Walking

Northumberland has so much to offer when it comes to walking. 39 miles of it's coast from Berwick to the Coquet Estuary was designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1958 and offers some of the UK's best coastal walking. Inland is no disappointment either, with the rolling Cheviot Hills and the Northumberland National Park, there is a suitable walk for everyone.

There are a number of free online resources available for walking in Northumberland. Where appropriate I will refer to their websites rather than attempting to replicate something that already exists.

The Northumberland Coast Path is a designated path that runs the entire stretch of Northumberland's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, from Cresswell in the South to Berwick in the North. The Coastal Path is split into 6 manageable walks, all of which can be walked in a day.

These walks are extremely popular, whichever stages you choose to walk the scenery is absolutely stunning. With wide, sweeping sandy bays, picturesque seaside towns, dramatic castles, the occasional ruin and amazingly varied wildlife, it's easy to see why people flock to the area. I have put together a guide for each of the six stages of the Northumberland Coast Path, each with an interactive map showing points of interest, photos and places to stop off for refreshments. Explore your guide to the Northumberland Coast Path...

There are also a large number of other circular coastal walking routes that start at various points along our coastline including Alnmouth, Craster, Low Newton, Bamburgh and Holy Island. I will be adding more information about these routes shortly. 

Inland and Hill Walking

More challenging walks can be found in the Cheviot Hills. A good starting point for Cheviot walks is Harthope Valley, near the town of Wooler. The valley is in the heart of Northumberland's National Park and there are many walking routes of varying difficulty from here. The challenge of climbing the Cheviot is not to be taken on lightly!

The Northumberland National Park covers a huge area within the County and offers some stunning walking opportunities. The South of the County is Hadrian's Wall territory, there are many walks that follow the wall, which is set in stunning countryside.

Brief Safety Information:

You will find that some paths cross fields with sheep or cattle. Most animals you will find ignore you or move away, however younger animals may be more inquisitive and follow you to the boundary of their field. You may come across some field with bulls, contrary to popular belief these animals are very placid. However, it's the cows with calves that can be dangerous, never get between a cow and its calf, particularly if you have a dog. You are welcome to take dogs on all public footpaths, but please try to keep them to the paths themselves and not let them run through crops or among farm animals and woodland. Please also follow the Countryside Code!