My go to husband models his latest Uniqlo acquisition against the background of the delightful medieval bridge at Warkworth – it makes a change to see him from this angle, rather than his back plus bag disappearing into the distance.
Following the south bank of the River Coquet, which winds its way through the town in a tight loop, we head south – Warkworth Castle looks down on us from its hilltop position on our right. The castle was once the home of Henry Percy the 1st Earl of Northumberland and later his son, also Henry, but nicknamed Harry Hotspur by the Scots for his nippy fighting techniques and enthusiasm in battle. The young Harry was knighted at the tender age of 14 and became the most famous knight of the late fourteenth century – there was apparently a good deal of hero worship.
Further down the road stands a cute wooden shelter with poetry inscribed on the seats inside.
The refections run through the months of the year on the three bench panels – not sure about “lungful heron”.
We are now approaching Amble Marina and Warkworth Harbour.
The harbour used to provide for ships exporting coal but when that stopped in the 70’s it turned to fishing, and is now a busy, successful and sustainable port.
Instead of skirting the beach where a few hardy souls have braved the cold water, the path leads us onto the South Jetty which cuts across the bay on a concrete promenade leading to the lighthouse. Here we can go no further however, so we turn round and follow the promenade again until it tails off and merges with a grassy path through Amble Links and later the dunes of Amble Nature Reserve.
Taking a short rest from the dunes we drop down to the beach – out to sea lies Coquet Island, now a RSPB reserve protecting precious seabirds, the most numerous being puffins. AAH! Did someone say puffin? I have yet to see any apart from one dubious sighting on the Faroe Islands, and have certainly not been anywhere where they supposedly gather around your ankles as you sit admiring the view on some uninhabited island. Coquet Island is not the place of my dreams – no visitors allowed but there is talk of local boat owners offering trips around the island so you see them close up – I wonder.
But we’re not all looking for puffins. In the twelfth century the island had its own hermit – one Henry of Coquet (died 1127), a Dane, presumably a little weary of all the rape and pillage?
On we go, through Hauxley Nature Reserve (there seems to be a lot of nature reserves in Northumberland) – good news.
And what is this? No information at all …………….but a Google search comes up with “Nesting Tree” – a sculpture by Rodney Harris. Carved out of local brick it is a reference to the historic forest that once grew in the area and more importantly provides nesting cavities for birds, endangered tree sparrows in particular.
Yes! A thriving spread of buckthorn – a plant I now easily recognise after all this coast walking.
Down on the beach again we encounter a patch of sea coal but now I know what it is I’m not so concerned.
We walk – roughly three miles to go…………..I fall into a meditative trance.
Nearing our destination we rejoin the cycle track and follow a pretty signpost all the way to our car near the carpark at Druridge Bay.
This has been a lovely walk in gorgeous sunshine all the way.
Distance: 10 miles
Joining the Dots 