Seahouses & Bamburgh - Wednesday 13 May 2026
Route
Seahouses - North Sunderland - Sadlershall - Fowberry - Redbarns - Bamburgh Castle - Bamburgh - Monks House - St Aidan’s Dunes - Seahouses
Parking
Plenty of parking in Seahouses both free and Pay & Display
Mileage
8.8 miles
Terrain
Field paths, farm tracks & sandy beaches
Weather
Sunny with light breezes
Time Taken
3hrs
Total Ascent
171ft (52m)
Map
OS Explorer 340 - Holy Island & Bamburgh (Wooler, Belford & Seahouses)
Walkers
Dave & Robbie
Seahouses - North Sunderland - Sadlershall - Fowberry - Redbarns - Bamburgh Castle - Bamburgh - Monks House - St Aidan’s Dunes - Seahouses
Parking
Plenty of parking in Seahouses both free and Pay & Display
Mileage
8.8 miles
Terrain
Field paths, farm tracks & sandy beaches
Weather
Sunny with light breezes
Time Taken
3hrs
Total Ascent
171ft (52m)
Map
OS Explorer 340 - Holy Island & Bamburgh (Wooler, Belford & Seahouses)
Walkers
Dave & Robbie
GPX Files
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
Route Map
The War Memorial in Seahouses - slap bang in the middle of a roundabout. The Fish & Chip Restaurant & Takeaway to the rear is highly recommended.
We parked for free a short distance out of Seahouses however there are several Car Parks in the town centre
We parked for free a short distance out of Seahouses however there are several Car Parks in the town centre
“The Rescue"
Situated just over the road from the RNLI Station "The Rescue" statue was presented to the Parish of North Sunderland and Seahouses by Countrylife Homes and Seafield Caravan Park
Situated just over the road from the RNLI Station "The Rescue" statue was presented to the Parish of North Sunderland and Seahouses by Countrylife Homes and Seafield Caravan Park
The main Car Park in Seahouses is situated just off the War Memorial roundabout and is an ideal starting point for this walk. The route leaves the Car Park in the far right hand corner.....................................
............. and here it is
The route to Bamburgh is along the first part of the Heritage Trail. This section utilises the track bed of the old railway line that ran from nearby North Sunderland to Seahouses. The path is maintained by local volunteers from such organisations as Coast Care.
Continuing along the Heritage Trail in the direction of North Sunderland. This type of path gave me an excellent opportunity to continue with Robbie's recall training. It was just Robbie and I out today as Angie was enjoying a day trip out to the Farne Islands.
The path along the old track bed exits on to the road between North Sunderland and the B1340. I would be turning right here and heading along the road for a couple of hundred yards to then cross over to a stone stile giving access to the fields on the left.
The stone stile - the route heads straight across the field to the hedge corner centre right
The route crosses several crop fields in the direction of Shoreston Hall which can just about be seen in the trees ahead
Shoreston Hall & North Cotttage now in sight as we cross a stile in to the final field
The 18th century Shoreston Hall - now split into five luxury apartments
Exiting the field, our route turned right then quickly left to join a lane heading to Saddlershall & Fowberry
Exiting the field, our route turned right then quickly left to join a lane heading to Saddlershall & Fowberry
From the lane, Bamburgh Castle comes into view across a field of Oilseed Rape
Reaching Fowberry Farm we turned right to continue on along a farm access track
At the end of the access track the route turned left to cross over fields in the direction of the farm at Greenhill
Passing Greenhill we headed along a field edge to Redbarns with Bamburgh Castle beyond - Robbie was now off lead and enjoying some more training
Little did he know it but we would be returning to Seahouses along the beach - which he absolutely loves
Robbie approaching Redbarns (Click Play to view)
At the end of the last field a gate is reached which leads to the small housing complex at Redbarns
The route passes over the access road into Red Barns House and thorough several hand gates into another field
From Redbarns another field is crossed to reach a stone stile leading to the B1340 beneath Bamburgh Castle
Bamburgh Castle
Once home to the kings of ancient Northumbria, Bamburgh Castle is one of Northumberland's most iconic buildings. The Bamburgh Castle we see today is a relatively recent structure, built by famed industrialist the first Lord Armstrong in 1894 at vast cost. Lord Armstrong was also responsible for building Cragside House, Gardens & Estates which is nearby at Rothbury. During its more recent history, Bamburgh Castle welcomed Royal guests and English kings, one of whom, Edward IV destroyed it in the Wars of the Roses. Lord Armstrong's restoration saved it from ruin and the castle provides an ancestral home to the Armstrong family to this day as well as a venue for weddings etc and it is also open to the public.
