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Your Guide to Budle Bay and Waren Mill
Your Guide to Budle Bay and Waren Mill
Budle Bay is in North Northumberland and is a beautiful and important bird sanctuary, with huge mud flats that are exposed at low tide. The whole area is part of the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve and is very popular with birdwatchers, particularly in the winter when thousands of wildfowl and waders spend their winter on the bay's mud flats.
The Bay itself has an industrial past, it was once an extremely busy port in the times of King Henry III in the 13th Century. The harbour has now disappeared beneath the rising silt of the bay, but some of the remaining buildings still hint towards the past. There was a corn-mill here, which is how the hamlet got its name, in 1187 and current building dates back to 1780. This building was abandoned for many years but has recently been redeveloped and turned into luxury apartments, all of which offer stunning views over the bay.
Getting There
Waren Mill and Budle Bay are easily accessible via the A1 or the Northumberland Coastal Route by car. It is only about a mile from the A1, the main road that runs through the heart of the County. The hamlet of Waren Mill is approximately 17 miles South of Berwick-Upon-Tweed and just a few miles from the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Postcode for your SatNav: NE70 7EE. The nearest train station is in Berwick, which has bus connections running to Waren Mill.
Budle Bay is a stop on the Arriva "Newcastle - Morpeth - Amble - Alnwick - The Coast - Berwick" which is the service between Newcastle and Berwick on their X18 route (see link below for more information). Multi journey tickets are available and you can get more information here.
Beaches and Walking
It is a beautiful five mile walk to circumnavigate the bay, however a word of warning, do not attempt to cross the bay's mouth, even at low tide. It may look tantalisingly possible, however many people have lost their lives over the years in trying to do this. The incoming tide's speed and strength should never be underestimated. The walk from Waren Mill to Bamburgh is one of the most spectacular in the whole of the UK. This walk is probably at its most attractive at low tide when the wide golden sands are at their best, but it is highly recommended at any time. From Waren Mill head along the bay on the main road heading South. before long you will reach a track on the left that will take you down towards the beach at Budle Point. Depending on the tide it is possible to walk along the beach all the way to the Village of Bamburgh, with the view as you approach the Village second to none. There are toilet facilities and coffee shops in the Village that can be used before heading back either along the main road North, or back along beach the way you came. Another popular short walk from Waren Mill heads into the countryside rather than towards the coast. Heading South from the hamlet you can see the Spindlestone, a large ancient pillar made from whinstone.
WatersportsVarious watersports are very popular in Budle Bay in in the summer months. You really would struggle to find a more beautiful spot to enjoy your chosen sport, the natural beauty of the area just shines through. The bay provides very safe, shallow conditions that are particularly good for kite surfing at any level. The tidal lagoon fills up two hours before high tide and is empty two hours after high tide. If you intend to visit the bay please pay attention to the map on the left that clearly marks the area of the bay where watersports of any kind are permitted. Other watersports such as windsurfing and jet skiing are also popular in the bay. Watersports are only permitted during the months of April to October in order to protect the habitat of the thousands of migratory birds.
A recommended company for watersports are Boards and Bikes, you can hire equipment (Boards, wetsuits, bikes) and they can deliver them right to your accommodation. They also run lessons and courses in various watersports in the areas around Bamburgh, Seahouses and Beadnell.
Golf
Nearby Bamburgh has its own 18-hole Golf course just at the North end of the Village. The course offers stunning views across the beaches, countryside and of course of Bamburgh Castle and the Village itself and is often quoted as the most scenic course in Britain. The course is not as long as other courses nearby, at 5,600 yards, it has a demanding par of 68. The course has a clubhouse that welcomes visitors at all times of the year and also serves food. Visit their website for more information and green fees. Other Golf Courses nearby include Seahouses Golf Club, Dunstanburgh Golf Club and heading further south there are two course at Alnmouth. For full information about our County's Golf Courses visit our Golf page.
Cycling
There are many clearly marked cycle routes in the area around Waren Mill and Budle Bay. The almost deserted country roads are perfect for a relaxing ride around some of the most spectacular scenery that the United Kingdom has to offer.
Restaurants, Pubs & Cafes - Eating Out in Budle Bay
There is just one restaurant in Waren Mill and it is situated inside the beautiful Waren House Hotel. The Greys Restaurant inside the Hotel has recently been awarded an AA rosette for its excellence in food and service. The dining room is elegant and the food is fine Northumbrian fare. The restaurant is open to people not staying at the Hotel and booking prior to arrival is recommended. The Waren Caravan and Camping Site also has its own family restaurant that can be used if you are staying at the site. Otherwise for a wider choice of places to eat it is a short drive into Bamburgh and Seahouses, or if the tide times are kind on to Holy Island.
Accommodation in Budle Bay Hotels, B&B's and Self-Catering
There are two camping and caravan sites in and around Waren Mill. The first is Waren Caravan and Camping Park, a 4 star graded park with excellent facilities including a children's play area, splash pool and family restaurant. The second is Budle Bay Campsite, they are a small, friendly site in a very picturesque location with a river running through the middle. The site has 250 pitches, of which 170 are for tents and they also have several hardcore stands for touring caravans and camper vans with electricity and free shower facilities. The Waren House Hotel offers three star accommodation and there are also a number of self-catering options available. 1 The Maltings is a beautiful ground floor apartment in a former mill, now a Grade II listed building that sleeps up to 6 people. The apartment offer superb sea views, find out more by visiting their website.
Waren Lea Hall is a 4 & 5 star self-catering holiday complex consisting of three properties; The Hall a 5 star six bedroom Edwardian House which can sleep up to 14 guests, Ghillies View a 4 star four bedroom property which can sleep up to 10 guests and Garden Cottage a 4 star two bedroom flat which can sleep up to 4 guests. All three properties are self-contained and can be rented out individually or as a whole unit for a particular event. All the properties hold Visit England Gold Awards and their star ratings have been awarded by the English Tourist Board.
Shopping and Supermarkets
There are no shops in Waren Mill itself. The nearest places are Belford, just the other side of the A1, or South along the coast to Bamburgh and Seahouses where there are local shops and a Co-op. The nearest places for larger supermarkets are 17 miles Berwick to the North and Alnwick 16 miles to the South on the A1. Both are Market Towns and offer a good choice of supermarkets and independent butchers, bakers and retailers.
Places and Attractions Nearby
Bamburgh, Bamburgh's Attractions, Seahouses, Seahouses' Attractions, Farne Islands, Holy Island, Holy Island's Attractions, Alnwick, Alnwick's Attractions, Lindisfarne Castle, Berwick, Berwick's Attractions, A-Z of All Guides
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