Description
Howick and Craster
This is a lovely 6 mile walk around Howick and Craster. It takes in the countryside around Howick and Craster as well as the fantastic coast.
Details – Howick and Craster
| Hills: |  |
No hills |
| Distance: |  |
Short to medium distance |
| Grade: |  |
Easy |
| Map: |  |
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| This walk is on map 332 Alnwick & Amble. Click on map image to buy this map. | ||
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The start – Sea Houses
This isn’t the town of Seahouses, where you get fish and chips. It is a farm close to Howick and Rumbling Kern beach. There is a small car park here that is free. It is also close to Sugar Sands, which is near the end of the walk.
We will set off along the road from here and towards Howick Hall.
Howick Hall
Howick Hall was the family home of Earl Grey. This is the Earl Grey of tea fame. The Grey family lived there from 1782 until 1973, when the 5th Earl died. It is currently the home of Lord Howick. The Hall itself is not open to visitors but the gardens are and there is plenty to do, including taking tea (Earl Grey maybe) in the tea house. That’s a walk for another day. We need to get on.
The path skirts along the outside of Howick Hall Gardens. and onto the farmland between here and Craster.
Hips Heugh
Continuing on we reach Hips Heugh. This is an outcrop of Whin Sill. The same stuff that Hadrians Wall is built on and that High Force flows over. It has its own trig point, as it is the highest point in the immediate surrounding area.
The path leads from here towards Craster South Farm and then to Craster across fields.
Arnold Memorial Nature Reserve
After crossing the fields, we arrive at the outskirts of Craster and at the Arnold Memorial Nature Reserve. As we enter Craster from the Nature Reserve, we arrive at the Quarry Car Park. The great thing about this is that we find Piper’s Pitch here. Piper’s Pitch is the catering van by the Tourist Information Centre and sells the famous Kipper Bun and Auchtermuchty Sandwich, which are both favourites of Martin. We will stop in Craster for lunch.
From here we will continue along the Coastal Path back to the start but via the picturesque coast, the Bathing House and the beaches of Rumbling Kern and Sugar Sands.
Craster is said to be named after the family who held the Estate in the 13th century. Although, there is some debate about the name. It is a gorgeous example of a Northumberland fishing harbour and is, in our opinion, one of the most picturesque places on the Northumberland coast.
The Bathing House
On the way back to Craster we pass The Bathing House. It was built in the 19th Century for Earl Grey, to provide a location for the family to go bathing in the sea. It is now a holiday let.
Rumbling Kern and Sugar Sands
These are a couple of the most secluded beaches in Northumberland.
Rumbling Kern is an odd name for a small beach. It is said to have been a favourite for whisky smugglers in the day. It is a sheltered beach between inward facing cliffs. This makes it a very secluded and peaceful place to spend an afternoon.
Sugar Sands is a favourite of many visitors here. On a sunny day this has Mediterranean feel, owing to the white sand that gives it its name and the rock outcrops.
The way back to the car park is via the bridleway from here, which brings us out directly into the car park at the start.
Hope to see you there,
Julie and Martin x
Gallery – Craster and Howick
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