Northumberland Coast Path

A self-guided walking holiday along the historic and wildly beautiful coast path of Northumberland.

6 to 11 nights
72 miles
Easy to Demanding

From £530 per person

Discover the available tours

About this route

This holiday option explores the length of the Northumberland Coast Path along 72 miles of incredible terrain, from the town of Creswell up to Berwick-upon-Tweed near the Scottish border.

Walk along golden beaches beneath ruined castles towering on the headlands. The Northumberland Coast Path tours a wild, unspoilt region full of history, winding northwards and showcasing everything this lesser-known trail has to offer.

This route can be walked in the opposite direction upon request. Please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

Dog friendly tours available

Dog friendly itineraries are available for this route. Look for the pawprint icon when choosing your itinerary. Please note that dog friendly walks may require more transfers than standard tours.

Standard
Interactive
Northumberland Coast Path map
Cresswell to Berwick-upon-Tweed
72 miles (115 km)
2nd January to 24th December

Holiday Highlights

Discovering the turbulent history of Northumberland as you walk between the fortified towns of Berwick-upon-Tweed and Warkworth.

Experiencing the tranquillity of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.

Walking along sandy beaches complemented with far-reaching and historic views.

Available tours

CodeTourDurationDifficultyPrice per person
NOCP0 From Cresswell(T) to Berwick-upon-Tweed 6 nights, 5 days walking Demanding£530
NOCP1 From Cresswell(T) to Berwick-upon-Tweed 7 nights, 6 days walking Moderate / Demanding£620
NOCP2 From Cresswell(T) to Berwick-upon-Tweed 8 nights, 7 days walking Moderate£705
NOCP3 From Cresswell(T) to Berwick-upon-Tweed 10 nights, 9 days walking Easy / Moderate£880
NOCP4 From Cresswell(T) to Berwick-upon-Tweed 11 nights, 10 days walking Easy£970

Northumberland Coast Path 6 nights, 5 days walking

£NNN per person
  • Itinerary
  • What's included?
  • Extra nights?
  • Tour facts
  • Route profile
  • Travel info
  • Weather

Important information

NB: The causeway on to Holy Island can only be crossed during low tide. Before booking, please check the Holy Island Safe Crossing Times by clicking here.

Start

Travel to Cresswell(T) where your first night's accommodation has been booked

Day 1

Cresswell(T) to Warkworth. 10.5 miles (17km)

Day 2

Warkworth to Craster. 13 miles (20.5km)

Day 3

Craster to Bamburgh. 14 miles (22.5km)

Day 4

Bamburgh to Holy Island. 20 miles (32km)

Day 5

Holy Island to Berwick-upon-Tweed. 14 miles (22.5km)

Finish

Depart from Berwick-upon-Tweed after breakfast

Your Itinerary

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this tour. Sometimes there may be a shortage of available accommodation in a preferred location, in which case we will transfer you from the trail to your accommodation and back again at no extra charge. Overnight stops marked with a (T) will always require transfers as standard.

The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to walk more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard.

Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Dog friendly tours are subject to a Daily Dog Charge, which will be listed below if applicable. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are walking on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Walker or Single Supplements apply respectively:

A note about transfers
Solo Walker Supplement
£35.00 per person / per night
Single Supplement
£25.00 per person / per night

You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£60.00 per person / per night
Extra night (Holy Island)
£65.00 per person / per night

What's included?

  • 6 nights accommodation in en-suite rooms (where available) in selected B&B’s, hotels, inns and guesthouses along the trail, or a short distance away via taxi provided at our expense.
  • Breakfast each day.
  • Door to door luggage transfer.
  • Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook or route notes describing the trail.
  • An information pack containing an itinerary, instructions on how to find your accommodation each night and a kit list.
  • Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it.

Extra Nights & Rest Days

The ancient village of Warkworth is a fascinating place to visit. The village is dominated by Warkworth Castle and perched on a rocky spur close to the mouth of the River Coquet. Just a short walk from the castle is the Warkworth Hermitage, a 14th century chapel carved out of the rock, while there are a series of craft shops, cafes and pubs along the village's main street.

Craster is another good choice for a rest day. It is a delightful little fishing village with a tiny harbour. Just south of the village is Howick Hall, built in 1782 and long associated with the Grey family, who have produced many famous figures, including Earl Grey the social reformer and tea enthusiast. The gardens are noted for their beauty.

