Alnmouth

A gentle walk with a taste of coast and country. If the tide is out, take the beach route past Marden Rocks, otherwise enjoy the breezy higher level coastal path before turning inland through pretty Lesbury and across open farmland. Look out for St Mary’s church and glimpses of the River Aln, then it’s back for tea and scones or a cosy pub meal in colourful Alnmouth.

START/PARKING. GRID REF NU246105

Parking in Village

RECOMMENDED ROUTE

1. From the centre of Alnmouth walk up the main street away from the sea to turn right along The Wynd. Where the road bends right, turn left across Alnmouth Common. Follow this lane, turning left just after the drinking fountain across a small parking area to Foxton Hall, Boulmer. (You could take the beach route from this point – see later). Follow the left hand grassy path (parallel to a clearer track) up the bank, passing some Second World War concrete blocks, to go along the top of the ridge on a wide track, which soon becomes a footpath with a fence left, leading across the golf course. At the end of the golf course, go up a small bank to a small gate (waymarker), with the sea on your right. Follow the costal path (golf course left). Where the path divides, bear left along the clearly marked path to join a lane to the left of the clubhouse. Turn left along this lane to a T-junction. If the tide is out, you could take the beach route: continue along the lane across Alnmouth Common to the beach. Turn left along the beach, passing the low outcrops of Marden Rocks on your right to reach a gate, left, at the top of the rocky foreshore. Head through the gate and follow the path up to join a lane beside the clubhouse. Follow this up to the T-junction.
2. At the road cross the ladder-stile opposite to Lesbury then, at the top of the bank above the River Aln, head right across the hillside to another ladder-stile by a gate. The path slants down to join the riverbank – follow it until you reach a bridge across the river on the edge of Lesbury. Do not cross this bridge. Instead, follow the footpath that bends right to emerge on the main road opposite St Mary’s Church.
3. Head left through Lesbury then, at the top of the village, turn left over the old bridge across the River Aln. Cross the main road then turn left along the roadside path. As you reach Hipsburn, turn right along Curly Lane and, where it bends right, follow an enclosed path straight on to reach a road. Go through the gate opposite (Wooden Farm), across playing fields, through another gate, then join a track beneath a railway bridge.
4. Walk towards the top of the low hill facing you, continue on to a gate in the far corner of the field. Go through the gate and follow a grassy track to go through another gate. Ahead you will see the buildings of Wooden Farm. Go through gates right of the large barns to join a track. Follow it left then, as you reach the farmyard, take a lane right, which curves left over a level crossing to the main road.
5. Take the lane opposite turn immediately left along a clear path signposted Alnmouth. Follow this for 1.3km to a road. Turn right and go over Duchess Bridge across the Aln. Immediately turn right down steps to a riverside path. Follow this, bending left, to join a lane into Alnmouth.