Beadnell
The harbour walls of Beadnell were built in the 1790's and the lime kilns of that date still remain. Stretching from the harbour is the long golden sweep of Beadnell bay with the ruined Dunstanburgh Castle in the distance. This sheltered bay makes an ideal location for some of the best sailing and wind surfing on the Northumberland coast.
The village provides a range of pubs and cafes. There is an historic church dedicated to St Ebba.
The entrance to Beadnell harbour actually faces west making it the only west-facing on the east coast of England.
This combination of charm and accessibility makes Beadnell a popular holiday village on the north east coast.
What can I do?
- Explore the eighteenth century harbour and limekilns, once the haunt of herring fishermen and smugglers. It is still used by a few local fishermen today.
- Track down the site of St Ebba’s Chapel, dedicated to the daughter of Anglo-Saxon King Aethelfrith.
- Visit the little tern and arctic tern breeding colonies at the National Trust Nature Reserve at Long Nanny estuary - more information can be found on our 'Birdwatching' page.
Walk along the golden sandy beaches of sheltered Beadnell Bay and explore the plant-rich dunes. - Enjoy sailing, kite-surfing, windsurfing and kayaking in the bay - see our 'Watersports' pages for more information.
- Shore dive around the reefs off Beadnell Point and view the wreck of the MV Yewglen, which ran aground in 1960.
- Download a Journey Planner for trips around the AONB from Beadnell by bus
What do I need to know?
- Beadnell is the only place to launch small motorised craft in the AONB. There is a tractor-launching facility operating out of the beach car park
- Parking is free in the beach car park
- Kite surfing, sea-kayaking and stand-up-paddleboarding can be booked at Beadnell Bay (see our watersports page)
- There are access restrictions in the middle bay of the bay between late April and August because of the breeding terns. Please obey National Trust signs and rangers. More information about visiting the tern colony can be found on our birdwatching page.
Getting to Beadnell
Beadnell is served by an hourly daytime bus service between May and September, two-hourly between October and May.
The Arriva X18 Coast and Castles Service and the Travelsure 418 Service connect Beadnell to Belford and Bamburgh to the north and Alnwick via the Coastal Villages to the south. The X18 continues to Berwick-upon-Tweed and Morpeth and Newcastle to the south.
More information about bus services can be found on our 'getting around' page.
Links
St Ebba's Church
St Ebba's Church
The Church of Saint Ebba is named after the sister of Saint Oswald, King of Northumbria and resident of nearby Bamburgh. It contains memorials to several local families.
The most recent stained glass window, depicting St Oswald and St Ebba and a number of other Northern Saints, is a memorial to the men of the village who died in the Second World War.