Guided Walking at Alnmouth

  Easier Walks      Medium Walks      Harder Walks

Easier Walks have mostly gentle gradients. Medium Walks are on good, but occasionally rough and steep, paths. Harder Walks have some steep sections on rough and boggy paths.

• Our experienced guides offer the choice of up to three different walks each day
• Choose the option which best suits your interests and fitness; take an Easier Walk one day and switch to a Harder Walk the next
• We offer a social activity each evening

2012 - Itinerary One

7 night holidays
Days 1-7: Fri 6 April – for Solos; Sat 12, 26 May; Sat 23 June; Sat 7 July; Sat 4, 18 Aug;
Sat 29 Sept

4 night holidays
Days 1-4: Fri 6 April – for Solos; Sat 7 July; Sat 18 Aug

3 night holidays
Days 5-7: Tues 10 April – for Solos; Wed 16 May; Wed 11, 25 July; Wed 22 Aug
Days 4 & 7: Fri 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 March; Fri 13 April; Wed 4 July; Wed 19 Sept; Fri 12, 19 Oct;
Fri 2 Nov

See below for Itinerary Two

Day 1: Arrival day

Meet your leaders who will tell you more about the walks.

Day 2: The coast, hills and valleys from Alnmouth to Warkworth

Easier Walk: Enjoy a pleasant walk along the beach and inland paths and lanes, taking us from Alnmouth Harbour to Warkworth, crossing the River Coquet’s medieval bridge. 6 miles with 200 feet of ascent. 

Medium Walk: After heading north from Alnmouth on the cliff path, we follow the River Aln to Lesbury and on to Church Hill, site of a ruined Norman chapel, before we enter Warkworth over its medieval bridge. 9 miles with 375 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Follow the River Aln to Lesbury and ascend Wildehope Hill to the highest point on Spy-Law. We visit Church Hill and then on to Warkworth.  Views today include Alnwick, Alnmouth and across to Warkworth Castle and Coquet Island. 12 miles with 600 feet of ascent.

Day 3: Hethpool and the north Cheviots

Easier Walk: Walk on quiet country lanes to the prehistoric hill fort of Little Hetha, before descending into the unspoilt College Valley.  Follow St Cuthbert’s Way before an easy trail to Kirknewton. 6¾ miles with 825 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: After several prehistoric settlements and views across to Scotland, we arrive at Ring Chesters, one of the major hill forts in the northern Cheviots, before ascending to the Scottish Border.  We return on St Cuthbert’s Way. 10 miles with 1,400 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Follow the ‘Hill Forts Trail’ before ascending to Ring Chesters and crossing into Scotland, taking in both the Pennine Way and St Cuthbert’s Way. We then walk through the College Valley to approach Kirknewton. 12¼ miles with 1,525 feet of ascent.

Day 4: Rothbury and the Simonside Hills

Easier Walk: A mix of old estate tracks, open moorland and woodland takes us through hamlets such as Pondicherry; we then follow the River Coquet into Rothbury. 7 miles with 1,100 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk:  Starting from Rothbury we climb steadily to reach the cairn on Simonside Crag.  After following the ridge to Dove Crag and the Beacon we descend to Garleigh Moor with its cup-and-ring stones, before returning to Rothbury. 8 miles with 1,225 feet of ascent. 

Harder Walk:  View the settlements at Garleigh Moor, then ascend Dove Crag and Simonside Crag for fantastic views of Coquetdale and the Cheviots.  We descend into Thropton through woodland and continue on to reach Rothbury. 10¾ miles with 1,825 feet of ascent.

Day 5:

For 3 night holidays arriving today, this is your chance to meet your leaders.

If you have booked a 7 night holiday, today is a free day with no guided walks organised. This is a great opportunity to explore Northumberland independently - see the Local Area tab for places that you may enjoy visiting. 

Day 6: In and around the Ingram Valley

Easier Walk: A gentle ascent up Wether Hill to view the Simonside Hills is followed by ascending on grass tracks around Old Fawdon Hill, with its ancient settlement.  We then follow the River Breamish into Ingram with its 14^th century church. 7¼ miles with 775 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: Walking on tracks and moorland, we eventually come to Brough Law with its spectacular remains of an Iron Age hill fort and extensive views of the Ingram Valley.  We then descend into Ingram. 10½ miles with 1,225 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk:  Ascending Ewe Hill we continue on to the village of Linhope and one of Northumberland’s most attractive waterfalls, Linhope Spout, then on to Dunmoor Hill. We return to Ingram via Cunyan Crags and Reaveley Hill. 12½ miles with 2,275 feet of ascent (or 11½ miles with 1,575 feet of ascent if Dunmoor Hill is avoided).

Day 7: Historic coastal delights

Easier Walk: From High Newton to Low Newton, then two miles along magnificent unspoilt beach to Beadnell, with views of Dunstanburgh Castle and the Farne Islands.  We end our walk in bustling Seahouses, with its harbour. 7¾ miles with 150 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: Leaving Craster harbour we walk towards the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, before following coastal paths and tracks to Newton Pool Reserve.  We then proceed along coastal paths or the beach past Beadnell Harbour into Seahouses. 10½ miles with 250 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk:  Leaving Howick we walk along the geologically rich section of coastal path to Cullernose Point before visiting Craster Harbour.  We then proceed along coastal paths or the beach past Beadnell Harbour into Seahouses. 12¾ miles with 350 feet of ascent.

