'Beautiful' region with 'wonderfully deserted' beaches named one of UK's most 'underrated'

From the sweeping beach of Budle Bay to the dramatic tides of Bamburgh, the Northumberland Coast is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which is home to some of the most beautiful and dramatic scenery in the UK. Despite this, many of its beaches remain quieter than those in other parts of the country.

As such, the Northumberland Coast has been named one of the UK's "most underrated" UK staycation destinations for 2024.

The accolade was given by Condé Nast Traveller, who recommended the region for its "beautiful" and "wonderfully deserted" stretches of sandy beach.

According to Visit Northumberland: "Northumberland has beaches that are some of the most beautiful, immaculate and quietest in the country."

Bamburgh Castle is perhaps one of the region's most famous beaches, which was ranked among the top 10 "best beaches" in the nation by thebeachguide. Bamburgh also won the prestigious accolade of the UK's best seaside resort last year, based on a survey conducted by Which?

The stunning stretch of golden sand is backed by beautiful grassy sand dunes and overlooked by a commanding Norman castle. Visitors who took part in the survey commented on the “super-soft sand that stretches as far as the eye can see”.

Another said that Bamburgh Castle was “probably the most beautiful we have ever been to".

The nature of the tides in this region makes it a major draw for surfers and you'll spot them riding the swells year-round.

However, Bamburgh is not the only beach attracting people to this area of natural beauty. According to Tripadvisor, alongside Bamburgh, the top five "best" beaches in the region include Beadnell Bay Beach, Ross Back Sands Beach, Warkworth Beach and St Aidan Beach.

As an added bonus, for those who don't like to go anywhere without their dog, most of the beaches in this region allow four-legged friends to join you on your coastal walks.

For those who want to take on a long walk promising panoramic vistas of the North Sea, the Northumberland Coast Path travels approximately 100km of coastline from Berwick-upon-Tweed in the north to Cresswell in the south. The Northumberland Coast Path is steeped in over 7000 years of human history, with some incredible landmarks to spot along the way, including lovely coastal villages and dramatic castles.

"The route is generally level with very few steep climbs," explained Visit Northumberland.

"Most stiles along the route have been replaced with gates and the walking surfaces are generally good, although some sections of the path can become muddy in winter or after heavy rainfall."