North East

Craster to Low Newton coastal walk

Dunstanburgh Castle, Northumberland seen from the beach at Craster with waves washing over the rocky shore on a sunny day — Dunstanburgh Castle seen from the beach at Craster | © National Trust Images/David Sellman

Enjoy magnificent views and miles of sandy bay on this circular coastal walk. Embark from the fishing village of Craster, pass by the mighty ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle and the long sweep of Embleton Sands, before reaching Low Newton by the Sea. This is a challenging walk with large sections of uneven terrain.

Near to

Embleton and Newton Links

Start point

Craster Quarry Car Park , grid ref: NU256197

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 7.7 (km: 12.32)

Duration3 hours

Dog friendly***

*Circular walk mostly across uneven terrain. Some sections are on some flat, surfaced paths. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**This walk is across challenging terrain. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Please keep dogs on a short lead. There are groundnesting birds and livestock in fields crossed by the walk.

Seasonal highlights

A wonderful walk all year round, with dune flowers blooming in spring, paddling (or swimming for the brave) in summer, migrating birds in the autumn, and beautiful light and empty paths in winter.

Total stages: 9
Total stages: 9
Start point
Craster Quarry Car Park , grid ref: NU256197
Stage 1
Start in Craster Quarry Car Park and walk towards the harbour. Turn left down Dunstanburgh Road towards Dunstanburgh Castle. The path takes you through farmland with the rocky shoreline to your right. There may be cows in the field. The path to the castle is rocky and uneven in parts, particularly as you near the castle.
Bird life
Spot eider ducks bobbing around in the sea, known locally as Cuddy's Duck after Saint Cuthbert. He's said to have cared for them on the nearby Farne Islands where he lived as a hermit in the 7th century. Waders like oystercatcher, dunlin, ringed plover, turnstone and redshank can be found on the shoreline in large numbers, and you might spot linnet or yellowhammer in the scrub and grassland behind the dunes and castle.
Stage 2
Continue along the route past Dunstanburgh Castle, or pop in for a visit. The terrain on this section of the walk is challenging. National Trust members visit the castle for free.
Dunstanburgh Castle
Just a mile (1.6km) north of Craster, the 14th-century ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle stand on a rocky headland. The castle fell into disrepair after the Wars of the Roses. The outcrop on which Dunstanburgh Castle sits is called the Great Whin Sill, a stripe of hard volcanic rock that passes from the Pennines north to the Northumberland coast. It emerges above the surface here, at the Farne Islands and at Bamburgh Castle.
Stage 3
At the base of the castle, turn left and follow the route around the inland side of the castle, with the cliff on your right.
Stage 4
Pass a golf course on your left and descend onto the beach. Stroll to the far end of Embleton Bay and cross Embleton Burn as it trickles into the sea.
Stage 5
Continue along the bay towards the harbour at Newton Haven.
Stage 6
Climb up from the beach to Low Newton's picturesque three-sided square. Continue inland via a track that starts behind the village square, cottages and boat park.
Stage 7
Walk alongside the sand dunes and through a little woodland for 450yd (400m), until you reach two wildlife hides that look out over the waters at Newton Pool nature reserve.
Stage 8
Continue on this path towards Dunstan Steads. Dunstanburgh's precipitous cliffs loom large again as you pass the golf course.
Stage 9
After the castle, climb up to your right on a higher level track back to Craster.
End point
Craster, grid ref: NU258201
Trail map
Craster to Low Newton walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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Family and dog on beach at Embleton Sands in Northumberland

Place

Embleton and Newton Links

Breath-taking stretches of silver sands surrounded by wildlife-rich dunes

Low Newton by the Sea, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 3EW

northumberlandcoast@nationaltrust.org.uk

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