A favourite coastal walk

 A favourite coastal walk. November 30th

We have a guest, an expatriate who left the North East for the sunny flatlands of Essex. As a reminder of the beauty of the Northumberland Coast he left behind we are off to walk from Craster. I don't mind, love the walk, coast and castles. Nine of us, almost a record, and the weatherman says dry  and not too cold.

Park at Seahouses Farm, a mile south of Craster. Limited space but free. There is a large carpark in the old quarry in Craster, it costs £6 for a day.

Two maps;OS Explorer 332 Holy Island and OS Explorer 340 Alnwick but not essential.

                    Not a winner but an action shot.

We took the footpath that goes between fields and is next to the parking area to the coast, turned left and headed north,

               The famous ladies bathing house for those living at Howick Hall and one of the bathing pools. Accessible through a doorway in the garden wall. 

We continued on the coastal path passing Cullernose Point, a breeding area for seabirds in summer but deserted today.

                   Looks very new

               Cullernose point.

Just before reaching the first house in Craster we turned left and after a hundred yards or so took the footpath behind some of the houses to the Piper's Pitch.

             The Piper's Pitch, sadly it was closed "until further notice". They do a great bacon sandwich but when open there is only seating outside. There is no other cafe in Craster.

Disappointed we crossed the road and took the footpath behind the Heughs until we reached a gate (mile 3) that, once through, took us to the more usual track to Dunstanburgh Castle.

  Dunstanburgh, my favourite ruin.

There is one tricky bit on the footpath but not too difficult to negotiate and  not far beyond it is the famous.............

                              ...........anticline known as Greymare Rock. (mile 4)

Not far beyond this well known landmark we took to the beach, soft sand today and the tide was coming in. At an easy to spot gap in the dunes, near mile 5 we left the sands of Embleton Bay and crossed the golf course to the club house. Tea coffee and a menu available but after a drink, and with their blessing, we Herbied on their outdoor picnic tables. Cherry Bakewells, cookies, almond slices and, of course, sweet and sour from Mrs A.

Dunstanburgh Golf Clubhouse.

Lunch over we walked round the edge of the golf course on a path that took us back to the castle and then into Craster.

                   Craster Harbour.

Round the harbour and up the street past the Jolly Fisherman and the Kipper smokehouse. Then we took the coastal path back to Seahouses Farm. Some went to the pub, some went home.

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The walk is about 10 miles. Easy going, seaviews, plenty of birds but some mud today.

Somewhere in there is a Goldfinch nest. Left of centre?

Most of this walk is on St. Oswald's Wy/Northumberland Coast Path/Charles III Coast path which used to be called England Coast Path.