St Oswald’s Way

St Oswald’s Way links three important sites associated with Oswald, the 7th century King of Northumbria, who converted his people to Christianity – the Holy Island of Lindisfarne where he established the monastery that became the ‘cradle of Christianity in England’; Bamburgh, which was his royal capital; and Heavenfield, where he defeated the Pagan kings of Gwynedd and Mercia to regain his father’s kingdom.

From Holy Island with its fairytale castle and ruined priory, St Oswald’s Way follows the stunning coastline of Northumberland past castles perched on rocky promontories, quaint fishing villages and sweeping strands of golden sand to Warkworth, a beautiful village enclosed in a loop of the River Coquet and dominated by one of the largest, strongest and most impressive fortresses in northern England. From here St Oswald’s Way heads inland beside the River Coquet to the lovely old market town of Rothbury, before heading southwards again through heather-clad moors, pine-scented forests, rich farmland and a succession of sleepy villages to reach Hadrian’s Wall and the historic site of Heavenfield.

Highlights of St Oswald’s Way include the ruined priory and Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island; the Pilgrim’s Way across the sands to the mainland; St Cuthbert’s Cave, found on a low ridge that provides spectacular views of the coastline; Bamburgh, a pretty village dominated by its vast castle dramatically poised on a huge crag rising out of the sea; the sandy beaches at Bamburgh, Beadnell Bay, Embleton Bay and Alnmouth Bay; the tiny fishing harbours at Seahouses and Craster; the views of the Farne Islands; the wonderful bird life; the melancholy ruin of Dunstanburgh Castle; the oak-smoked kippers at Craster; the picturesque village of Warkworth and its impressive castle and medieval fortified bridge; the charming Victorian town of Rothbury; the Iron Age hill fort and rock carvings at Lordenshaws; the old Roman frontier of Hadrian’s Wall; and the simple little church of St Oswald at Heavenfield.

After visiting St Oswald’s church at Heavenfield, the walk follows Hadrian’s Wall Path to reach the village of Chollerford and the Roman cavalry fort of Cilurnum. Here outstanding remains include an ornate headquarters building, commanding officer's house, barracks and the military bath-house nestling against the bank of the river.

On reaching Chollerford, why not take in the finest stretch of Hadrian’s Wall Path? Our two-, or three-day Hadrian’s Wall Short Break takes in the most dramatic section of Hadrian’s Wall between the fascinating fort of Cilurnum at Chollerford and the hamlet of Lanercost past Housesteads, Vindolanda and Birdoswald forts.