Perched on the Northumbrian coast is the quaint little village of Bamburgh, nestled just back behind the protection of its sprawling sand dunes.
With a population of just a few thousand, it’s a peaceful respite for any staycationer looking for vast sandy beaches and stunning walks.
There’s no doubt you’ll be drawn to the lone historic castle that sits atop an outcrop, overseeing those ambling about the singular main street below.
Bambrugh has all the makings of a quintessential British holiday, and it seems Which? readers agree, voting the coastal village the UK’s best seaside destination for the fourth year in a row.
It beat the likes of Portmeirion in North Wales and Scotland’s St Andrews, so we’ve got the low down on the wealth of things this tiny little village has to offer…
Things to do in Bamburgh
We’ll start with the obvious here – Bamburgh castle. It’s one of the largest inhabited castles in the country.
Wherever you’re staying in the village, you won’t be able to miss the royal fortress which juts up above the landscape.
What was once a Norman stronghold spans nine acres and has a history dating back more than 1,400 years. It’s even believed to be the site of Sir Lancelot’s fictional castle, Joyous Garde.
It’s had kings like Henry IV and James I walk its halls and it was a fixture in the War of the Roses.
You can tour the entire castle, looking at the state rooms, King’s Hall, the armoury and the keep. Adult entry costs £17 while children (five to 16) are charged £8.50. Kids under the age of four go free, or you can buy a family ticket for two adults and up to three children for £47. There are activities to do for children while you visit.
Right next to the castle is another huge attraction and one of our favourites – Bamburgh beach.
There’s a small free car park to leave your car in, where you’ll be greeted by a little truck which sells hot drinks for your long walk ahead.
You’ll wander down through the sand dunes (which can be a little steep) and you’ll end up on pure white, soft sand. It’s a sprawling flat stretch of coastline perfect for long, windswept walks, no matter the time of year.
The beach is also dog friendly, and in the summer it’s a great place to sit and build sandcastles with children.
If you pay attention you may spot dolphins just a few metres from shore, leaping through the air and back into the waves.
It’s also been voted one of the best surf spots in the North East if you like to catch the waves, and it’s also great for kite surfing, horse riding along the beach, and body boarding.
Surf and hire lessons are available if you feel like giving it a go.
If you walk north on the beach you’ll reach Stags Rocks (because of the white stag literally painted on the rocks). This is a great patch for rock-pooling with younger kids, and you’ll be sure to find all manner of crabs and little fish.
If you’re looking for something more educational, near the top of the main street in the village is the RNLI Grace Darling Museum, which is free to visit.
It follows the story of local heroine Grace Darling, who risked her life to rescue nine survivors from the wrecked SS Forfarshire.
If you’re a golfer, then Bamburgh Castle Golf Club is a great scenic course, boasting views of Lindisfarne, where the vikings raided. There’s also the nearby 18-hole Dunstanburgh Castle Golf Course too.
If you want a good bite to eat The Potted Lobster is a family favourite, with portion sizes that are way too large, but taste almost too good. We even asked the chefs why they make the plates of food so big, they simply said they won’t be changing their ways.
So if you want a lovely meal that’s value for money, you’ll be very satisfied. It offers locally sourced fresh seafood like haddock, prawns, mussels, trout, and of course lobster.
If fish isn’t your thing, then don’t stress. A favourite of ours is the sirlion steak or the butternut squash and sweet potato curry – although you probably won’t be able to finish it.
Where to stay in Bamburgh
With such a small population, the village relies on tourism, which means there are plenty of places for you to stay.
There are many independent holiday homes for families small and large, with many situated down The Wynding – a road just off the main street, right next to the beach.
You’ll want to do a food shop before coming to stay in the village though. While there’s a wonderful butchers and village shop, if you like branded snacks and supplies, then you’ll want to stock your own fridge.
If a hotel is more your speed then there’s the Victoria Hotel or The Lord Crewe.
The Victoria, a three-star hotel, is dog friendly but only for pets with ‘very well behaved owners’.
The hotel also has a cluster of self-service holiday cottages, known as the Point Cottages, which are just 40 yards from the beach (and right next to the golf course).
If you’re bringing your dogs to one of the cottages, you’ll be charged an extra £7.50 per dog, per night. You’ll need to book both the hotel or the cottages very far in advance to ensure you aren’t disappointed.
The Lord Crewe has a five-star AA rating but has very limited rooms – seven, to be exact. If you get in early you may just bag yourself one of the lovely unique bedrooms, then you can wander down to the delightful restaurant below, which serves oyster, lobster and steak (as well as scrumptious cocktails).
The perfect day trip from Bamburgh
If you want to do any of the numerous day trips from Bamburgh, you’ll need a car.
Our personal favourite is but a 30 minute drive from the village. Holy Island, or The Holy Island of Lindisfarne.
You’ll need a car to drive over the causeway, as the tide comes in at certain times, completely cutting off the island. The crossing times can be found here, but always allow at least half an hour leeway for safety.
The island itself is wonderful, with the stunning ruins of Lindisfarne priory and Lindisfarne castle.
It’s rich with history. In 635AD Saint Aidan travelled from Iona and founded his monastery on the island, making it a centre point for Anglo-Saxon Christianity.
The saint is buried here, and there’s a museum which will tell you all about the history of the priory.
Following the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII, the Castle was built in the 1550’s using stones from the demolished Priory.
Sandham Bay and Coves Haven are two of the beaches which you can indulge in, and there’s a wealth of pubs and food spots for you to enjoy. Although they do get busy.
When walking on Bamburgh beach you’ll be able to see the Inner Farne Islands from the shore!
How to get to Bamburgh
Driving to Bamburgh is your best option – that’s how we’ve done it every time, and it makes day trips easy.
There’s free parking everywhere so you needn’t worry about costs.
If you would prefer to get there by train, it’s a bit of a trek. Chathill is the nearest station to Bamburgh but there’s only a very early morning train or a late evening train.
It’s likely you’ll need to get the train to Berwick or Alnmouth. An LNER train from London, Peterborough, Doncaster, York, Newcastle and Scotland will call at both stations.
There’s no uber, so you’ll have to rely on there being a taxi at the station and it can sometimes be a bit of a wait.
Your Daily Horoscope
Or you can catch the Arriva X18 bus to Bamburgh from Berwick, or the Arriva X20 and then the northbound X18 or X15, if you’re arriving into Alnmouth.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.