Bamburgh and Budle Bay Day Walk
11 people attending
4 places left
Starting in Bamburgh with it's magnificent castle and coastline, this walk takes a tour along the dunes by the castle with views of Inner Farne (one of the Farne Islands). It's then a wander along farmland to Laidley Worm's Trough and Spindlestone Heughs.
Here there's a tale of evil, jealousy, bloodshed and incest. King Ida, a semi-mythical king is said to have accidentally married a witch after his wife died. The witch was jealous of the beauty of her step daughter, so she turned her into a dragon that devastated Spindlestone Heughs. The step daughter's brother returned. The dragon asked him to kiss it three times to release it from the curse. He did so and the beast turned back into his beautiful sister. They rode to Bamburgh Castle where the witch was turned into a toad and chucked down the well.
On turning the corner away from the dragon's lair, there are excellent views of the yellow sands of Budle Bay. Bamburgh Castle then appears perfectly placed on the coastline. On reaching Bamburgh there'll be a pub stop for those who want refreshments.
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
Bring a packed lunch.