Things you should know when undertaking the Northumberland Coast Walk

The Northumberland Coast Path is a 60 mile route which stretches up from Creswell to Berwick-on-Tweed, and thus to the Scottish border. The route is a beautiful and relatively unspoiled area of natural beauty with rolling cliffs and golden sands. During the “Great Northern Walk” from Sunderland to Bamburgh in January 2024, this author taken this route having first headed inland to Ashington, then to Ellington before going eastwards to Creswell and heading along the route from there. This was an amazing adventure above all, but it is not without its challenges or things any committed hiker shouldn’t be aware of.

Stock up on supplies, shops and facilities are few and far between

If you are attempting a long distance walk up the route, make sure you take enough provisions. You will be walking for many miles in what is effectively total countryside. This isn’t Roker or Seaburn where the seafront is dotted with various amenities. The only major shopping hub you will encounter on the route is Amble and its Morrisons supermarket. Once you leave Amble behind, don’t expect much else of note, especially by evening.

Prepare for total darkness and the hazards which come with it.

At no point on the walk, outside of the larger settlements, are there any street lights on the Northumberland Coastal Route. When night falls, which is early in winter, the entire route will be encompassed in total darkness. Any rambler should bring a torch in advance with backup batteries accordingly. In addition to that, it also requires ample concentration because the route is fraught with natural hazards such as unseen ditches, giant puddles or other obstacles.

There are less places to stay in Winter along the way

If you choose to take the Northumberland Coastal Walk in winter, expect the challenge to be harder as there are less places to stay along the way. Many of the villages and settlements dotted along the coast are in fact seasonal, which means they close earlier or they simply don’t open at all. This brought an eerie feeling to the walk as it sometimes involved walking through caravan parks that were completely empty, such as one near Seahouses. Because of this, make sure you plan your journey well and within realistic timeframes. It was very late by the time I reached Bamburgh.

Have a fully charged powerbank, and plenty of data

If you’re taking the coastal walk, remember you will be out in the open with no place of rest for a long time, let alone the opportunity to charge your phone. If your battery runs out somewhere like this, unless you have brought your car, you’re in big trouble. Your phone is your connection to the world and your lifeline. It is also your most convenient source of navigation. Not only did I bring this, but I also used a Tesco Simcard to pay for 25GB of data for just £15 per month, ensuring I didn’t lose my way or ability to contact anyone in a potential emergency.