory

Statue of St Aidan on Lindisfarne




In Bamburgh the Victorian heroine Grace Darling is remembered for her daring rescue of shipwrecked sailors on the rocky Farne islands.

Effigy of Grace Darling in Bamburgh Church




Seahouses is the stepping off point for boat trips to the Farne Islands where you can see seals and sea birds of many kinds.

Farne Island Boat Trips Kiosks

Boarding a boat for the Farne Islands

There are miles of unspoilt beaches to walk and explore.

Bamburgh Beach

Amble Beach


Tomorrow we start our exploration of the Northumberland Coast in Berwick upon Tweed.