Trifter

A HOLIDAY SECRET THE coastline of North Northumberland must be the best kept tourist secret in Britain. There are some of the world’s finest beaches in coves that can be deserted, even on bank holidays. It has history, legend, fishing, wildlife and stunning scenery from Fast Castle Head in the neighbouring Borders Region to Alnmouth in Northumberland. The 120 mile stretch of coast has been designated as a European Marine Site. This region has superb beaches, vibrant rock pools and offshore reefs. The submarine panorama has tide driven kelp forests and water ground caves. A colony of grey seals on the Farne Islands is the largest breeding community on the east coast of England. They use the islands and offshore sandbanks as haul out sites throughout the year Low tides uncover large expanses of muddy sand, at Budle Bay, Fenham Flats and around the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, which contains large numbers of such shellfish as cockles and Baltic tellins concealed under their surfaces. The more sandy beaches are studded with the coiled casts of lugworms which local fishermen have dug for bait for generations. The rockpools and the inshore reefs are particoloured with anemones, seaweeds, and shellfish while the deeper reefs extending further offshore are the home of large thickets of seaweed which are grazed by sea urchins. Still further out are the Whinstone reefs, giving way to soft corals. All this offshore reefs have long been renowned for the large numbers of crabs, lobsters and other crustaceans which can be caught here. Many of the local eateries make a great deal crab dishes. Caves, both above water level and subaquatic, have been chiselled out of the rock by the unceasing wave actions. The entrances are frequently carpeted with seaweeds and both sea squids and sponges live in the darkness of these grottos. Conger eels and wolf fish often lurk in the submarine caverns. Magnificent sweeping beaches, such as Embleton and Beadnell have been formed where rocky spurs have provide protection from the buffeting North Sea. These large, shallow, sandy shores have often formed the backdrop to epic films, such as Mary, Queen of Scots, El Cid, and Becket St Cuthbert (635-687) initiated the world’s first bird sanctuary on the off lying Farne Islands. These islands still have large colonies of overwintering wildfowl and waders. The large meadows of eelgrass provide food for Brent Geese during the summer months. Terns, puffins, kittiwakes, guillemots, shags, razorbills and shearwaters breed on the islands. Other bird sanctuaries in the area include Lindisfarne and St Abb’s Head. Boat trips to the Farnes leave from Seahouses. History abounds along this spectacular coastline. There is first of all the priory on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne on the site of the monastery once lived in by Aidan and Cuthbert. Castles along this shore include Bamburgh, once the capital of the Anglican kingdom of Northumberland, Dunstanburgh and Lindisfarne. A museum in Bamburgh tells the story of local heroine Grace Darling, who rowed out to the Big Harca Rock with her father on a stormy night in 1838 to rescue the crew and passengers of the steamship, Forfarshire. Fishing, sailing and birdwatching have always brought visitors to this shores. More modern pursuits include wind-surfing, water skiing and scuba diving. This rocky coastline offers plenty of opportunities for this activity. There are the reefs and caves to explore and a profusion of marine wildlife to observe. Centuries of seafaring and fishing along this dangerous seaboard have created numerous wrecks of both wartime and peace to dive on. While Berwick upon Tweed is the only large town, along the waterfront, there are countless small villages and hamlets. Every turn of the road brings a new exciting and extensive vista. Every settlement has pubs, cafes, restaurants, B and Bs and hotels, some of them of an excellent standard.

Further information on this exciting coastline can be obtained from the European Marine Site Officer. c/o Northumberland County Council. County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF or on 01670 534094