Description
Howick and Craster
Another of our favourite walks. 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: | ||
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. We will set off along the road from here and towards Iron Scars.
Rumbling Kern
From Iron Scars we head along the coast. On the way there are some beautiful places. Rumbling Kern is one of these and is one 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.
The Bathing House
On the way 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.
Craster Lunch Stop
Craster is a gorgeous little fishing village and home of the famous Craster Kipper. It 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, in our opinion, one of the most picturesque places on the Northumberland coast.
The great thing about Craster is that we find Piper’s Pitch here. Piper’s Pitch is the catering van by the old Tourist Information Centre and sells the famous Kipper Bun and Auchtermuchty Sandwich, which are both favourites of Martin.
As well as Piper’s Pitch, there is also Jolly Fisherman. Alternatively you may want to bring a sandwich and enjoy it at the harbour.
From here we walk inland and across farm land towards Howick Hall.
Arnold Memorial Nature Reserve
As we leave Craster Quarry Car Park, we pass through Arnold Memorial Nature Reserve.
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.
The path skirts along the outside of Howick Hall Gardens. and onto the farmland between here and Craster.
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 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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