Find the nearest Beaches in Northumberland
Planning a trip to the Northumberland coast and looking for where the nearest beach is, our beach lists will help you discover the nearest beach to me. Then for each beach, we will answer questions around location, rural or town, sandy or pebble, rockpools, tide times, weather forecast, dog restrictions, bathing water quality, closest beach cafes and provide general information on the beach and its facilities.
When on a beach page use our tools to search nearby Northumberland seaside towns and the surrounding coast for things to see and do or places to stay and eat.
If you are looking for an award-winning beach then you can browse our Blue Flag lists or Seaside Award lists.
Finding the right beach in Northumberland is easy – simply explore the beach links below, to find the closest hit the jump to my location compass or use the search bar to plan where your next Northumberland beach visit should be.
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- Beadnell Bay is a horseshoe shape of golden sand backed by sand dunes. The bay is part of the Northumberland Coast AONB. Facilities include parking (charges apply Easter – October), toilets, harbour and cafe/restaurant.
- Spittal beach is a sandy beach with shallow water at high tide on the southern side of Tweed estuary. The beach is backed by a promenade and seaside shops.
- Bamburgh Castle beach is in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Northumberland Coast. It’s vast, unspoilt shoreline is uncrowded and backed by fabulous sand dunes and the magnificent Bamburgh Castle. It also commands sea views across to Lindisfarne, Holy Island and Farne Islands. Popular surfing and kitesurfing beach. Facilities include toilets, parking, cafes, restaurant and of course a big castle!
- Alnmouth beach is a quiet sandy beach with dunes just outside the Northumberland village of Alnmouth on the mouth of the River Aln (hence the name “Alnmouth”). Facilities include small car park, toilets, variety of gift shops, restaurants, pubs, coffee shops in the village some 10 minute walk away.
- Cheswick Sands is one of the biggest beaches in Northumberland, a large area of flat sand with black rocks and dunes. This is a vast beach that stretches as far as the eye can see and merges in with Cocklawburn beach in the north. Excellent beach for walking. On a clear day to the north end of the beach you can see past Berwick to the Border, while to the south Holy Island with it’s castle is in full view. Few beaches offer such excellent unspoilt views as this. Parking available.
- Craster is a small fishing village on the Northumbrian coast with a small and attractive harbour. The harbour itself is protected by two areas of rocks, known as Muckle Car and Little Car. Craster is not so much a beach but a rocky shore with a view northwards to the spectacular ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle. This is the nearest point of access to the castle and the 1.5 mile approach must be made on foot along a grassy path.
- North Seaton beach is a small beach backed by sand dunes to the north of the River Wansbeck estuary. You have a Hoseasons Sandy Bay park right behind the beach.
- Ross Back Sands is 3 miles of sandy quiet beach backed by sand dunes. The beach protrudes out between Holy Island and Budle Bay which means it can be very windy due to this exposed position although careful positioning within the sand dunes can provide a good windbreak. Some good walks around Ross beach including a nature reserve which is a popular spot for bird watching and you get some great views of Lindisfarne Castle to the north on Holy Island and Bamburgh Castle to the south. The beach has no facilities and there is a 1½ mile walk from the nearest parking point at Ross and this is probably why the beach is never busy. Note that due to the remoteness and sand dunes parts of the beach are used by naturists.
- Embleton Bay is one of Northumberland’s many fine beaches. The beach is dominated by Dunstanburgh Castle which stands on the south cliffs of the bay. Embleton Bay beach is sandy with rock pools at low tide and is very popular with walkers and families. No facilities and access is from Embleton Village or Low Newton.
- Newton Haven beach at Low Newton consists of sand, sand dunes and rocks. This is a sheltered Bay popular with water sports enthusiasts and bird watchers. In the south part of the dunes is Newton Pool, a freshwater nature reserve owned by the National Trust, whilst looking south on the headland across the bay is the ruin of Dunstanburgh Castle. Low Newton a short walk from the beach provides parking, toilets, pub and small shops.
- Holy Island has a selection of sand beaches and dunes. Also known by its Celtic name as Lindisfarne, Holy Island is accessible only at low tide, twice daily, by a three mile long causeway. The island is one of the top locations for bird watching in North East England. The sand dunes and saltmarsh are a National Nature Reserve, and an important winter home to thousands of seabirds, particularly waders.
- Cresswell beach spans either side of the village on the south part of Druridge Bay. To the north, you have a large sandy beach backed by large areas of sand dunes. To the south, the beach is backed by a caravan park and the headland at low tide exposes some rocks giving some rock pooling opportunities. The shallow beach makes it good for swimming and the surfing has an exposed beach break and also popular for sailing and fishing. Facilities at the beach include parking amongst the sand dunes just outside the village to the north. The south beach has a smaller car parking area alongside the road. The village has a small amount of parking and an ice-cream shop.
