How long is the Northumberland Castles & Coast Loop route?

This route takes 6 days taking in 6 stops.

Where does this route start and end?

The route runs from Newcastle upon Tyne to Newcastle upon Tyne in Northumberland, England, United Kingdom.

When is the best time to travel this route?

The best time to travel this route is May to September.

How active is this route?

Activity level: Active. Moderately active — expect some walking and light physical activity.

What transport do I need for this route?

This route works best with a car.

What budget do I need for this route?

Mid-range spending — expect comfortable accommodation and a mix of dining options.

What type of accommodation suits this route?

Mixed accommodation works well along this route.

What is the pace of this trip?

Balanced — a good mix of sightseeing and downtime.

What type of trip is this?

This route is well-suited to: Scenic, Coastal, Culture, Classic road trip, Nature.

Northumberland Castles & Coast Loop

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The route · 6 stops

3 overnight bases · 3 stops on the way

Newcastle upon Tyne

1 night

The urban launchpad for the loop, with a lively Quayside, seven bridges over the Tyne and the indoor Grainger Market, one of Europe's finest Victorian covered markets. One night is enough to walk the Quayside, cross the Millennium Bridge and get a sense of the city before heading west into Northumberland.The urban launchpad for the loop, with a lively Quayside, seven bridges over the Tyne and the indoor Grainger Market, one of Europe's finest Victorian covered markets. One night is enough to walk the Quayside, cross the Millennium Bridge and get a sense of the city before heading west into Northumberland.

Recommendations

On to Hexham

Hexham

2 nights

The gateway to Hadrian's Wall, built above Roman foundations and centred on a 7th-century Abbey where Roman memorial stones are reused as building material. Two nights allows a full day on the Wall via the AD122 hop-on hop-off bus, reaching Housesteads Fort, Vindolanda excavations and the Roman Army Museum without doubling back.The gateway to Hadrian's Wall, built above Roman foundations and centred on a 7th-century Abbey where Roman memorial stones are reused as building material. Two nights allows a full day on the Wall via the AD122 hop-on hop-off bus, reaching Housesteads Fort, Vindolanda excavations and the Roman Army Museum without doubling back.

Recommendations

On the way

Alnwick
Quick stop
Worth a stop on the drive: Alnwick Castle is the second-largest inhabited castle in England, famous as the filming location for Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films. The Percy family (Dukes of Northumberland) have lived here for nearly 1,000 years. The adjacent Alnwick Garden has a Poison Garden and a 120-metre water cascade.Worth a stop on the drive: Alnwick Castle is the second-largest inhabited castle in England, famous as the filming location for Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films. The Percy family (Dukes of Northumberland) have lived here for nearly 1,000 years. The adjacent Alnwick Garden has a Poison Garden and a 120-metre water cascade.
Recommendations

On to Bamburgh

Bamburgh

2 nights

The undisputed highlight of this loop, Bamburgh Castle sits on a volcanic crag above one of Northumberland's finest sandy beaches. The Farne Islands are visible 5 km offshore. Two nights allows a Seahouses boat trip to see grey seals and puffins, plus a day trip to Holy Island with time to cross the tidal causeway safely.The undisputed highlight of this loop, Bamburgh Castle sits on a volcanic crag above one of Northumberland's finest sandy beaches. The Farne Islands are visible 5 km offshore. Two nights allows a Seahouses boat trip to see grey seals and puffins, plus a day trip to Holy Island with time to cross the tidal causeway safely.

Recommendations

On the way

Berwick-upon-Tweed
Quick stop
Worth a stop on the drive: England's northernmost town has near-complete Elizabethan town walls from the 1560s, walkable in about an hour. The Royal Border Bridge, a 28-arch railway viaduct completed in 1850, looks spectacular at dusk from the riverbank. The compact centre has good independent cafes and a museum covering its border history.Worth a stop on the drive: England's northernmost town has near-complete Elizabethan town walls from the 1560s, walkable in about an hour. The Royal Border Bridge, a 28-arch railway viaduct completed in 1850, looks spectacular at dusk from the riverbank. The compact centre has good independent cafes and a museum covering its border history.
Recommendations
Newcastle upon Tyne
Quick stop
The A1 south from Berwick covers the 108 km back to Newcastle in around 75 minutes through gently rolling Northumbrian farmland. The Tyne Bridge and Sage Gateshead come back into view as you re-enter the city, completing the loop through three layers of Northumbrian history.The A1 south from Berwick covers the 108 km back to Newcastle in around 75 minutes through gently rolling Northumbrian farmland. The Tyne Bridge and Sage Gateshead come back into view as you re-enter the city, completing the loop through three layers of Northumbrian history.
Recommendations

Route highlights

Viewpoint
Bamburgh Castle and coast
Bamburgh Castle rises from a volcanic crag above a 5 km arc of sand, visible for miles along the coast. The interior traces 1,000 years of Northumbrian history and the castle has been continuously occupied since the 6th century. The beach below is free, often uncrowded and one of the finest stretches of sand in northern England.
Culture
Holy Island (Lindisfarne) tidal crossing
Accessible only at low tide via a 3 km tidal causeway, Holy Island holds the ruins of Lindisfarne Priory, founded in AD 635 and the birthplace of the Lindisfarne Gospels. Lindisfarne Castle sits on a basalt outcrop at the island's southern tip. Check safe crossing times before you go.
Culture
Housesteads Roman Fort on Hadrian's Wall
The best-preserved Roman fort on Hadrian's Wall, Housesteads occupies a high point of the Wall with panoramic views north across Northumberland. The ruins include a hospital, commandant's house and communal latrines. Managed jointly by English Heritage and the National Trust.
Culture
Alnwick Castle and Alnwick Garden
Alnwick Castle doubled as Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films and has been the Percy family home for nearly 1,000 years. Next door, the Alnwick Garden's Poison Garden grows belladonna, mandrake and other lethal plants behind locked gates. The two attractions together warrant a full day.
Activity
Farne Islands wildlife boat trip
The Farne Islands are one of the best wildlife sites in England. Grey seal pups are born on the rocks in autumn, and puffins nest in burrows from April to July. Boat trips run from Seahouses, 5 km south of Bamburgh, with landing trips available April to September.
Scenic Drive
Northumberland Coast AONB scenic drive
The 100 km coastal road between Alnmouth and Berwick-upon-Tweed passes castle ruins at Dunstanburgh, fishing harbours at Seahouses and wide dune-backed beaches. It is one of the quietest and most scenic coastal drives in England, with almost none of the traffic found on better-known routes.

Northumberland Castles & Coast Loop