Bamburgh and Seahouses : DowntownuK Family Days Out

Ask any child what an English castle should look like and they would come up with something remarkably like Bamburgh Castle. Built high on a rocky out-crop overlooking the north sea the castle has starred in numerous British and Hollywood films and is often cited as the finest castle in England.

Up close, the castle loses some of its appeal as the extensive restoration work carried out in the late 19th and early 20th century reveals itself. In fact, the castle was virtually re-built at this time by its owners, the Armstrong family, so the Arthurian appeal of the castle is perhaps suggestive rather than real. Never-the-less an impressive building it certainly remains. The Armstrong family still own the castle and it is open to the public for much of the year.

The pleasant village of Bamburgh is home to the Grace Darling Museum. Grace was and remains a local heroine of the 19th century. She lived in one of the lighthouses on the nearby Farne Islands. In a terrible storm, Grace rowed out with her father to rescue

many of the crew of a doomed sailing ship (the Forfarshire) from a watery grave after the ship had floundered on rocks. Grace is buried in St Aidan's Church yard just across the road from the museum. Her monument is said to have been built so that it can be seen by passing ships.

The beaches of the Northumberland coast are some of the finest in the country and none more so than the beach at Bamburgh where there really are miles of beautifully clean, golden sands and sand dunes.

Travelling south from Bamburgh about 3 miles is the fishing village of Seahouses. As a tourist stop Seahouses is famous for two things: fish and chips and being the setting-off point for organised boat trips to the nearby Farne Islands.

In mid to late spring the islands are a haven for millions of sea birds as well as seals and a boat trip taken at this time is a wonderful experience - do take a camera (and a hat - there are lots of birds!). In summer, many of the birds have left the islands but a large number of seals remain and can still enthral as they cheekily bob up from underwater to give each boat the once-over.

It is probably best to take the boat trip in the morning leaving the afternoon free to visit Bamburgh and perhaps laze on the beach a while. A lunch of Seahouses fish and chips is recommended.

Bamburgh and Seahouses lie on the well signposted Coastal Route.

The Northumberland Coastal Route is a 35 mile signed route from Druridge Bay (the A1068/B1337 junction) to Belford on the A1, 5 miles south of Holy Island. There are two southern access routes from the A1 via Morpeth and from the A19, near Cramlington, via the A189.

Park in the Pay and Display beneath the south end of the castle. There is also a convenient beach car park at the end of the narrow road next to the public toilets. (opposite post office)

A large Pay and Display car park with toilets sits behind the main high street and is well signed.