Cramlington To Bamburgh
The route along the Northumberland coast forms part of Sustrans' Coast and Castles Route which runs between Tynemouth and Aberdeen. This route is very scenic and follows the coastline using quiet roads and traffic free tracks. This makes it suitable for all levels and ages of cyclists. This route is really easy to follow be cause you do not need a map you just need to follow the NCN route 1 signs.
length: 130 miles
Time taken: This can
be done in 2-4 days
Difficulty: moderate
Time taken: This can
be done in 2-4 days
Difficulty: moderate
cramlington-bamburgh.docx | |
File Size: | 18 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Turn right out of the back of school, turn left after Alexandra Park, follow the track to seven
Oaks Park, passing the park and then turning right past the underpass, turn
right after the traffic light into Smithy square, then pass the war memorial and
cross the road following the cycle track, go down Parkside hill, continue following the
cycle track to Burnside and through the underpass.
At the fork in the path turn right continuing to follow the cycle track past Eastlea,
stay on the cycle track until you cross the road into Northburn estate, keep going on the
cycle track then turn left onto the road, you will go under the Main road and turn right at the
roundabout past Boghouses, continue along the road then at the junction turn left then right,
Follow the road past the Three Horse Shoes pub ,when you come to the fork in
the road turn left and past the gate, continue along the road until the garage
which will be on the left.
You have to turn right on the road and then take the second left not into the housing estate
which is the first, Follow the road around the hairpin down to the river, Cross
the bridge and take a right then take another right off the road onto the cycle
track labelled NCN Route 1. You will follow these blue signs the rest of the way to
Bamburgh.
Follow the track along then turn left before the signs for Cambois (Still following route 1)
into Bedlington Station, Turn right and cross over the road at the lights towards
East Sleekburn. Cross over the spine road into East Sleekburn and continue to
the next T-junction. you can follow the Route 1 signs round to Cambois, but if
you want to cut off the loop and go a more direct route then turn left here and
follow the road for a couple of miles until you see a right turn at the old
primary school. Take this turn and carry until you see the spine road above
you.
Cross the river and continue following Route 1 until you get to the roundabout
and continue with the signs for route 1, the track follows the road for a while then
you will come to another roundabout that you must cross, and then turn right following
the signs for Woodhorn Colliery Museum.
From Woodhorn Museum you take the exit road towards the A189. You carry on this road for
about 5km (3 miles) then cross the A189. You then take a large tarmac cycle track through the
trees which comes out alongside a road. Follow this cycle track across the road. Keep following
signs for Route 1. Carry on this traffic-free cycle track until Lynemouth. You will then have to join
onto a quiet road, still following signs for Route 1 passing through Cresswell.
Once you have reached Druridge Bay there is a café and toilets. This a good place for a
lunchtime snack. After leaving Druridge Bay continue along the path which follows along the
coast past Ladyburn Lake. After a little while on this path you will reach Low Hauxley.
You will join Hauxley Lane and turn right.
Once you reach the centre of Amble you need to turn right onto Leazes St which takes you to the outskirts
of the town. You then need to turn right onto Coquet Street and then right again. This brings you out onto a
path that goes along the side of the busy A1068. At the top of the hill is the impressive Warkworth
Castle, which you pass as you turn right to go through the town. At the bottom of the hill, there is a bridge
over the river, but you must then turn sharp right straight after crossing the bridge. After 250m
(820 ft) you need to turn left.
This lane then meets up with the A1068 again and you follow the track that goes along the A1068 until
you drop down to Alnmouth. Re-joining the road to the right, cross the bridge and then turn left at the
roundabout. After several miles you will reach a road that comes in from the right. You need to turn onto
this road and follow this lane until you reach Boulmer. At Boulmer you can either go in two directions.
If you turn left it will keep you on the road. You have to follow the road all the way to Longhoughton where
you turn right. Then follow the B1339 until the road turns left. At this point you carry straight on. Then, once
you reach Howick Hall Gardens, turn sharp right. You will then turn left and this will bring you back
on the coastal route.
If you carry on the route can become rough and steep in places so this is not advised if you are on
a road bike. However it does shortcut the route quite a bit. All you have to do on this route is follow the
track straight ahead until the road route joins back up again.
Once you near Dunstan there will be a crossroad. Around here, there are signposts for Craster
which is a nice detour and you can stop at the toilets.
Follow this road into Embleton. Then, when the road banks hard left you will need to bike straight ahead
onto Quakers Row. After a short while you will reach Front St where you will need to turn left then carry
straight on at the crossroads onto Station Rd. Keep on the road until it takes you out of Embleton. At the end of
the road, turn left. Follow the B1340 until the first junction where you turn right.
When you reach the crossroads turn left. Stay on the road for about 6 miles until you pass some
small farm houses. At this point you should turn left. Once you reach North Sunderland turn left onto
Broad Rd and then take the first left. After that you need to turn left again at Springhill Farm (which has
cycle friendly facilities to stay) and then right.
