emilywillisblogWarkworth is situated in the North East of England in Northumberland, bordered by Amble and Alnmouth. It makes for a wonderful visit, whether you prefer river walks or beach walks (or a bit of both!), and there are some beautiful hotels in which to stay and eat.
Best walks at Warkworth beach
There are two main options for walking at Warkworth. One option is the beach and the other is the river.
If you take the river, follow the Coquet as far as you fancy. You can find information on the Coquet circular walk here, which is around 3 miles and is generally considered to be an easy walk.
If you opt for the beach, you will be rewarded for your strenuous efforts in fighting your way through the dense sand dunes, as you will reach a section of iridescent sand that resembles apple crumble. The sand dunes provide a lot of shelter for picnics and swimming although beware – it’s a big stretch of open beach here, giving way to waters which are deep very quickly and thus makes for a bracing swim.
The emptiness of the beach here and the ceaselessness of the grassy topped sand dunes as they stretch out on the horizon as you regard them from the top of the dunes, puts you in mind of scotland, and standing on top of the dunes you feel very wind whipped, but you get a breathtaking view of all the beaches north and south which makes for great photo opportunities. A walk here up to the estuary and back through the sand dunes to the carpark will generally take around an hour and a half at a leisurely pace, depending on how arduous you find climbing the sand dunes!
Is Warkworth beach safe?
Beware of crossing the estuary to Alnmouth beach. The estuary is deceptively deep and fast flowing even at low tide and you may find yourself swept out to sea very quickly. Or the tide may come in behind you and you may find yourself cut off from your walk back (it’s quite a considerable walk back to your car along the road from Alnmouth).
Is Warkworth beach family friendly?
Warkworth beach is family friendly – there is a lot of space for children to run around and make sand castles, fly kites etc, particularly when the tide is out. There are also some dramatically steep sand dunes which children can enjoy racing down.
Is Warkworth beach dog friendly?
Yes, dogs are allowed on Warkworth beach all year round. Bear in mind if your dog is jumping into the sea to catch balls that the beach slopes downwards to the tideline and there is a steep drop off from the shallows where a spinning current makes it difficult for dogs to swim past the breakers to get back. If you were to go in to rescue them you may have difficulty getting out yourself as you would suddenly find yourself in powerful water up to your neck.
Is Warkworth beach accessible?
Warkworth beach is generally not accessible for people with mobility issues. From the main carpark, there is a steep sandy slope down to the bottom of the sand dunes. You then have to traverse a number of sand dunes to get to the beach which involves ascending and descending, as well as weaving through lyme and arrow grasses and thistles.
Best places to eat and drink near Warkworth beach
When you have finished your walk at Warkworth you will need to get in your car again to drive the short distance back to the village for refreshment. Warkworth has a few good pubs and eateries such as Bertrams and the Hermitage Inn as well as some cafes such as Coquet tea Rooms. The Warkworth House Hotel also has a good menu, though more upmarket, and I found the staff to be somewhat unnecessarily rude.
Places to stay in Warkworth
The Sun Hotel is a beautiful location to stay in. A popular wedding location, it is situated at the foot of Warkworth Castle, and on the river Coquet, which flows through Warkworth, which makes for a stunning place to sit and watch the sun go down after dinner. There is a conservatory for breakfast dining which looks out onto the river and in the autumn it is flanked by a spectrum of colourful leaves falling from horse chestnut trees. You can dine in the old hall which is done out to resemble a castle, with leather seating gathered around a fireplace, red tapestry curtains, and suits of armour. The building is historic, which lends the rooms character, some of which have sash windows, and stone walls, and wooden beams. The staff are very friendly and helpful with anything you should need, and the bar staff are always up for a chat should you wish to go down and have a nightcap as the bar starts to empty in the late evening.
Things to explore near Warkworth
Warkworth has a medieval castle which is worth a visit. There is a carpark next door to the castle, though some climbing to reach the vantage points at the top is necessary. Warkworth is also very near the harbour village of Amble, which boasts brilliant sea food, and the market town of Alnwick, where you can visit Alnwick Castle and a characterful secondhand bookshop situated in an old railway station (Barter Books). You are also near some fantastic neighbouring beaches – read more about Alnmouth here and Craster’s famous kippers here.
