Discovering the Enchanting Northumberland Coast

 

Discovering the Enchanting Northumberland Coast: A 38-Mile Hike to England's Northernmost Point

The Northumberland coast, often overlooked by visitors to the UK, boasts a unique blend of natural beauty, rich history, and cultural significance. The latest stretch of the King Charles III England Coast Path, opened in August 2023, offers hikers an unparalleled experience, traversing 38 miles of enchanting coastline, imperious castles, eerie mudflats, and a tidal holy island.

This section of the path follows the pre-existing Northumberland Coast Path and forges a new route alongside the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve and around Holy Island, a tidal island steeped in history and sanctity. The journey begins in Bamburgh, a picturesque village famous for its lighthouse and the heroic tale of Grace Darling, who saved nine lives in 1838.

The path winds through undulating sand dunes, past relics of war, and into the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve, where land and sea merge. The eerie mudflats, home to lugworms and seaweed, give way to the majestic Holy Island, a place of pilgrimage for centuries. The island's history is marked by the arrival of Saint Aidan and Saint Cuthbert, who established a monastery and created the iconic Lindisfarne Gospels.

Today, Holy Island remains a peaceful haven, with sheep outnumbering humans and grey and harbour seals basking on the rocks. Visitors can explore the ruins of Lindisfarne Priory, the adjacent museum, and the 16th-Century Lindisfarne Castle, built as a defense against the Scots. The island's mead, made since the 7th Century, is still produced and available for tasting.

Tourism supports the local economy, with two pubs and several accommodations on the island. The opening of the coast path is expected to bring benefits to communities nationwide, enhancing local crafts, monitoring species and biodiversity, and protecting delicate habitats.

As I continued north from Holy Island, the environment assumed a personality of its own, with the tide surging like galloping horses and dark driftwood transforming into animal shapes. The final stretch of the path took me along the cliffs to Marshall Meadows Bay, the northernmost point of England, marked by a metal sign with the Scottish flag.

The King Charles III England Coast Path, when completed, will be the longest managed coastal walking route in the world, stretching 2,700 miles across the English coastline. This enchanting stretch of the path offers a unique experience, immersing hikers in the natural beauty and rich history of Northumberland. As the project continues to unfold, more adventurers will have the opportunity to discover this captivating coastline.