At the end of this road you will reach Bamburgh. To get to Bamburgh Castle, turn right. To return
back to Cramlington, simply reverse the route you used to get here although it is probably a good idea
to stay overnight at Bamburgh.
Oaks Park, passing the park and then turning right past the underpass, turn
right after the traffic light into Smithy square, then pass the war memorial and
cross the road following the cycle track, go down Parkside hill, continue following the
cycle track to Burnside and through the underpass.
At the fork in the path turn right continuing to follow the cycle track past Eastlea,
stay on the cycle track until you cross the road into Northburn estate, keep going on the
cycle track then turn left onto the road, you will go under the Main road and turn right at the
roundabout past Boghouses, continue along the road then at the junction turn left then right,
Follow the road past the Three Horse Shoes pub ,when you come to the fork in
the road turn left and past the gate, continue along the road until the garage
which will be on the left.
You have to turn right on the road and then take the second left not into the housing estate
which is the first, Follow the road around the hairpin down to the river, Cross
the bridge and take a right then take another right off the road onto the cycle
track labelled NCN Route 1. You will follow these blue signs the rest of the way to
Bamburgh.
Follow the track along then turn left before the signs for Cambois (Still following route 1)
into Bedlington Station, Turn right and cross over the road at the lights towards
East Sleekburn. Cross over the spine road into East Sleekburn and continue to
the next T-junction. you can follow the Route 1 signs round to Cambois, but if
you want to cut off the loop and go a more direct route then turn left here and
follow the road for a couple of miles until you see a right turn at the old
primary school. Take this turn and carry until you see the spine road above
you.
Cross the river and continue following Route 1 until you get to the roundabout
and continue with the signs for route 1, the track follows the road for a while then
you will come to another roundabout that you must cross, and then turn right following
the signs for Woodhorn Colliery Museum.
From Woodhorn Museum you take the exit road towards the A189. You carry on this road for
about 5km (3 miles) then cross the A189. You then take a large tarmac cycle track through the
trees which comes out alongside a road. Follow this cycle track across the road. Keep following
signs for Route 1. Carry on this traffic-free cycle track until Lynemouth. You will then have to join
onto a quiet road, still following signs for Route 1 passing through Cresswell.
Once you have reached Druridge Bay there is a café and toilets. This a good place for a
lunchtime snack. After leaving Druridge Bay continue along the path which follows along the
coast past Ladyburn Lake. After a little while on this path you will reach Low Hauxley.
You will join Hauxley Lane and turn right.
Once you reach the centre of Amble you need to turn right onto Leazes St which takes you to the outskirts
of the town. You then need to turn right onto Coquet Street and then right again. This brings you out onto a
path that goes along the side of the busy A1068. At the top of the hill is the impressive Warkworth
Castle, which you pass as you turn right to go through the town. At the bottom of the hill, there is a bridge
over the river, but you must then turn sharp right straight after crossing the bridge. After 250m
(820 ft) you need to turn left.
This lane then meets up with the A1068 again and you follow the track that goes along the A1068 until
you drop down to Alnmouth. Re-joining the road to the right, cross the bridge and then turn left at the
roundabout. After several miles you will reach a road that comes in from the right. You need to turn onto
this road and follow this lane until you reach Boulmer. At Boulmer you can either go in two directions.
If you turn left it will keep you on the road. You have to follow the road all the way to Longhoughton where
you turn right. Then follow the B1339 until the road turns left. At this point you carry straight on. Then, once
you reach Howick Hall Gardens, turn sharp right. You will then turn left and this will bring you back
on the coastal route.
If you carry on the route can become rough and steep in places so this is not advised if you are on
a road bike. However it does shortcut the route quite a bit. All you have to do on this route is follow the
track straight ahead until the road route joins back up again.
Once you near Dunstan there will be a crossroad. Around here, there are signposts for Craster
which is a nice detour and you can stop at the toilets.
Follow this road into Embleton. Then, when the road banks hard left you will need to bike straight ahead
onto Quakers Row. After a short while you will reach Front St where you will need to turn left then carry
straight on at the crossroads onto Station Rd. Keep on the road until it takes you out of Embleton. At the end of
the road, turn left. Follow the B1340 until the first junction where you turn right.
When you reach the crossroads turn left. Stay on the road for about 6 miles until you pass some
small farm houses. At this point you should turn left. Once you reach North Sunderland turn left onto
Broad Rd and then take the first left. After that you need to turn left again at Springhill Farm (which has
cycle friendly facilities to stay) and then right.
At the end of this road you will reach Bamburgh. To get to Bamburgh Castle, turn right. To return
back to Cramlington, simply reverse the route you used to get here although it is probably a good idea
to stay overnight at Bamburgh.