This could be the last time..........................

Northumberland November 4th.

England enters a second lockdown on November 5th. Six of us are having a walk out before group activities are banned. John H., John L., Brian, Dave, Margaret and I are meeting in Warkworth for a coastal walk. 

The map for the walk is OS Explorer 332 Alnwick and Amble but is not essential, it's an easy walk to follow.

To get to Warkworth follow the Coastal Route A189 which becomes the A1068 through several villages and the small port of Amble. Turn right at the top of the hill near the castle and head down. Turn into the car park, go past the church and park on the riverside.

Warkworth is a gem of a small Northumberland town, dominated by the castle which dates to the 11th century but was mostly built in the 14th by the Percy family, one being he of Harry Hotspur fame. 

The church near the river, dedicated to St Laurence is an almost completely Norman church, 12th century. Across the river Coquet is the hermitage, accessible by ferry and also from the 14t century.

And to finish off, the bridge, now only for pedestrians is also 14t Century.

For breakfast we went to  Bartrams, great little cafe on the main road. Tea, coffee, bacon sandwiches, sausage sandwiches.

                       Warkworth Castle Keep.

  Booted up we left the car park and headed east along the riverside footpath towards the bridge.

              Today's car park 

                   The modern road bridge is just behind this pack horse construction.

Once over the bridge we went over the road and headed uphill towards the car parks near the beach. There is a footpath on the right hand side which goes along the edge of a field and is nicer than walking the tarmac. As we approached the dunes behind the beach we turned right and walked along a track towards the river Mouth. (River Coquet) Dave and Brian walked to the end of the north pier but the rest of us, having scrambled over a few rocks, headed north on the beach.

Alnmouth Bay, the tide was out, we had acres of sand to play on. There were few other walkers.

Apart from the rocks at Birling Carrs there is nothing but sand all the way to Alnmouth, mostly quite firm and easy walking. As we approached the river Aln, which is occasionally so low you can walk across to the village, we turned west and climbed the small hill overlooking the estuary. Down the hill are the ruins of a Norman Chapel, a good Herbie Spot.

                                               Alnmouth

                         Norman chapel and shadow of photographer. Apparently this chapel used to be in the village but a violent storm in 1806 caused the river to change direction and isolate the building.

                       Herbie time and shadow; Titans, ginger biscuits, almond slices, flapjacks, sweet and savoury from Mrs A.

Lunch over we set off back to Warkworth, following the track that goes just behind the dunes.

          By the time we returned the tide had come in. Walking the beach may have been problematic.

                   At this point the footpath crosses the golf course and dips under a bridge  

                                      Safety first, don't want to be hit by a flying golf ball.

We reached the track back into Warkworth and the cars, repeating our steps across the old bridge and going through the ancient gate.

                                           Gate and bridge beyond

                                Autumn on the Coquet.

We headed inland to the Cook and Barker for a last drink  before pubs close for the lockdown. Sadly they had run out of Timothy Taylor's Landlord.

                            Contains OS data copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2020.

  For four of us this walk was about 9.3 easy going miles. For Dave and Brian it was 10 as they went to the end of the pier.

A few more Autumn photos.