Coast and country in Northumberland. April 19th.

                  "April brings the sweet spring showers, 

                    Going on for hours and hours"

But not this April. Another bright sunny day with a gentle breeze, temperature about 14C, ideal walking weather for the time of year.

Three of us, Brian, Margaret and I are off for a walk from Sea Houses Farm south of Craster. (NOT the seaside town of Seahouses further north).

Most of the walk is covered by OS Explorer 332 Alnwick and Amble, the last few hundred yards before turning are on OS 340 Holy Island and Bamburgh.

Close to the farm is enough off road parking for about a dozen cars, free too!

              Recent criticism of car parks has been a little dispiriting but here's today's. The dog on the right is called Pavel.

Booted we set off south on the farm track the lady and dog in the picture are on. We met them again later. The track goes to Sugar Sands, famous for its fresh water spring.

                                        Sugar Sands, spring is on the rocks right of centre.

   At Sugar Sands we joined the Northumberland Coast Path/St Oswald's Way and headed north on a path above the sea, stopping occasionally to admire the primroses or to watch the kittywakes busy nesting on the cliffs. There were Fulmars flying too and a couple of jackdaws having their say. Eider ducks on the water too, plus a linnet on the gorse bushes and a wheatear flying by, watched by a windhover. (Kestrel)

                                        Primroses

                        We would like identification for this plant.

                 The bathing house built for the ladies of nearby Howick hall. Now a holiday let.

                      Kittywake crags. Still quiet.

When we reached Craster we stopped at the Shoreline cafe for tea, coffee, bacon. Great place, we had to eat in the garden because of current restrictions. I declined the kipper sandwich.

Moving on we walked round the empty harbour and crossed the fields to Dunstanburgh Castle.

                                Queuing for the cafe. 

                                          Empty  harbour at Craster

Dunstanburgh gatehouse.  Built by the Duke of Lancaster as  a weekend retreat but seldom used.

We past the castle ruins, walked the edge of the golf course, keeping an eye out for poor shots and admiring the famous anticline again.

                               The famous anticline.

Further on we descended to the beach and walked the sands of Embleton Bay to Low Newton by the sea.

                               The golden sands of Embleton Bay, almost empty.

            Low Newton by the Sea. The Ship Inn is in the corner. Once fishermen's' cottages the houses are holiday homes now.

Close to the square are a couple of benches which made an excellent Herbie Spot with a superb view. We shared Racers, fiery flapjacks and cake from Mrs A.

                                        Lunchtime view.

Lunch over we went behind the square of cottages and took the track to Newton Pool Nature Reserve. In a pond before we reached it there were some Grey Lag geese and several Avocets, first time I've seen them here. And of course there were Mallards .

               A quiet Newton Pond, not from the bird hide.

The footpath goes on the edge of the golf course, passes through  an area of holiday chalets. The path round the course used to be well marked but no longer, stick to the edges and watch out for flying golf balls. We went through the gate onto the road and parking area at Dunstan Steads and walked to the farm.

Here we turned left but instead of following the concrete strip which goes directly to Dunstan Square we turne right and followed footpaths on the edges of fields and through Moscrop Plantation.

Reaching the campsite there we returned to following field paths to Proctors Square (another camp site) and then on the road to Dunstan.

We walked through the village and then turned left on the road heading south east past the entrance to Craster Tower and on to Craster South Farm.

More fields to cross before we reached the car park for Howick Hall. Here we turned left and walked the road back to the car.

On the way home we stopped at The Cook and Barker hotel at Newton on the Moor. They still had Timothy Taylor's and a Tyneside Blonde. Life slowly returns to normal!

                                Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2021

                              

This walk is just over 13 miles, easy going, no hills and no mud today.

P

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