Making Waves: Northumberland Beaches Ranked Among Uk’s Best

Blessed with an abundance of coastline and countryside, the Northeast boasts stunning sunsets along with fascinating folklore.

It also makes a splash when it comes to its beautiful beaches – with four stunning beaches featuring in the Sunday Times 50 Best Beaches in the UK for 2023. Cresswell, Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh and Tynemouth Longsands stand proudly in the prestigious rankings where every beach has been visited and inspected across the past two months. Criteria includes car parking, accessibility, facilities, and if they welcome our fur friends.

Captivating Cresswell

Situated on the Northumberland Coast Path, the seaside village of Cresswell is extremely popular with walkers, bird watchers and cyclists.

The area also abounds with tales of witchcraft and the supernatural, with records claiming that over 20 witches were executed.

Almost three centuries ago its visitors are said to have include the devil himself who tried to entice a reputable local tailor to commit a sin of pride. Determined not to be stitched up, the tailor called on the local vicar and Satan was cast out – vanishing in a spectacular fireball.

Thankfully modern-day visitors only vanish as far as the Drift Café across from the beach to refuel on scrumptious homemade cakes and other temptations.

Dramatic Backdrop

Bamburgh’s beautiful beach – just 2.5 kilometres long and very popular for surfing - is further enhanced by its setting against Bamburgh Castle - arguably one of the most beautiful in the UK.

The former royal seat of Northumbrian Kings, the castle has reigned over this incredible coastline for over 1,400 years with beautiful views stretching to The Farne Islands.

The beach and castle have featured in many films – the most recent being Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Icons Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were renowned for their romantic trysts in the sand dunes in 1964 while Burton was filming Becket with Peter O’Toole.

Canine Capers

Dog owners will be delighted to know that, according to The Beach Guide for the North-East, dogs are allowed on all of the county’s beaches. A total of 31 are dog friendly and there are just three - Blyth, Newbiggin North and Ross Back Sands - which may have seasonal restrictions.

Embleton Bay beach, also ranked in the Sunday Times Best Beaches, leads to the magnificent ruins of 14th Century Dunstanburgh Castle.

Dramatically located on a remote headland just a short walk from the picturesque village of Craster. the castle is a Lancastrian stronghold with a turbulent past.

Witnessing violent battles during the Wars of the Roses, it was besieged and captured twice by the House of York armies and later lapsed into decay. Managed by the National Trust, highlights include the twin tower keep, seabirds and stunning scenery.

Home to flocks of local seabirds including guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, fulmars, shags - puffins feed in the water below and Peregrine falcons are spotted on the castle’s cliffs.

Beach life is just one of many intrinsic elements in the North-east, whose enchantment extends to knockout sunsets, promising new dawns, gorgeous countryside, and delicious seafood.

The wealth of sights to discover along Northumberland’s 64-mile coastal path, which starts at Cresswell and ends at Berwick upon Tweed, a border town between England and Scotland, makes it popular all year round.

When it comes to history, Northumberland’s Medieval Kingdom and its turbulent past makes it one of the most potent and fascinating counties to explore.