Northumberland's best beaches to go to this summer

According to the 13th edition of The Sunday Times’ Best British Beach guide, Bamburgh is the number one beach in England’s North East.

Chris Haslam, who complied the list said: “The silica-rich sand glittered and t-shirted visitors blinked in the warm sunshine, scattered like Lowry’s stickmen along a beach that stretches for nearly two miles, from Harkess Rocks and Black Rock Point Lighthouse on the left to Greenhill Rocks.

“Getting from the car park across the dunes to the beach isn’t easy, so travel light – you’ll need a windbreak, a kite and a picnic.”

It’s worth any difficulty in the journey, but for those who are unable to get to the beach – you can at least visit the magnificent Bamburgh castle, which overlooks the sands. The castle has recently been in the news as the 5th instalment of the Indiana Jones franchise has been filmed at the castle.

READ MORE: 'It looked spectacular' - Dramatic fire at Bamburgh Castle during Indiana Jones filming

The two other Northumberland beaches included on the Times’ List were Boulmer and Beadnell, whilst Sunderland’s Roker Beach was also given the nod.

Haslam dubbed Boulmer as one of the few vestiges of Auld Northumbria and said Beadnell seems to be on the cusp of a Croyde-like transformation!

Of Roker Beach, he lauded it: “an exemplar of coastal regeneration, and a lesson for all resorts on what can be achieved with a little money and a lot of imagination.

Here at the Hexham Courant, we were disappointed to see that neither Druridge Bay nor Howick Beach made it onto the Times’ List!

Bamburgh, Boulmer and Beadnell beaches can all be reached on the Northumberland Coastal Route, which was recently voted as one of the most scenic roads in Northumberland.

READ MORE: Two Northumberland roads in top 5 most scenic driving routes in the UK

The overall winner of the Sunday Times’ and 2021 Beach of the Year is Woolacombe in Devon.