Boulmer Guide
Your Guide to Boulmer
Boulmer (pronounced 'Boomer') is a very small Fishing Village, set right on the Northumberland coast approximately 6 miles East of the Market Town of Alnwick. It is the next Village up the coast from Alnmouth (3 miles away) and comes in stark contrast to Alnmouth's glorious beaches and amenities. Boulmer consists of a long stretch of houses and cottages, most of which will have unobstructed sea views. The Village is one of Northumberland's last geniune Fishing Villages and little has changed here in the last 100 years.There is little to do in Boulmer other than enjoy the remote peace and quiet that this exposed coastal Village offers, if that is the type of holiday or break you are looking for then it fits the bill perfectly. People say the beaches here aren't as 'clean' as they are in Alnmouth, which is of course not true at all. The seaweed that is constantly washed ashore gives a somewhat bedraggled appearance, but the water quality is just as pure as anywhere else on this stretch of coastline. I like to think that this just adds to the character of Boulmer and gives it an authentic fishing village atmosphere.
Getting There
Boulmer is accessible by car via the Village of Longhoughton or from the South via the Village of Lesbury with parking right on the sea front or in the Fishing Boat Inn car park. A limited bus service also runs through the Village, see the useful links section below for more information about the Service run by Arriva.
History of the VillageThroughout history Boulmer has had an extremely questionable reputation for smuggling. In the 18th and 19th century Boulmer was notorious for it's involvement with smugglers and pirates that came from all over the coast and Scotland to deal their ill-gotten gains. This included spirits from as far afield as the Netherlands, salt and tobacco, with the Village pub the Fishing Boat Inn being the headquarters of the smuggling activity. Possibly the most well known of all the smuggers that frequented Boulmer over the years was William Faa, the King of the Gypsy community. He actually lived quite a ditance away from Boulmer in a remote Village just over the Scottish border, his home 'The Gypsy Palace' is now a popular tourist attraction of Kirk Yetholm.In present day it is perhaps more famous for the nearby RAF Base which was built during the Second World War and still plays a key role in the UK's homeland defence and as a search and rescue base. Some 1,000 service personnel work from the base and it's 'giant golf ball' can be seen on the horizon for some miles around. The Officers of RAF Boulmer are deployed in overseas operation in Afghanistan and before that Iraq and have continuously been posted in the Falkland Islands since 1982. more locally, the base is known for it's Sea King Helicopters which can regularly be seen over the County providing vital search and rescue for a large part of the North-East.
Restaurants, Pubs and Cafes in BoulmerThis is possibly the easiest part of the Boulmer Guide to write! The only place to eat and drink the Village is the Fishing Boat Inn. Despite it's sordid history, the Fishing Boat Inn is now a well established Inn with a good reputation with locals and visitors alike. They offer real ales, good food including Sunday lunches and accommodation. They have a lovely terrace at the back of the pub that offers beautiful views of the bay, perfect for a relaxing drink or meal with a view.Accommodation in BoulmerAside from the Fishing Boat Inn, Boulmer offers a variety of accommodation, most of which tends to be self-catering cottage rentals. We will be launching the accommodation part of our website shortly.
Beaches and WalkingBetween Boulmer and Craster, a little South of Howick is the truly hidden gem that is Sugar Sands. I am somewhat loathe to mention it as it is only accessible on foot from either Howick or Boulmer, or by car from Longhoughton along a path past Low Stead farm. Whichever way you approach this beach, it is still a good long waIk, but well worth the effort. Local people quite rightly would rather this special place remain a secret (so don't tell them where you found out about it!). It is a beautiful sandy cove, almost a Mediterranean feel with it's white sand and rocky outcrops at each end. To find Sugar Sands you need to walk out of the Village Boulmer and head North following the coastal track. Before long you will find a beautiful string of secluded sandy coves. Boulmer and the beaches to the North have become extremely popular with windsurfers.Food Shopping and Supermarkets
There isn't a shop in Boulmer itself, the nearest one being about a mile and half away in the Village of Longhoughton. There is also shopping in Alnmouth, and approximately 6 miles West to the town of Alnwick. Here you will find a Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Iceland, Lidl and Co-op along with numerous independent Butchers, Bakers and other shops selling excellent quality local produce.
FishingThis Fishing Village is quite unique in that it doesn't actually have a harbour, the traditional fioshing cobles have to be pulled ashore and can be seen on the beaches and rocky outcrops. The main catch from these cobles are Salmon from June until the end of August and crabs and lobsters out of this season. As such it is a popular place for fishermen, as it has been for centuries, with boats generally leaving from Amble in the South and Craster to the North.The rocky outcrops with imprenetable weed beds, typical of the Northumberland coastline, make large catches of Cod and Coalfish possible in the winter months. You'll need to tempt the codling out of the weed beds, for which i am told fresh peeler crab is the ideal bait. Just to the South of Boulmer Village is Seaton Point, an excellent spot for the angler, with the rocks providing a little welcome shelter from the elements.Nearest Tackle Shops:
Amble Angling Centre, Newburgh Street, Amble. Tel: 01665 711200
Jobson’s of Anwick, Tower Showroom, Alnwick. Tel: 01665 60213
Places and Attractions Nearby
Alnmouth, Alnwick, Alnwick's Attractions, Craster, Seahouses, Seahouses' Attractions, Bamburgh, Bamburgh's Attractions, The Farne Islands, The Alnwick Garden, Alnwick Castle, Barter Books, Howick Hall & Gardens, Dunstanburgh Castle, A-Z of All Guides
Have we missed something? Can you recommend an attraction, restaurant or accommodation? Or maybe you have a business you would like to be included? Let us know.