Discover St Oswald’s Way (111½ miles/179.5km), a route that leads from Heavenfield through Northumberland’s scenic heartland and historic villages, before reaching the iconic Holy Island and continuing up the coast to Berwick-upon-Tweed. Or follow the Northumberland Coast Path (71½ miles/115km), tracing the breathtaking shoreline from Cresswell to Berwick-upon-Tweed, where sweeping beaches, dramatic castles, and panoramic sea views await at every turn.

Ideal for walkers of all abilities, both St Oswald’s Way and the Northumberland Coast Path are easy long-distance walks with no technical or exposed sections. The comprehensive Cicerone guidebook divides the trails into manageable daily stages and provides advice for flexible itineraries, allowing you to walk at your own pace, whether over a week or in shorter sections.

• Explore the historic sites of Warkworth Castle, Bamburgh Castle, and the iconic Holy Island (Lindisfarne), as well as the Simonside Hills, Coquet Valley, and the vast sandy beaches along the Northumberland Coast AONB. Both trails finish at the border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed.

• Enjoy Northumberland’s rich heritage, from Norman churches and medieval abbeys to dramatic castles and archaeological sites. Explore quiet villages, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), and sample the region’s outstanding hospitality along the way.

• The trails can be walked year-round, though the best conditions are typically from May to August, when the weather is at its finest, and the landscape bursts with colour and wildlife. Detailed guidance is provided for every stage, including tips for dealing with longer stretches and exposed moorland crossings.

• Each stage features a detailed route summary with distances, walking times, and practical advice about accommodation, public transport, and facilities in key locations such as Rothbury, Warkworth, Bamburgh, Craster, Holy Island, and Berwick-upon-Tweed, ensuring you’re well prepared at every step.

• Navigate confidently with OS Landranger (1:50,000) maps and downloadable GPX files, supported by expert advice for planning each stage of your journey.

• Includes information on local wildlife: spot red squirrels and roe deer in the forests and hills, watch for otters in the rivers, and discover a remarkable diversity of coastal species, from grey seals and puffins to terns and vast flocks of migratory birds at Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve and Fenham Flats.

Plan your St Oswald’s Way or Northumberland Coast Path adventure with confidence and immerse yourself in the history, landscapes, and wildlife of one of Britain’s most unspoilt regions, with the comprehensive support of the Cicerone guidebook.

Author Highlight

“St Oswald’s Way stretches 100 miles (161km) across Northumberland from Heavenfield, on Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, to Holy Island (Lindisfarne) on the Northumberland coast – however, it’s well worth continuing up the coast to Berwickupon-Tweed (following the final stage of the Northumberland Coast Path, included in this guide), making a total distance of 111½ miles (179.5km). This additional stage provides both superb coastal scenery, and takes advantage of the better transport links in Berwick-upon-Tweed."

- Rudolf Abraham, author of Walking St Oswald's Way and Northumberland Coast Path

CONTENTS

Map key

Overview map

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Geology

Weather

Wildlife and plants

Northumberland National Park

Northumberland Coast AONB

History and heritage

Transport

Accommodation

About the routes

When to go

What to take

Waymarking and access

Maps

Hill and coastal safety

Emergencies

Using this guide

St Oswald’s Way

Stage 1 Heavenfield to Kirkwhelpington

Stage 2 Kirkwhelpington to Rothbury

Stage 3 Rothbury to Warkworth

Stage 4 Warkworth to Craster

Stage 5 Craster to Bamburgh

Stage 6 Bamburgh to West Mains

Stage 7 West Mains to Holy Island

Northumberland Coast Path

Stage 1 Cresswell to Warkworth

Stage 6 Holy Island to Berwick-upon-Tweed

(For Stages 2–5 of the Northumberland Coast Path follow St Oswald’s Way Stages 4–7)

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Glossary and pronunciation

Appendix C Accommodation

Appendix D Useful contacts

Appendix E Further reading

Seasons

Spring, summer and autumn; late autumn for birdlife; expect snow on higher ground in winter

Centres

Heavenfield, Cresswell, Amble, Kirkwhelpington, Rothbury, Craster, Warkworth, Bamburgh, Holy Island, West Mains, Berwick-upon-Tweed

Difficulty

No special difficulties to encounter on the routes in this guide, though a reasonable level of fitness is assumed. Some of the stages as described are fairly long, though they can be broken down into shorter sections. Crossing to Holy Island must be timed to coincide with low tide

Must See

Warkworth Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Hadrian's Wall, Simonside, Lordenshaws, Howick Hill Fort, Dunstanburgh Castle, St Cuthbert's Cave, Lindisfarne Priory, Lindisfarne Castle, Cheswick Sands

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