# Northumberland’s coast of castles

> 3-day road trip of about 126 km (79 mi) with 8 stops, from Newcastle upon Tyne to Berwick-upon-Tweed. About 1 h 45 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b6-northumberland-coast/

**At a glance:** 3-day road trip of about 126 km (79 mi) with 8 stops, from Newcastle upon Tyne to Berwick-upon-Tweed. About 1 h 45 min of driving in total. From Newcastle north to Alnwick, the ruins of Dunstanburgh, Bamburgh on its crag and the tidal island of Lindisfarne.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 126 km (79 mi) |
| Driving | 1 h 45 min |
| Suggested days | 3 |
| Stops | 8 |
| Route | Newcastle upon Tyne → Berwick-upon-Tweed |
| Countries | United Kingdom |
| Updated | July 4, 2026 |

## Route description

Leave Newcastle on the A1 north to Alnwick, a market town dominated by its castle, still the home of the Dukes of Northumberland. The castle and the gardens next door can easily fill a day with children.

Take the B1340 to the coast at Craster, a fishing village known for its smoked kippers, and walk along the shore to the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle; there is no road. The coast road continues north through Beadnell to Seahouses, where boats leave for the Farne Islands and their puffins from May to July.

Bamburgh Castle rises on a basalt crag above one of the finest beaches in England, with a village green below. Further north, Holy Island is reached across a causeway that floods at every high tide: check the published safe crossing times and do not try to beat the sea.

Finish in Berwick-upon-Tweed, England’s northernmost town, where you can walk right around the Elizabethan ramparts. The coast from here stays quiet even in August, and there are good campsites near Bamburgh and Beadnell.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Newcastle upon Tyne** (United Kingdom)
2. **Alnwick** (United Kingdom)
3. **Alnwick Castle** (Alnwick, United Kingdom): A medieval fortress still lived in by the Dukes of Northumberland, known to many as a Harry Potter film location. Allow half a day with children.
4. **Dunstanburgh Castle** (Craster, United Kingdom): The gaunt ruins of a 14th-century castle on a lonely headland. There is no road to it: walk about 2 km along the grassy shore from Craster.
5. **Seahouses** (United Kingdom)
6. **Bamburgh Castle** (Bamburgh, United Kingdom): A huge castle on a basalt crag above a wide, dune-backed beach. Walk the sands at low tide for the classic view.
7. **Lindisfarne (Holy Island)** (Holy Island, United Kingdom): A tidal island with the ruins of an early Christian priory and a small castle. The causeway floods twice a day: check the safe crossing times before you drive over.
8. **Berwick-upon-Tweed** (United Kingdom)