2012 - Itinerary Two

7 night holidays
Days 1-7:  Sat 19 May; Sat 2, 16 June; Sat 14, 28 July; Sat 11, 25 Aug; Sat 22 Sept

5 night holiday
Days 2, 4, 6 & 7: Mon 30 April 

4 night holidays
Days 1-4: Sat 19 May; Sat 14, 28 July; Sat 11, 25 Aug
Days 4, 6 & 7: Mon 5, 12, 19, 26 March; Mon 2, 16 April; Mon 15 Oct; Mon 5 Nov

3 night holidays
Days 5-7: Wed 23 May; Wed 20 June; Wed 18 July; Wed 1, 15, 29 Aug

Day 1: Arrival day

Meet your leaders who will tell you more about the walks.

Day 2: Along the Northumberland coast

Easier Walk:  After visiting Craster’s National Trust Information Centre, harbour and nature reserve, we walk on cliff paths or shore all the way to Boulmer.   From here we walk around Seaton Point and back to Alnmouth. 7½ miles with 175 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: After walking along the base of the Heughs to view Dunstanburgh Castle we return southwards through Craster to Cullernose Point and on to Boulmer.  From here we walk around Seaton Point and back to Alnmouth. 10 miles with 225 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: We have the chance to visit the bird sanctuary at Newton Pool before crossing Embleton Bay towards Dunstanburgh Castle and the Bay of Nova Scotia. We then continue to Craster, Cullernose Point, Boulmer and on to Alnmouth. 11 miles with 200 feet of ascent.

Day 3: Streams and villages of Coquetdale

Easier Walk:  After visiting the intriguing church at Low Alwinton we walk the ‘Border County Ride’ to Harbottle, before ascending gently to enjoy fine views of the Cheviots.  We then descend to Clennell Hall in the wide valley of the River Alwin. 6¾ miles with 600 feet of ascent. 

Medium Walk: From the ruins of Harbottle Castle we follow the ‘Border County Ride’ to Alwinton.  We take the ancient ‘Pass Peth’ path above the River Coquet towards Shillmoor and Copper Snout, before joining the ancient trail of Clennell Street. 9½ miles with 1,500 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Taking the ‘Pass Peth’ path to Shillmoor we see the site of a medieval village.  Ascending deep into the Cheviots we then walk on the ‘Border County Ride’ and Clennell Street.  We finish with panoramic views over the Cheviots, Coquet Valley and the distant Simonside Hills. 13¼ miles with 1,600 feet of ascent.

Day 4: St Cuthbert’s Way and Belford

Easier Walk:  We follow St Cuthbert’s Way towards Cockenheugh forest, then on to Greensheen Hill to enjoy views over the Cheviots and Holy Island. We continue to St Cuthbert’s Cave.  After descending towards Swinhoe we pass the former manor house of Westhall with its ruined moat, before arriving at Belford. 8 miles with 575 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk:  Leaving elegant Belford, we pass Westhall, Swinhoe Lake and Virgin Hill to reach St Cuthbert’s Way.  After views of the coast and Holy Island, and the Cheviot Hills, we descend to St Cuthbert’s Cave before eventually returning to Belford. 9¾ miles with 800 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk:  After views of castles and coast from Weetside Crag, we pass through Cockenheugh forest to view the Cheviots and on to St Cuthbert’s Cave. Walking the length of Greensheen Hill ridge, we descend past Holburn Lake nature reserve, before returning to Belford. 12¼ miles with 875 feet of ascent.

Day 5:

For 3 night holidays arriving today, this is your chance to meet your leaders.

If you have booked a 7 night holiday, today is a free day with no guided walks organised. This is a great opportunity to explore Northumberland independently - see the Local Area tab for places that you may enjoy visiting. 

Day 6: Ancient trails west of Wooler

Easier Walk:  Leaving Wooler on a steady ascent around Humbleton Hill, we continue along a high-level grass track with fantastic views.  We descend green pastures and woodland to Humbleton Burn, ascend to Wooler Common, then descend again into Wooler. 7¼ miles with 1,125 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk:  Entering Happy Valley’s woodland we follow Carey Burn with its plentiful wildlife including dippers and short-eared owls.  Using St Cuthbert’s Way we cross Wooler Common to the battle site of Humbleton Hill, before descending to Wooler. 9¼ miles with 1,250 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk:  We walk around West Hill with its hill fort settlement before ascending Yeavering Bell. The view from its summit is possibly the finest in the whole of the Cheviot range. Descending to cross the moor, we walk St Cuthbert’s Way to Humbleton Burn, and on to Wooler. 11 miles with 1,800 feet of ascent.

Day 7: A coast famous for religion and piracy

Easier Walk: Leaving the beach and lime kiln at Beadnell we walk northwards across the firm sand, to explore Seahouses.  We then walk north to Bamburgh Castle. 6¾ miles with short ascents.

Medium Walk: From High Newton we soon reach the beach, and walk to view Beadnell’s old harbour and lime kiln. Crossing a golf link to reach the bustling port of Seahouses, we then continue along the sands to Bamburgh and its castle. 9¼ miles with short ascents.

Harder Walk:  Starting at Embleton, we can view its Vicar’s Pele (fortified tower), one of only five in Northumberland. Our walk along and near the coast then passes the Newton bird sanctuary, Beadnell and Seahouses, before concluding at Bamburgh Castle. 11½ miles with short ascents.

Local transport

On walking days you’ll be transported to locations around Northumberland to start your walk. The cost of all transport to and from the walks is included in the price of your holiday.

Our guests

The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. There is normally a good mix of ages, of new guests and 'regulars' from Britain and overseas, and of people travelling alone, with a partner or with friends.

In the evenings

Your leaders will inform you about the choice of walks for the next day and answer any questions you may have. After a sociable evening meal you could join in an organised activity such as a quiz or a talk about the local area, relax in the bar or use the Country House facilities.