Itineraries

Grace Darling experience by bus

• Boat Trip: allow 2 hours
• Visiting church and museum: 1-2 hours

Download itinerary: Grace Darling by bus (PDF)

Introduction

Grace Darling was 22 years old when she risked her life in an open boat to help the survivors of the wrecked SS Forfarshire. The courage that Grace and her family showed on that day is now legendary. This itinerary includes a visit to Longstone Lighthouse where the family lived and the fabulous RNLI Museum and St Aidan’s Church in Bamburgh where she is buried.

The route

Arriving in Seahouses, get off the bus in the village. There are toilets opposite the Tourist Information Centre in the car park. At the harbour, head for the Golden Gate kiosk to get your boat tickets, the trip takes two hours and includes a tour of the lighthouse. Once you are back on land, return to the village centre to catch the 501 Arriva or 401 Travelsure service to Bamburgh.

Disembark the Bus in Bamburgh Village and head West, the Grace Darling Museum is on Radcliffe Road. The Museum has recently been rebuilt, it tells the tale of Grace Darling and the famous rescue. It also includes the famous rescue coble, Grace's dresses, letters and family belongings and a cornucopia of commemorative ware.

The museum is open throughout the year and there is small charge to enter.

After visiting the Museum, cross over the road to St Aidan’s Church. A place of worship was founded on the site of the present church in 635 by Saint Aidan. St Aidan was called to Bamburgh from Iona by King Oswald to establish Christianity in his newly United Kingdom of Northumbria. The Church is open daily from 9am, memorials to Grace Darling can be found in both the Church and Churchyard.

Before you leave Bamburgh why not stop for tea in one of the hotels or teashops?

Bus Information

Outward to Seahouses

From Newcastle, Alnwick and Morpeth

501 Coast and Castles Connection, a two-hourly service from Newcastle Haymarket Bus Station via Morpeth and Alnwick. Use the 505 from Newcastle early in the morning and change at Alnwick.

From Berwick-upon-Tweed via Belford

501 Coast and Castles Connection, a two-hourly service from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Newcastle. Travelsure operate the 411 service between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Beadnell.

From Ashington and Blyth

From Ashington use the 35 service to connect with the 501/505 in Morpeth. From Blyth use the two to connect with the 501/505 in Morpeth.

Return from Bamburgh

To Newcastle, Alnwick and Morpeth (change at Morpeth for Ashington and Blyth)

501 Coast and Castles Connection, a two-hourly service from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Newcastle Haymarket Bus Station via Alnmouth Railway Station, Alnwick and Morpeth. Travelsure operate the 401 service  to Alnwick

To Berwick-upon-Tweed via Belford

501 Coast and Castles Connection, a two-hourly service from Newcastle Haymarket Bus Station to Berwick-upon-Tweed. Travelsure operate the 411 service to Berwick-upon-Tweed

Sunday Service / Winter Service

There is a limited Sunday service which may make this itinerary unsuitable on Sundays. In winter the 501 terminates at Bamburgh, from Berwick you will need to use the Travelsure 411.

Times

You should allow two hours for the boat trip. Allow one to two hours to visit the church and museum in Bamburgh, longer if you visit the pub or dip your toes in the sea.

Online journey planner

Please use the Traveline North East website or call 0871 200 22 33.

Food and drink

Seahouses has a range of pubs and café’s serving food and of course, the fish and chip restaurants. Ice cream and seafood can be bought on the harbour in summer. The Olde Ship specialises in real ales, it usually has a good range of local brews.

In Bamburgh, there are a number of teashops and hotels offering lunches, teas and snacks.

Why not take a taste of Northumberland Home with you?

In Seahouses, Swallow Fish, a traditional smokehouse sells kippers as well as a wide range of fresh fish. The Northumbrian Hamper in the village showcases many locally produced delicacies from honey and preserves to locally milled flour, cheeses, oils and cakes.

In Bamburgh, Carters Butchers is famous for the Bamburgh Banger and G.S Clark sell local veg.

Credits

This itinerary has been prepared by the Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership. If you have any suggestions or comments regarding the itinerary or bus travel on the Northumberland Coast please call us on 01665 511206 or email: CoastAONB@northumberland.gov.uk.

Although the information provided in this itinerary is currently correct services may be subject to change and the Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership or Arriva cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies

We recommend that you check the bus and opening times of attractions before travel.

  - enlarge map. This map is included in the PDF download, the link is at the top of this page.