Once home to the kings of ancient Northumbria, Bamburgh Castle is one of Northumberland's most iconic buildings. The Bamburgh Castle we see today is a relatively recent structure, built by famed industrialist the first Lord Armstrong in 1894 at vast cost. Lord Armstrong was also responsible for building Cragside House, Gardens & Estates which is nearby at Rothbury. During its more recent history, Bamburgh Castle welcomed Royal guests and English kings, one of whom, Edward IV destroyed it in the Wars of the Roses. Lord Armstrong's restoration saved it from ruin and the castle provides an ancestral home to the Armstrong family to this day as well as a venue for weddings etc and it is also open to the public.
Resisted the urge to buy one and continued straight on - reminded me too much of the Peter Kay character Mr Softy Top
Castle Green in Bamburgh
Robbie at Bamburgh War Memorial which sits below the castle walls
Rested ourselves above Castle Green and whiled away a few minutes watching an extremely intense Croquet Match. Thankfully VAR was not required although there were some stern competitive looks amongst the players. I partook of a game once many years ago - bored me rigid.
Wandering through Bamburgh we headed for the Victoria Hotel as I knew they were dog friendly and served a mean Pot of Tea. On the way we passed the excellent Carter's Butchers whose strap line is "Butcher, Baker, Sausage Roll Maker".
Lunch for Robbie and a Pot of Tea for me with a bag of Crisps and a free biccy
St Aidan's Church, Bamburgh
A place of worship was founded on this site of the present church in 635 by Saint Aidan. St Aidan was called to Bamburgh from Iona by King Oswald to establish Christianity in his newly united kingdom of Northumbria. No trace of that wooden building can be now be seen - other than perhaps a beam in the Baptistery. Tradition has it that this is the beam that St Aidan was leaning against when he died and it is said to have miraculously survived two fires.
A place of worship was founded on this site of the present church in 635 by Saint Aidan. St Aidan was called to Bamburgh from Iona by King Oswald to establish Christianity in his newly united kingdom of Northumbria. No trace of that wooden building can be now be seen - other than perhaps a beam in the Baptistery. Tradition has it that this is the beam that St Aidan was leaning against when he died and it is said to have miraculously survived two fires.
The monument to Grace Darling in the churchyard of St Aidan's Church
Born in Bamburgh in November 1815, Grace Darling was the seventh child of nine and lived her early years on the Farne Islands where her father was a lighthouse keeper, firstly on Brownsman and later on Longstone Island. At approximately 4 in the morning of 7 September 1838 during a violent storm, the steamship Forfarshire struck the Big Harcar rock on the Farnes and over 40 lives were lost. Grace saw the wreck half a mile from the Longstone and at 7am spotted survivors. Her father thought it unlikely that the conditions would allow the launching of the Seahouses Lifeboat therefore he and Grace launched their coble (a small fishing boat) in the atrocious weather. The strength of the tide and wind forced them to row for nearly a mile to reach the survivors. Her father then went ashore leaving Grace alone to keep the coble in position. Together they took five survivors back to the lighthouse whereby her father and two of the crew returned to fetch the remainder. Grace became a national heroine however sadly she died four years later of Tuberculosis.
Inside the memorial canopy is an effigy of Grace Darling complete with a coble oar made from local stone. This memorial was sculptured in 1885 and replaced the original which had weathered very quickly. The original Portland Stone version made in 1844 is housed inside the church.
Born in Bamburgh in November 1815, Grace Darling was the seventh child of nine and lived her early years on the Farne Islands where her father was a lighthouse keeper, firstly on Brownsman and later on Longstone Island. At approximately 4 in the morning of 7 September 1838 during a violent storm, the steamship Forfarshire struck the Big Harcar rock on the Farnes and over 40 lives were lost. Grace saw the wreck half a mile from the Longstone and at 7am spotted survivors. Her father thought it unlikely that the conditions would allow the launching of the Seahouses Lifeboat therefore he and Grace launched their coble (a small fishing boat) in the atrocious weather. The strength of the tide and wind forced them to row for nearly a mile to reach the survivors. Her father then went ashore leaving Grace alone to keep the coble in position. Together they took five survivors back to the lighthouse whereby her father and two of the crew returned to fetch the remainder. Grace became a national heroine however sadly she died four years later of Tuberculosis.
Inside the memorial canopy is an effigy of Grace Darling complete with a coble oar made from local stone. This memorial was sculptured in 1885 and replaced the original which had weathered very quickly. The original Portland Stone version made in 1844 is housed inside the church.
