ENGLAND
Northumberland's Coastal Castles / Hiking
8 DAYS
Northumberland's
coast is famous for its wild, unspoilt beauty with long beaches of golden sand,
quaint little fishing villages and spectacular castles perched on rocky
headlands and abundant birdlife. This delightful trail offers constantly
changing views, rock pools to explore, historic monasteries and castles and
abundant birdlife, with cormorants, kittiwakes, oystercatchers, fulmars, terns,
and guillemots on the beach, islets and headlands. You are also likely to see
seals.
The Coastal Castles Trail begins in the walled border town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed. Constantly fought over by the English and the Scots, Berwick
changed hands no less than 14 times in 300 years - the massive curtain walls and
gateways encircling the town are unique in Britain and are amongst the finest
ramparts in Europe. From Berwick the trail meanders along empty beaches of
golden sand to the start of the tidal causeway linking Holy Island with the
mainland. From here there is a choice of routes onto the island to explore the
village, priory and castle - over the causeway or barefoot across the sands on
the Pilgrim's Way, marked by a line of barnacle-encrusted poles.
Lindisfarne or Holy Island has an illustrious history. It was here that St.
Aidan founded a monastery that became a major center of Christianity, learning
and artistry, as exemplified by the Lindisfarne Gospels. The monastery had
sixteen bishops in all, the most celebrated being St Cuthbert, who traveled widely spreading the Gospel and performing healing miracles. After his death
the island became a place of pilgrimage, until the monks abandoned the island
in fear of marauding Vikings. Perched on a high pyramid of rock, Lindisfarne
Castle was built in the 16th century to defend the island from Scottish
raiders. It was restored and converted into a fairytale castle by Sir Edward
Lutyens in 1903, with a charming walled garden planned by Gertrude Jekyll.
After Holy Island, the trail follows paths through field and forest to St
Cuthbert's Cave, found on a low ridge that provides far-reaching views. After
exploring the cave, where the monks of Lindisfarne spent their first night
after fleeing from the Vikings, the trail descends through the village of
Belford to rejoin the coast at Bamburgh, a pretty village dominated by its
vast castle dramatically poised on a huge crag rising out of the sea. The
castle ramparts provide breathtaking views of the Farne Islands and along the
miles of golden sand that lead to the spectacular ruin of Dunstanburgh Castle
and the attractive fishing village of Craster. From Craster, the trail
continues along clifftop and beach through the historic town of Warkworth,
with its dramatic castle and medieval fortified bridge, to finish in the
lively little seaport of Amble.
This self-guided walking tour is clearly
marked
and easy to follow with the aid of the guidebooks and maps provided.
Trip Profile
Inclusions:
Start:
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Finish:
Amble
Accommodation:
Comfortable accommodation (hotels, country inns, family-run
guesthouses and farmhouse bed and breakfast's) with
private facilities throughout
Trip
Grade: Moderate
Dates:
Daily all year
Land
Cost: US$ 1,395
(per person, based on two
persons sharing accommodation)
Note: Please note that all itineraries and prices are
subject to change.
1-866-318-5050 office@50plusexpeditions.com
