Things to do at Embleton and Newton Links

Visitors at the Northumberland Coast | © National Trust Images/John Millar

With beaches, coastal trails and bountiful wildlife, there’s plenty to keep you occupied on a day out at Embleton and Newton Links. Bring your binoculars for some birdwatching in one of the dedicated hides in the area, then stroll through Long Newton and imagine the life of the fishermen who once lived here. Alternatively, let the sea breeze help you fly a kite on the beach.

Don't miss the Long Nanny shorebird site

Between the months of May - July, there is a very special spot on the Northumberland Coast - the Long Nanny shorebird site. Every year, around 2000 Arctic terns, and a handful of very rare little terns return here to breed. The site is also important for nesting Ringed Plover. Rangers camp here 24 hours a day to protect and monitor the birds. Find us half way between High Newton and Beadnell - please follow all local signage, keep dogs on a short lead near the roped area, and do come and visit - look for the rangers hut in the dunes, where you can find out more and watch the spectacle from the viewing platform.

Explore the beach at Embleton Bay

Spend a day on the stretch of coast between Embleton and Low Newton. With the backdrop of Dunstanburgh Castle, this fine sandy beach is one of the most spectacular in England. It offers some good surf conditions and is a perfect spot to fly a kite and look for sea creatures in rock pools.

Stroll through Low Newton Square

For a picturesque village wander, head to the 18th-century fishing hamlet of Low Newton, with its whitewashed cottages and historic pub set around a pretty village green.

Take a coastal walk

A walk along the Northumberland Coast is a pleasure at any time of year, with fresh air and views that stretch for miles.

For a shorter saunter, take the Newton Pool coastal walk. Starting in Low Newton, this mile-long circular walk passes wildlife hides and has views over to Dunstanburgh Castle. Crime writer Val McDermid has chosen it as her favourite walk in the country – why not follow in her footsteps?

Alternatively, join the Craster to Low Newton coastal walk. At almost eight miles, the trail takes you through fishing villages, beside sheltered rock pools and past volcanic geological features.

View across Embleton Bay towards Dunstanburgh Castle, Northumberland — View across Embleton Bay towards Dunstanburgh Castle | © National Trust Images/Jane Lancaster

Things to see and do with the family

There are lots of ways to have fun and make memories with your family on the Northumberland coast. From beach activity days and rock-pooling with the rangers, to boat trips and wildlife spotting, an outdoor adventure is guaranteed.

You could also fly a kite, swim in the sea or try another of the coastal-based items on the National Trust's ‘50 things to do before you're 11¾’ activity list.

See the whole '50 things' list here.

Find the top spots for wildlife

The area around Embleton and Newton Links is a haven for seabirds, shorebirds and wildfowl, and there’s a good chance of discovering sea-loving critters in rock pools along the shoreline.

Low Newton has a natural rock harbour and golden beach sheltered from the tides by an offshore reef. It’s an excellent place to look for marine wildlife and feeding shorebirds.

Newton Pool is a freshwater lagoon nature reserve just 87 yards (80 metres) from the shore. It attracts a variety of wildlife to its scrub woodland, fen and open-water habitats. Follow the all-ability path behind the village square to visit an easily accessible bird-viewing hide.

Grey heron stalking prey at Newton Pool, Northumberland — A grey heron stalking its prey at Newton Pool | © National Trust Images/Rob Coleman

Look out for native moths

There are many species of day-flying moths native to this part of the country. Keep your eyes peeled when you’re out and about, and you might just come to love these underappreciated insects.

Small magpie

With a yellow head and black-and-white wings, the small magpie moth is more colourful than many butterflies. They’re more active at night but you can often spot them during the day around nettles, their favourite plant.

Cinnabar

From May, you’ll find many cinnabar moths lingering around the dunes. This vibrant species is black with broad red underwings. They’re very active in the sunlight and often settle on yellow flowering ragwort, making them easy to photograph. This plant is a key food of their caterpillars, which have black and orange stripes and resemble humbug sweets when curled up.

Silver Y

A little bright ‘y’ on each wing makes this an easy moth to identify. The coast is a great place to connect with this species, as the moths migrate in from the sea to join those already feeding in gardens and the countryside. They can produce up to four generations annually, and in some years there can be hundreds of them in a very small area.