A few metres away from the memorial is the Darling family plot housing the remains of Grace and her relatives
At the southern end of the church is St Aidan's Crypt
Displays in the church and crypt tell the story of an early Christian cemetery revealed by a storm in 1817 beside Bamburgh Castle. Archaeologists found the graves of more than a hundred people who had lived here around 1,400 years ago. They carefully studied the remains and then laid them to rest in the crypt in 2016.
Displays in the church and crypt tell the story of an early Christian cemetery revealed by a storm in 1817 beside Bamburgh Castle. Archaeologists found the graves of more than a hundred people who had lived here around 1,400 years ago. They carefully studied the remains and then laid them to rest in the crypt in 2016.
Opposite the church is the Grace Darling Museum
St Aidan's Well on Bamburgh Green
Near the well we headed down The Wynding which would lead us to the beach
We were now on the Northumberland Coast Path which is a section of the entire England Coast Path
Reaching the Beach at the north western end of Bamburgh Castle. The structure in the centre is the Bamburgh Castle Windmill. Built in 1800, the Windmill was constructed to grind corn however for the past several years the Windmill has been used by The Bamburgh Research Project as staff offices and as a storage facility for all of the finds being discovered within the castle.
Absolutely nobody here
Seeing as there is nobody to arse about with Robbie, I guess it will have to be me
Robbie on the beach near Bamburgh Castle (Click Play to view)
Surfs up dude - in you go
Dipped his tongue in and decided it wasn't the same as that which comes in his bowl
"Water, water, every where,
And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, every where,
Nor any drop to drink."
The Rime of The Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1798)
"Water, water, every where,
And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, every where,
Nor any drop to drink."
The Rime of The Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1798)
Inner Farne - Angie was over there somewhere watching Seals & Puffins
The Farne Islands are a group of 15 and 20 islands depending on the level of the tide. They are scattered about 1.5 to 4.75 miles from the mainland, divided into the Inner Group and the Outer Group. The main islands in the Inner Group are Inner Farne, Knoxes Reef, the East and West Wideopens (all joined together on very low tides), and (somewhat separated) the Megstone; the main islands in the Outer Group are Staple Island, the Brownsman, the North and South Wamses, Big Harcar, and the Longstone. The two groups are separated by Staple Sound. The highest point, on Inner Farne, is 62 feet (19 m). The islands have no permanent population, the only residents being National Trust assistant rangers during part of the year; they live in the old pele tower on the Inner Farne (the largest and closest inshore of the islands), and the lighthouse cottage on the Brownsman in the outer group.
The Farne Islands are a group of 15 and 20 islands depending on the level of the tide. They are scattered about 1.5 to 4.75 miles from the mainland, divided into the Inner Group and the Outer Group. The main islands in the Inner Group are Inner Farne, Knoxes Reef, the East and West Wideopens (all joined together on very low tides), and (somewhat separated) the Megstone; the main islands in the Outer Group are Staple Island, the Brownsman, the North and South Wamses, Big Harcar, and the Longstone. The two groups are separated by Staple Sound. The highest point, on Inner Farne, is 62 feet (19 m). The islands have no permanent population, the only residents being National Trust assistant rangers during part of the year; they live in the old pele tower on the Inner Farne (the largest and closest inshore of the islands), and the lighthouse cottage on the Brownsman in the outer group.
Bamburgh Castle in silhouette
Heading for Greenhill Rocks
Rock Sastrugi at Greenhill Rocks as we near Seahouses
The small hamlet of Monks House
By the late 18th century Monks House was an important base for sea fishing, with many cobles used in the herring and white fisheries trade. Most of the buildings seen here today date from the 19th century and at that time one of the buildings was a tavern called St Cuthbert's Inn. During the 1950's Eric and Dorothy Ennion ran their own Bird Observatory and Field Centre, Monks' House, at Seahouses in Northumberland. Although part of the official observatory network, it was run as a business and was an entirely private venture. The conservationist, comedian and actor Bill Oddie (him of The Goodies) studied at the observatory during his youth.
By the late 18th century Monks House was an important base for sea fishing, with many cobles used in the herring and white fisheries trade. Most of the buildings seen here today date from the 19th century and at that time one of the buildings was a tavern called St Cuthbert's Inn. During the 1950's Eric and Dorothy Ennion ran their own Bird Observatory and Field Centre, Monks' House, at Seahouses in Northumberland. Although part of the official observatory network, it was run as a business and was an entirely private venture. The conservationist, comedian and actor Bill Oddie (him of The Goodies) studied at the observatory during his youth.
Leaving the beach at St Aidan's Dunes via a stone walled path
Arrival at Seahouses is via a path above the beach which runs parallel with the B1340
Safely back in Belford, Robbie adopted the role of "knackered dog" and got some well earned zeds in