Holy Island is a good choice for a rest day. In addition to the castle, priory and church, the Museum of Island Life that is housed in an 18th century fisherman's cottage, is well worth a visit. At St Aidan's Winery you can sample the famous Lindisfarne Mead.

There is plenty to see and do in Berwick-upon-Tweed if you wish to explore before the start of your walk. A stroll around the ramparts offers a succession of fine views out to sea, across the River Tweed and over the red roofs of the town's elegant Georgian mansions.

Buildings of interest include the 18th century Town Hall, with its 150ft high steeple where the curfew bell is still rung each evening and The Town Hall, that still retains its original jailhouse and now houses the Cell Block Museum.

The Holy Trinity Church is one of a handful of churches built during the Commonwealth. The absence of a tower reflects Cromwell's view that towers were irreligious. The 18th century barracks house the Borough Museum and Art Gallery. Also of interest is the Wine and Spirit Museum that incorporates a Victorian Chemist Shop and pottery.

You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£60.00 per person / per night
Extra night (Holy Island)
£65.00 per person / per night

Tour Facts

Total distance: 71.5 miles (114.5 km)
Duration: 6 nights, 5 days walking
Minimum daily distance: 10.5 miles (17 km)
Maximum daily distance: 20 miles (32 km)
Code: NOCP0 Grade: Demanding
Season: 2nd January - 24th December
Start of holiday: Cresswell(T)
End of holiday: Berwick-upon-Tweed

Route Profile

Northumberland Coast Path Route Profile

Travel Information

Detailed instructions on how to get to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent with your full holiday pack. A summary is given below:

By Air - The most convenient major city and international airports are Newcastle and Edinburgh.

By Rail - The nearest station to the start of the trail (Cresswell) is at Widdrington approximately 5 miles away. Also there is a rail station at the end of the trail (Berwick-upon-Tweed).

By Bus - Various bus services run to Warkworth and from Berwick-Upon-Tweed.

From London - Trains run from London Kings Cross station to Widdrington. From there a bus/taxi will be required to Cresswell.

Return To The Start - The easiest way to return to the start of the trail, is to catch a train from Berwick-Upon-Tweed to Widdrington and then catch a bus/taxi from here to Cresswell.

Weather Information

To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:

  • MetCheck - This website allows you to look up detailed weather information for specific locations as far as six months in advance.
  • Met Office - This website shows regional area forecasts a few days in advance, with a general UK forecast description of up to 30 days in advance.
  • Mountain Forecast - This website shows what the forecast is like up on specific hills and fells, and offers forecasts a few days in advance.

Routes on this trail

Northumberland Coast Highlights

3 to 5 nights
26 miles
Easy+
Dog friendly
From £275 per person
A short walking break along the scenic southern section of the Northumberland Coast Path.Find Out More
Explore more holidays on the Northumberland Coastal Path trail

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Isle of Anglesey Coast Path - North Section

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Customer reviews from the Northumberland Coast Path

“Very enjoyable and well organised. All the beaches were lovely, with the walk to Bamburgh Castle the best. The walk from Belford to Lindisfarne via the Pilgrim's Route was excellent.”
Mr Marlow, UK
“This was one of the highlights of my life. I will go back.”
Mr Cook, USA
“Let me start by telling you that we very much enjoyed our holidays. It was well organised, the walks were beautiful and we met very kind people almost everywhere. We wouldn’t hesitate to book holidays with you again or to advise it to other people in the Netherlands.”
Mrs Mulder, Netherlands
“This was our first walking holiday, and based on this, we will do more. The planning done by Contours made the experience seamless and allowed us to enjoy the experience.”
Mr Holski, Canada
“Even Storm Ali couldn’t dampen our pleasure nor could the power cuts on the mainland and Holy Island.”
Mr McGarry, UK
“Brilliant. Lovely walk. Very well organised. This was our third holiday with Contours and we have two more in the pipeline.”
Prof Creighton, UK
“A positive experience for me as a solo walker. Contours adjusted the length of walks each day to fit in with what I wanted to do along the way.”
Ms Moorcroft, UK
“Very well organised, everything went to plan, great accommodation and bag transfers. Northumberland was outstandingly beautiful place to visit.”
Mr Pfeifer, UK
“All aspects of the trip were very well done. Accommodations were generally very good with a couple that were outstanding. Some were a bit quirky but that is a part of the experience. All hosts and hostesses were very friendly and accommodating.”
Mr Stone, Canada

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