St Oswald's Way

Extra Nights & Rest Days

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.

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.

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.

The charming town of Rothbury is a delightful place to spend a rest day. Situated on the banks of the River Coquet, there are stunning views of the surrounding countryside, with plenty of walks around Coquetdale and lovely shops to explore.


Consider an extra night at Chollerford if you would like to explore Chesters fort in depth. It is a wonderful fort with some outstanding remains including the ornate headquarters building, the commanding officers residence, barrack buildings and military bath-house. The site also has a unique museum that contains some of the finest Roman artefacts to be found anywhere in Britain.

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

Tour Facts

Total distance: 100 miles (160 km)
Duration: 7 nights, 6 days walking
Minimum daily distance: 12 miles (19 km)
Maximum daily distance: 21 miles (33.5 km)
Code: OSW1 Grade: Demanding / Strenuous
Season: 2nd January - 24th December
Start of holiday: Holy Island
End of holiday: Chollerford

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, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

By Rail - The nearest rail station to the start of the trail (Lindisfarne) is at Berwick-upon-Tweed (about 13.5 miles away). The nearest rail station to the end of the trail (Chollerford) is at Hexham (about 6 miles away).

By Bus - Various bus services run to Beal (closest mainland location for Lindisfarne) and from Chollerford.

From London - Trains run from London Kings Cross station to Berwick-upon-Tweed. From there a bus/taxi will be required to Lindisfarne.

Return To The Start - The easiest way to return to the start of the trail, is to catch a bus/taxi from Chollerford to Hexham rail station. From there trains run to Berwick-upon-Tweed, where a bus/taxi will be required to Lindisfarne.