Day 30 – Berwick-upon-Tweed to Newcastle

We are starting today by heading a few miles north back in to Scotland (they can’t keep us away). We will then spend most of the day continuing our drive back in England, along the Northumberland coast before ending the day in Newcastle.

Photo of the day

Coastal Road Trip, Tour of Britain Cycle Race, Bamburgh, Leaders — The Tour of Britain Cycle Race arriving in Bamburgh.

St Abbs

Coastal Road Trip, St Abbs, Harbour, Blue Hut, Cliff House — Starting our day just north of the Scottish border at the quiet fishing village of St Abbs.

Coastal Road Trip, St Abbs, Harbour — Rocky views past St Abbs Harbour.

English & Scottish border

Coastal Road Trip, Coastal Road Trip, Scotland Border, England Border, Union Jack, Flags — Crossing the border back into England.

Berwick-upon-Tweed

Coastal Road Trip, Berwick upon Tweed, Bridge, Royal Border Bridge, Railway — The Royal Border Bridge spanning the River Tweed. The railway viaduct was opened by Queen Victoria in 1850.

Coastal Road Trip, Berwick upon Tweed, Parking Disc, Northumberland — I remember these parking discs as a kid, and didn’t realise they were still in use.

Coastal Road Trip, Berwick upon Tweed, Berwick Lighthouse — The simple but neat lighthouse at the end of the Berwick-upon-Tweed breakwater.

Lindisfarne

Coastal Road Trip, Lindisfarne, The Holy Island, Causeway, Danger Sign, Julian, Jarno — Crossing over the causeway to Lindisfarne (AKA The Holy Island).

Coastal Road Trip, Lindisfarne, The Holy Island, Causeway, Warning, Tide Tables — We better be quick, in fifteen minutes the tide is coming in, and we won’t be able to get back to the mainland until the evening.

Coastal Road Trip, Lindisfarne, The Holy Island, Causeway, Road, Hut, Sea — In case you get stranded as the tide returns, there’s a handy refuge hut to escape the rising tides. Your car might get a bit wet though.

Tour of Britain Cycle Race (coming into Bamburgh)

Coastal Road Trip, Tour of Britain Cycle Race, Bamburgh, Sign, Delays Expected — As we drove along the country lanes towards Bamburgh we suddenly found ourselves on the Tour of Britain Cyle Race route. A complete surprise. Perfect timing.

Coastal Road Trip, Tour of Britain Cycle Race, Bamburgh, Police, Race marshals — So we parked up on the verge, a few minutes later the police and race marshals arrived…

Coastal Road Trip, Tour of Britain Cycle Race, Bamburgh, Flying TV, Helicopter, Eye in the sky, Camera, TV Station — …quickly followed by the ‘Eye in the Sky”…

Coastal Road Trip, Tour of Britain Cycle Race, Bamburgh, Leaders — … then the race leaders came charging through….

Coastal Road Trip, Tour of Britain Cycle Race, Bamburgh, Main group — …followed by the main group. Ten minutes later we were back on the road again after this nice little interlude.

Bamburgh Castle

Coastal Road Trip, Bamburgh Castle — Stunning views over the freshly plowed fields to the huge Bamburgh Castle.

Coastal Road Trip, Bamburgh Castle — And even more impressive close up.

The Farne Islands

Coastal Road Trip, The Farne Islands, Inner Farne Lighthouse, National Trust — Just passed Bamburgh Castle, the view over to The Farne Islands and Inner Farne Lighthouse. The islands are famous for their seals and wide variety of seabirds.

Beadnell Beach

Coastal Road Trip, Beadnell Beach, Kite Surfing — Kite Surfing on Beadnell Beach.

Embleton & Newton Links

Coastal Road Trip, Embleton & Newton Links, National Trust, Beach, Sand Writing, Dunstanburgh Castle, Jarno — Jarno doing some more beach graffiti at the National Trust managed Embleton & Newton Links. In the distance you can also spot Dunstanburgh Castle.

Coastal Road Trip, Embleton & Newton Links, National Trust, Beach, Sand Writing — Washed away…

Craster

Coastal Road Trip, Craster Harbour, Flower, Purple — A little bit of colour as rain clouds rolled in over Craster Harbour.

Coastal Road Trip, Craster, Dunstanburgh Castle, Sheep, Field — Dunstanburgh Castle that we had seen earlier from Embleton & Newton Links. Now viewed from the south, walking across the fields from Craster. A bit hazy due to the rain…

Alnwick Castle

Coastal Road Trip, Alnwick Castle, English Heritage, Jarno — The seat of the Duke of Northumberland, at our final castle of the day, Alnwick Castle, just outside the picturesque market town of Alnwick.

Amble Beach

Coastal Road Trip, Amble Beach, Coquet Island Lighthouse — The tiny Coquet Island and its lighthouse viewed from Amble Beach.

Low Hauxley

Coastal Road Trip, Low Hauxley, Beach, Black Rocks — Low Hauxley Beach. Just a bit further along the beach a two-hundred meter long ancient forest has been uncovered by the sea cutting through the sand dunes.

Blyth

Coastal Road Trip, Blyth, Art, Wind Turbine, Industry — An interestingly arty and industrial coastline as the light faded passing through Blyth.

St Mary’s Lighthouse

Coastal Road Trip, St Mary's Lighthouse — St Mary’s Lighthouse across another causeway, at Whitley Bay.

Tynemouth

Coastal Road Trip, Tynemouth, Riley's Fish Shack, Night time — Ending the day with delicious fish tacos on the beach at Riley’s Fish Shack. We then headed inland to Newcastle for the night.

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