Northumberland is famed for its beaches, ranked among the best in the UK year on year. But for those looking to escape the crowds, the region is also home to several lesser-known gems. Here are seven of the best beaches that might be easy to miss.
Ross Bank Sands
This gorgeous, sandy stretch of utterly unspoilt beach is literally off the beaten track, requiring a walk of over a mile to reach. With views out to Holy Island on one side and Bamburgh Castle on the other, it combines natural beauty with a spectacular look into the history of this much-fought-over coastline. You might even spot a few seals there.
To get there, park near Ross Farm, near Belford, NE70 7EN, and head north from Budle. A road leads you on foot past the farm buildings and cottages, out towards the coast. You'll hit a path which takes you through fields, well defined and easy to follow for about 1 to 1.5 miles. To get to the beach itself, you cross over the sand dunes to be confronted by the wide vista of the beach. This means it's unlikely to be accessible for wheelchair users or those with mobility issues. One thing to beware of: although this isn't officially a naturist beach, online reports suggest the solitude does lead some to feel safe enough to strip off.
Sugar Sands and Low Hauxley
Sugar Sands lies to the south of Craster. Complete with little rocky outcrops, the cove has an almost Mediterranean feel. This beach also takes a walk to reach, but Sugar Sands is one of a stretch of pretty little coves where you're almost guaranteed peace, with nothing but the crashing sound of the waves. To approach Sugar Sands, you can walk from either Howick or Boulmer, or drive up towards the dunes from Longhoughton and turn for Low Stead Farm opposite the church, walk through the farm out to the dunes and head left for about half a mile along the coast.
Low Hauxley features small dunes framing a long, sweeping beach with views of Coquet Island. It's just down from Amble but, being a little further away from the popular seaside town, it's perhaps a less obvious place to visit. Being just off the road, it's easy enough to get to, but cross the dunes and suddenly you feel completely isolated and absorbed in the gorgeous surroundings.
Rumbling Kern and Coves Haven
Rumbling Kern is quite an adventure to find. Once a boon for the whisky smugglers who, it's said, used it as a drop-off point as they bootlegged their contraband up and down the coast, today the secluded location sheltered behind small cliffs is perfect for a quiet getaway. Once on the beach, you can spot the 'Bathing House', once a retreat used by Earl Grey, and just a little further inland you can visit Howick Hall, the Earl's ancestral home. The beach lies to the south of Cullernose Point, near Howick Hall. To reach it, you can follow directions to Sugar Sands and keep walking further on, or you can follow a path out towards the Bathing House, next to a small parking area off a road at NE66 3LH.
Coves Haven is a remote white-sandy beach tucked away on the northern side of Holy Island. Famed for its causeway and the stunning Harbour Beach, Coves Haven is often overlooked. Past the dunes and away from the main castle crowds, the beach is great for quiet walks and rock pooling.
Cocklawburn Beach and Embleton Bay
Cocklawburn Beach, a stretch of sand and rock four miles south of Berwick, is backed by grassy dunes and is definitely worth a visit. Last year, the beach's 'bizarre geology' landed it a top spot in the Times and Sunday Times Best UK Beaches list for 2025. The critique said: "At low tide you’ll see hundreds of bulbous 'concretions', like fossilised dinosaur eggs, resulting from chemical reactions 300 million years ago when the rocks were still submerged mud. The corrugated seabed is so uniform you would think a knuckle-dragging giant must have done it, rather than sand abrasion as scientists would have you believe."
Embleton Bay, regarded very highly by the surfing community, is a curving bay. The long stretch of golden sand overlooks the dramatic ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle and is a perfect spot for rock pooling. Just minutes from the historic village of Embleton, it offers a peaceful escape.
