Walking Holidays and Outdoor Adventures in Northumberland

Castles, Coastlines, and Big-Sky Country

Where England feels wilder — and every path leads to history, solitude, and space.

Northumberland is England’s most spacious county, perfect for walking holidays and outdoor adventures. From the tidal flats of Lindisfarne to the rolling Cheviot Hills, it’s a land of long horizons, few crowds, and trails steeped in history. The Northumberland Coast Path runs through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, passing golden sands, tidal estuaries, and castles like Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh. Inland, the Hadrian’s Wall Path reveals dramatic Roman ruins and wild moorland, while St Oswald’s Way links coast and countryside in a journey through centuries of story. Popular walking hubs such as Alnmouth and Rothbury make perfect bases for exploring.

Whether you’re after clifftop drama, upland solitude, or village-to-village walking, Northumberland offers routes where every mile feels like discovery.

Trails Through Northumberland

Northumberland Coast Path

‍A 62-mile route from Cresswell to Berwick-upon-Tweed, following sandy beaches, castle-topped headlands, and wildlife-rich reserves.

St Oswald’s Way

‍A 97-mile pilgrimage trail linking Hadrian’s Wall to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, passing through woodlands, riversides, moorlands, and coast.

Hadrian’s Wall Path (Northumberland Section)

‍The most iconic part of this UNESCO World Heritage Trail runs through Northumberland — with Roman forts, wild moors, and dramatic escarpments.

Adventure Highlights

• Castle walks: Bamburgh, Warkworth, Alnwick, Dunstanburgh
• Coastal beauty in the Northumberland Coast AONB
• The solitude and heather trails of the Cheviot Hills
• Ancient routes: Roman roads, pilgrim paths, smugglers’ tracks
• Stargazing in Europe’s largest Dark Sky Park