North East

Newton Pool coastal walk

Newton Pool near Embleton Bay, Northumberland | © National Trust/Jane Lancaster

Enjoy a gentle walk alongside the Northumberland coast with plenty of wildlife-spotting opportunities along the way. The first part of the walk (steps 1 to 4) takes you along an all-ability trail. Remember to bring your binoculars as there are great views and lots of birds to look out for from the beach and wildlife hides.

Near to

Embleton and Newton Links

Start point

Low Newton car park, grid ref: NU239248

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 1 (km: 1.6)

Duration 30 mins to 40 mins

Dog friendly***

*Pavements and tracks into uneven grassy paths, one steep hill, some steps. For further information visit the section marked Terrain.
**A section of the trail is wheelchair accessible; the remainder is on uneven paths. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Responsible dog owners are welcome. For further information visit the section marked Facilties.

Address
Low Newton car park, Northumberland. grid ref: NU239248
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Alnmouth station, 9 miles (14.4km).
On foot
Northumberland Coast Path (part of the North Sea Trail) passes through Newton Point from Beadnell Bay in the north and Craster in the south.
Cycling
National Cycle Network route 1 passes through Embleton village, then 2 miles (3.2km) along minor roads to start of walk.
By road
Off A1, Newcastle to Berwick-upon-Tweed, then B1340 from Alnwick onto B1339 which runs parallel to the coast. Minor roads lead to Newton.
Total stages: 6
Total stages: 6
Start point
Low Newton car park, grid ref: NU239248
Stage 1
Start at the public car park above Low Newton. Head down the hill to the village square (the road is quite steep). Low Newton is an 18th-century fishing hamlet, with white-washed cottages and a historic pub set around a pretty village green.
Stage 2
As you arrive at the square in the village take the right-hand turn, following the road behind the square by the National Trust information board. The first 0.3 miles (0.5km) to Newton Pool hides has a surfaced track suitable for wheelchairs.
Stage 3
Turn left behind the Ship Inn and follow the road south past the back of the cottages, parallel with the seashore. Continue past the Boat Park, checking the field to your right for visiting wetland and coastal birds.
Stage 4
Continue on the track past Risemoor Cottage, a former fisherman's pub, through a small woodland path until you see the two wildlife hides on your right facing into the waters at Newton Pool. You can now retrace your route back to Low Newton or continue on to step 5.
Birdlife
Stop off at the wildlife hides to enjoy the great views and to see how many different birds you can recognise using the visual guides and your binoculars. One hide is fully accessible for wheelchairs; the other has steps to climb to enter. Look out for oystercatchers and other shore birds around the Emblestones, an outcrop of hard volcanic rock protecting Newton Haven from the main ravages of the North Sea. Sometimes you can spot seals basking at the far end of the rocks.
Stage 5
Continue southward from the bird hide and after about 33yd (30m) the path forks. Take the left track past some beach bungalows in the dunes. Head for the centre of the green space where a waymark shows the path through bracken leading to wooden steps to the beach.
Stage 6
Take in the views of Dunstanburgh Castle across Embleton Bay before turning left on the beach and heading back towards the village. As you arrive back in the village square of Low Newton by the Sea, take time to relax on the beach, picnic on the village green or explore the shoreline and rockpools.
End point
Low Newton car park, grid ref: NU239248
Trail map
Map route for Newton Pool coastal walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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Low Newton by the Sea, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 3EW

northumberlandcoast@nationaltrust.org.uk

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