Coast, Country and an Observatory.(Northumberland) May 7th.

 On a day that promises to be damp six of us (Margaret, Brian, John H., John Ha, Harry and I are off to do a variation of a popular walk starting from Lesbury, a village a few miles east of Alnwick.

To get to the start take the A189 Northumberland Coast Route which becomes the A1068 and just north of Hipsburn turn right into the village.

There is some off road parking opposite the village church of St. Mary.

Car park and St. Mary's, Lesbury. The church is mostly mid 19th century with some parts dating back to the 13thC.

Leaving the car park we turned right and after a few hundred yards, if that, took the footpath that follows close to the River Aln. After the first field the path divides, we took the right fork and walked through heavily scented Oil Seed, uphill to the road.

                      Views of the Aln on the pretty start to the walk.

We crossed the road and walked towards the Alnmouth Golf Club, passing a number of large detached houses and going close to the Club House.

At the gate which takes you to the beach there is a sign post for the Northumberland Coast Path which is on the dunes but we opted for sand in our boots and took to the walking by the sea, starting from Fluke Hole.

Close to Seaton House we left the beach, climbed a flight of concrete steps near Bally Carrs and followed the Coast Path and St. Oswald's way to the tiny hamlet of Boulmer. We rather hoped the pub might be open for coffee but it wasn't past Boulmer Steel  and Longhoughton Steel to Howdiemont Sands where we headed inland on the narrow road past Low Steads Farm to Longhoughton.

Art work on the field walls between Boulmer and Howdiemont Sands, plus a view north. Top centre is Dunstanburgh Castle if you have good eyes, about seven miles away.

This mini free library is on the road to Longhoughton from the farm at Low Steads. Take a book but please leave one. Great Idea.

At Longhoughton we turned left and walked to the crossroads. It had started to rain so we stood for a while in  the bus shelter. Some called a mini Herbie and had a sandwich or Snickers.

Moving on we walked south for a short distance, almost missing the well hidden sign post between a couple of houses. The path took us across fields to the main line East Coast Railway and then alongside it to a bridge where we called a real Herbie.

The bridge had been strengthened and the concrete base provided seating for all.

Underneath the archway, sharing Apple pies, snickers, savoury cake and flapjack and lemon cake from Mrs A. Passing trains overhead were very noisy.

Lunch over we followed the well marked footpath west over fields towards the farm at Dunsheugh. Close to the farm is the "Observatory" as it is marked on the map. Some say it is a folly but whatever, it has a good view of the horse track beneath.

 The observatory near  Dunsheugh. Built in the late 18th century by the first Duke of Northumberland it is a Grade 1 listed folly. He built a few.

At the farm we admired what we thought might be chinchillas before heading south east across fields to a well made farm track. At the first corner we went into a field, left side of the hedge and walked down to a track next to the railway. Passing some railway cottages we came to the road, turned left and carefully walked along (in the rain) a busy stretch until we came to pavement. Turning left at the roundabout we were soon back at the cars in Lesbury.

Driving home we called in at the Cook and Barker where we are almost regulars. Secret Kingdom and a blonde ale on offer and the sun had come out.

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The walk is about 10 easy going miles with little climbing.