Itineraries

Howick Circular Walk

• Duration: allow 2-3 hours for the walk
• Allow longer for your visit to attractions

Download itinerary: Howick circular walk (PDF)

Introduction

A 9.5km or 6 mile circular trail from Craster, taking in Howick Hall, Cullernose Point and the Northumberland Coast Path. Why not extend your walk to take in the gardens and arboretum at Howick Hall?

The route

Arriving in Craster, get off the bus in the village. There are toilets at the Tourist Information Centre and a shop, pub and café in the village. From the Tourist Information Centre, head towards the car park turning left in to Arnold Memorial Northumberland Wildlife Trust Reserve, keep going past the first gate and go through the second gate.

From the gate, head uphill across the field to the gate by the road.

Cross the road and head up the farm track towards the farm, bear left following the waymark discs along a short grassy lonnen then follow the field edge.

Eventually you will come to two stiles, cross the second one signposted for Howick and follow the path under the escarpment

Cross the wall at the stile, then cross the field and follow the field edge path through a gate and alongside a mesh fence until you come to a track. (If you are visiting Howick Hall or extending your route through the gardens – leave the route here)

Bear right onto the track and follow it to the road.

At the road turn left and walk along the roadside path at the road junction where the roadside paths ends continue straight ahead, walking on the road, take care here the road can be busy in summer.

Where the road bears left, continue straight ahead taking the track to the sea

Turn left at the end of the track and follow the coastal path back to Craster

Arriving in Craster follow the path on the seaward side of the children’s play area, in front of the houses, the path continues through the pub garden (you may wish to end your walk here!) into the harbour, turn left to go back to the Tourist Information Centre.

Essentials

Start at Craster Tourist Information Centre where you can pick up a leaflet for this walk or buy one from here.

The route is mostly flat on good paths, not suitable for wheelchair users. It can be muddy after wet weather. There are a couple of stiles along the way.

It is possible to extend your walk through Howick Gardens along the ‘long walk’ however you must pay to enter the gardens. This route follows the Howick Burn to where it meets the sea, when you reach the sea head north to rejoin the main route at the Bathing House.

Bring your binoculars; there is much to see

When the gardens are open, so is the Earl Grey Tea House, why not call in for a cup of Earl Grey (Only open to garden visitors).

This section is exposed, wear suitable clothing.

Use Ordnance Survey Map 332 Alnwick & Amble

Bus Information

Outward to Craster

From Newcastle, Alnwick and Morpeth

501 Coast and Castles Connection, a two-hourly service from Newcastle, Morpeth and Alnwick. A Travelsure 401 also connects Alnwick with Craster.

From Berwick-upon-Tweed and Seahouses

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

From Ashington and Blyth

From Ashington use the service 35 to connect with the service 501 in Morpeth. From Blyth use the service 2 to connect with the 501 in Morpeth.

Return from Craster

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 Alnwick and Morpeth. Travelsure 401 also connects Craster with Alnwick.

To Berwick-upon-Tweed

501 Coast and Castles Connection, a two-hourly service from Newcastle Haymarket Bus Station 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.

Times

You should allow two to three hours for your walk, longer if you choose to visit Howick Hall Gardens or have dip in the sea.

Online journey planner

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

Food and drink

Craster has a café and pub that serve food; there is also a small shop to stock up on supplies.

The Earl Grey Teahouse in Howick Hall serve a variety of teas, home made and local produce, snacks and light lunches, sometimes on a self-service basis. The Earl Grey Tea House is open whenever the gardens are open, but exclusively for visitors to the garden. It is NOT open to other members of the public.

There is a traditional smokehouse in Craster, L Robson & Sons, producers of the legendary Craster Kipper. Here you can purchase a range of specially selected, finest quality seafood, and also find out why this unique family business has been producing some of the world's finest smoked salmon and kippers for almost 100 years.

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 also included in the PDF download, the link is at the top of this page.