Route: Alnmouth
Area: Northumberland
Date of walk: 14th March 2020
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 4.7 miles
Ascent: 300 feet
Weather: Mostly cloudy, some bright spells
After an absence of several months, it was good to be back in one of our favourite walking areas in the country – Northumberland. On the way to our destination near Howick, we made a short detour to the attractive coastal village of Alnmouth
Located at the mouth of the River Aln, the village once had a port supporting a small fishing industry and was for a time a leading centre for the export of grain. In recent times it has transformed into a coastal resort and lies within the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
We parked in one of the roadside spaces at the edge of the village, and from here it was a short stroll onto the beach which forms part of Alnmouth Bay. There is a public footpath running along the top of the dunes, but we preferred to walk along the sandy beach, heading north towards Marden Rocks
At the far point of the rocks we reluctantly turned inland to follow the track through Alnmouth golf course. Beyond the course we crossed the road and descended gently down a path to the banks of the River Aln. On reaching the village of Lesbury we crossed a footbridge over the river to head back to the start. The path took us past some of the wetlands around Alnmouth, and we had several good sightings of lapwing, curlew and redshank along the way
We followed a path around the edge of the village and, since the tide was low, we were able to walk along the beach back to the start of the walk
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
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The start of the walk from the edge of Alnmouth - it's only a few yards to the beach from the roadside parking place
Alnmouth Bay - we turn left along the beach
The sands of Alnmouth Bay...
Views back to Alnmouth as we continue along the beach...
The beach narrows as we reach an area known as Marden Rocks
Marden Rocks...
At Fluke Hole, near Foxton Hall, we leave the coast and turn inland
Looking across to Seaton Point
The end of the beach section of the walk
We cross the golf course via a public footpath
Beyond the golf course, and after crossing a road, we arrive above the River Aln
We descend to the river bank in the direction of Lesbury
We arrive at the River Aln
Looking back along the path
At the village of Lesbury we cross the river
The River Aln from the bridge
Start of the return to Alnmouth as we pass by this football pitch
We arrive at a saltmarsh in the Aln Estuary and follow a path beside the road, with sightings of lapwing, curlew and redshank along the way
It's possible to walk back through the village of Alnmouth, but we preferred to turn off along romantically named Lovers Walk, a path beside the estuary
Looking across to Grade II listed Duchess Bridge, built in 1864
We pass by the cheerfully coloured houses of Alnmouth
Alnmouth harbour
We arrive back on the beach, and from here it's a short stroll back to the start
A final look back over Alnmouth Bay at the end of the walk
We then drove to the Bathing House near Howick which will be our rented base for this week's walking holiday
Dunstanburgh Castle seen from the cottage - we'll pass by the castle later in the week
