Howick Sands

The beach at Howick stretches out in a long, sandy arc backed by low cliffs - proper dramatic on a stormy day, though admittedly softer and more forgiving than some of Northumberland's rockier stretches. It's the kind of place where you can actually walk for miles without tripping over someone's windbreak every five metres, which is saying something for the English coast.

There's not much to 'do' here in the conventional sense. No amusement arcades, no ice cream vans, no facilities to speak of. What you get instead is space - golden sand, dramatic skies, and the satisfying crunch underfoot. Families with young children will have a field day building castles and hunting for shells. Walkers should allow at least two hours if you're heading south towards Craster and its working harbour - that's a proper coastal ramble with real purpose.

The sands are accessible year-round and completely free, though winter winds can be bracing enough to discourage all but the hardiest. Summer weekends draw crowds, but midweek in shoulder season you might have stretches entirely to yourself. From Craster village itself - just north - you can stock up on fresh crab and supplies before settling in for a long afternoon.

If you're basing yourself at Northumberland Coast Camp nearby (1.9 miles), this becomes your natural morning walk. It pairs well with visiting Dunstanburgh Castle further along the coast. Not a destination in itself, but absolutely worth the short drive from wherever you're staying.