• Chris Tomes
  • Chris Tomes

Northumberland Coast

A short but fine adventure by Chris Read more
  • Trip start
    April 17, 2021

    Home to Beadnell via Gosforth

    April 17, 2021 in England ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    Excited to make our first trip of 2021 under pandemic Covid-19 restrictions.

    Lunch with Heather and Steve in Gosforth. On to our comfortable Airbnb in Beadnell.

    Walk to Seahouses (queues for one of three fish and chip shops) and back then a post dinner stroll around the village. Pubs doing a roaring trade outside with individual log fires at tables.Read more

  • Cycling day on NCR 1

    April 18, 2021 in England ⋅ 🌙 7 °C

    Ride out on National cycle route 1 to Alnmouth, via Craster. About 60km in total.

    Took the off-road option along bridleway, bridge and beach which the Bromptons managed well.

    Spotted an owl, likely a barn owl, flying and perching in woodland.

    Evening stroll around Beadnell and Beadnell bay.
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  • Belford to Holy Island

    April 19, 2021 in England ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    Hilly cycle ride on NCR1 from Belford to Holy Island. Tides in our favour for crossing the causeway, and no need to compete for costly car parking space. Quite busy but the cafes were up to the volume of visitors.

    Crab sandwiches for lunch, Beale Farm for tea and scones.

    Bar tailed godwits in the estuary.
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  • Around Alnwick

    April 20, 2021 in England ⋅ 🌧 8 °C

    A non cycling day. Parked up on the outskirts of Alnwick, had a delightful coffee in the sunshine and then took advice and walked round Hulne Park. Hulne Park absolutely delightful and virtually deserted. Landscaped by Capability Brown and still beautiful on a grand scale. Forest drive planted with Dawn Redwoods. Hulne Priory very peaceful - stones with perforations still a mystery.

    Indulged in a few shops on our return including Barter Books and then tea and carrot cake outdoors.

    AA box hidden in trees in Beadnell.
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  • Widdrington Station to Alnmouth

    April 21, 2021 in England ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C

    Hooray, another cycling day.

    Very much cooler than yesterday, but sunny all day. Started the day off with a run along deserted and beautiful Beadnell Bay, then drove to Widdrington Station (the name of the village, which happens to have a railway station). Via Barter Books for coffee, toast and marmalade.

    Route picked as it is mainly traffic free, along more unspoiled beaches and dune landscapes, into the wind on the way out, tailwind on the return.

    Finally we raided a large M&S food store outside Alnwick to take advantage of generous marked down food for our tea (and tomorrow’s lunch and tea) ...
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    Trip end
    April 22, 2021