Gadgie Walks: We are the Boulmer generation

We are the Boulmer generation. November 24th.

After last week's country walk in the mud we are heading for the coast again on a familiar walk starting at a good cafe and heading for the sea. The walk is from Longhoughton, drive north to Alnwick, east towards the coast and watch for signs, or as an alternative follow the Northumberland Coastal route.

There are five of us out today, down from last week. and the team to fight the cold north wind is Brian, Margaret, Harry, Wylam John and me.

There is a small parking space near the Running Fox cafe. The space has a stone column and a bench.

The Running Fox does great breakfasts and coffee

The walk is covered by OS Explorer 332 Alnwick and Amble.

Positive comment on car park photo last week, very encouraging. This week: Longhoughton mini park.

Having fuelled up and booted up the five of us set off down the road to Low Stead and beyond.

St Peter and St Paul. Longhoughton. 11th century beginnings

Harry's library on the road to Low Stead. You take or leave a book and leave a donation.

Beyond Low Stead, where there is some parking, we arrived at the coast at Howdiemont Sands, greeted by a cold north wind off the sea and a spectacular view of breakers. The England Coast Path heads south for us, walkers can use a firm track or walk across the grassy dunes. We took to the dunes until we reached the tiny seaside village of Boulmer.

There are several of these artistic pieces on the wall between Howdiemont Sands and Boulmer.

Beyond Boulmer we continued on the footpath over the dunes. On other occasions we have walked on the beach but an unusually high tide made that impossible.

Having walked through a caravan park and passed some fine new cottages, built for holiday homes, we came to the golf course. Mindful of the warning about flying balls we walked the edge of the course to the clubhouse at Foxton Hall. Visitors welcome for food and drink but we carried on, still well above the sea until we spotted a bench with a good view over a golf course and called a Herbie.

A view from a Herbie Spot. (Skinny whips, cookies and apple crumble and savory bun from Mrs A)

Too cold to hang around we carried on down to the beach at Alnmouth, walked the coastal path round the bottom of the town to the bridge over the River Aln. Once across the bridge we took the footpath through a sports ground to the village of Lesbury.

St Mary's Lesbury, 13th century but much restored.

WE continued along the main street, passing the long closed pub, to the roundabout, turned right and walked to the railway bridge. Under the bridge and up the track past the old station building.

Late afternoon, long shadows at Lesbury old station.

A few hundred yards beyond the railway buildings we took the footpath across fields to a firm farm track. After about a half mile we turned right down another track. Not far down this one we followed a grassy footpath, passing a tumbled down cottage and going under the railway. Here we turned left, walked over fields and soon arrived back at Longhoughton.

On the way home we called at the Ridley Arms in Stannington for beer, tea or wine.