Hidden gem beach with miles of golden sand and two castles | UK | Travel
Lindisfarne Castle from the rocks (Image: Getty Images)
A stunning expanse of golden sand flanked by grass-topped dunes provides the ideal setting for a leisurely half-hour stroll linking Bamburgh castle with Holy Island’s Lindisfarne Castle.
Located just 40 minutes’ drive from Newcastle, Ross Back Sands beach stretches across three miles of pristine dunes, with two remarkable examples of medieval architecture at either end.
The closest car park sits merely a 15-minute walk from the shoreline, and this modest distance ensures the picturesque destination remains relatively quiet and uncrowded throughout the year, according to the Beach Guide.
At the northern extremity of the beach stands Lindisfarne Castle, a 16th-century fortress crowning Holy Island. The structure received substantial modifications in 1901 under the guidance of renowned architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.
During low tide, visitors can access the castle on foot via the causeway. The region endured Viking raids, situated as it was in the contested borderlands between England and Scotland, reports Chronicle Live.
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Bamburgh castle is reachable at low tide on foot (Image: Getty Images/500px Plus)
Lindisfarne was abandoned as a priory in 1537, swept up in Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries that followed his union with Anne Boleyn.
At the southern end of the beach lies Bamburgh Castle, a Grade I listed structure. Historians believe it may have originated as a Celtic Brittonic stronghold called Din Guarie, potentially serving as Bernicia’s capital between 420 and 547.
Control of the site alternated three times between the Britons and Anglo-Saxons before settling under Anglo-Saxon authority in 590. Subsequently, the Normans constructed a new fortress on the site before it reverted to Royal possession in 1095.
Bamburgh Castle dates back to the 6th and 7th century (Image: Getty Images)
The castle, having fallen into a state of disrepair, was reconstructed during the 18th and 19th centuries, with the restoration efforts culminating under the guidance of William Armstrong in the Victorian period.
One Trip Advisor user said: “Beautiful beach, I have visited many times and never seen more than a handful of people on it. You can often spot seals, the end nearest Holy Island is best for seal watching.”
They added: “It’s amusing to see other reviews saying ‘it is worth the walk’, which makes it sound like a bit of a slog to get there – in reality it’s about a mile of very easy walking, although the last part through the dunes undulates a bit.
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“So if you think a gentle 20 – 25 minute walk is a bit of an ‘effort’ perhaps try a different beach!
“One thing to bear in mind is to take note of where you come out onto the beach from the dunes as it is easy to miss when going back, usually there is a marker like a bit of wood – or even a rusty gas canister when I was last there!”.
“Enjoy the beach, enjoy the peace and enjoy the very pleasant little walk to get there, it is part of the experience.”
