Belford and St Cuthbert's Cave
10 people attending
10 places left
This walk starts in Belford. Belford is situated just off the A1, not too far away from Bamburgh and Seahouses. From Belford, the walk passes Craggy Hall, Sunnyside Crag, the Swinhoe Lakes and into the woods on Virgin Hill. It's then onwards towards Holburn and along Greensheen Hill with views of the crags before entering St Cuthbert's Cave Wood.
St Cuthbert was a monk, bishop, and hermit associated with the monasteries of Melrose and Lindisfarne. It is said that the monks of Lindisfarne brought St Cuthbert’s remains to this cave after Viking raids.
After a break at St Cuthbert's Cave, the hike then continues past Cockenheugh, Dick's Oldwalls, Dick's Spinny and on to St Oswald's Way to Belford and refreshment at the Black Swan.
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking.
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: Proper walking trousers. Breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch
Food & drink
See the kit list. You'll need to bring a packed lunch. There is a COOP in Belford on West Street, but there are no shops en-route.
There'll be a break for lunch and plenty opportunity for snack and photo stops.