Twenty miles of golden sand, rocky promontories and rolling dunes fringe the wild stretch of Northumberland Coast around the English town of Alnwick. The coastline, scattered with historic English towns, rambling gardens, wooden boats and fish-and-chip shops, invites tourists and their families to escape the inland on a sunny day.
Bamburgh Beach
- The powdery, formable sand at Bamburgh Beach begs to be shaped into sandcastles. Throughout the summer, scores of young artists do just that, topping their creations with the beach's unusual shells. The shore's postcard position below the venerable walls of Bamburgh Castle, sheltered and backdropped by a set of rolling dunes, offers glimpses of Holy Island and a few families of shy grey seals. Though Bamburgh is a popular spot for swimming, surfing, kite surfing and fishing, no lifeguard oversees the festivities -- so be cautious in the water.
Beadnell Beach
- Beadnell Beach is the watersports hot spot of the Northumberland Coast. The excellent wreck diving draws scuba divers, while windsurfers skirt the shoreline and waterskiers ply the off-coast waters, dodging kayaks and sailboats as they go. The beach itself, idyllically soft-sanded and golden, features a small harbor and views of the far-off Cheviot Hills. Bicyclists and walkers flock to enjoy those views from the area's well-developed network of flat country lanes and bridle paths.
Cheswick Beach
- Those in search of a more solitary experience should head to Cheswick Beach, a series of uncultivated, tranquil crescents of white sand. Unsurprisingly lauded by the National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the marshland flora fringing the beach supports a richly varied avian population. Unusual marsh orchids sprinkle the dunes in the summer, and the pale-bellied brent goose winters almost exclusively along the Cheswick shoreline. The wild landscape welcomes a quiet contingent of birders and nature-lovers and, on a breezy day, the sky is usually pinpricked with colorful kites.
Local Beach Events
- Visitors lucky enough to be visiting Alnwick's local beaches in June should enjoy the music, dance and food at the Seahouses Festival. Held on the beach harbor in the town next to Beadnell, the street fair celebrates the history and community of the Northumberland Coast. The annual Alnmouth Arts Festival, held just 5 miles from Alnwick next to the beach, also takes place in June and highlights local arts and crafts. Both events are free to the public.
