Northumberland: England's Northeast Coast

The Beauty of the Coastline

Guest Article By Dimitri Vasiliou

(Editor's note:  Dimitri is the Administrator of Inspiring Photography, a new forum devoted to high-quality images submitted by photographers from throughout the world.  Dimitri's is recognized by many as among the best photographers in the world today.)

Bamburgh castle, the well known castle on the Northumberland coast.

How to get there?

By car:

Northumberland has fantastic access from Scotland and the south via the A1 London to Edinburgh highway running the length of the county. The A69 and A66 connect to the M6 whilst the A19 provides an alternative route from the south, linking the Port of Tyne to Northumberland.

By air:

Edinburgh and Newcastle airports can be reached in around 1 to 1-1/2  hour from most destinations in Northumberland and they are easily accessible.

By rail:

Northumberland is about 3 ½ hours from London Kings Cross. Services to and within Northumberland are operated by National Express East Coast, Cross Country Trains and Northern Rail.

About Northumberland

Northumberland is one of the four areas (with Tyne and Wear, County Durham and the Tees Valley) that now fit into the ancient region of Northumbria. Northumberland is a county of contrasts, magical castles, magnificent beaches with sugar sand or pebbles, winding fishing rivers, National Parks, vast moors and areas of outstanding natural beauty.
 

Northumberland is a haven for wildlife including red squirrels, otters, badgers, deer, feral goats, rare bird life, the magnificent seal and all sort of bird colonies on the Farne islands.
 

Take a drive over the causeway to Lindisfarne (holy island) and visit the Priory and imagine life in St Cuthbert's day, or walk where the Roman Legions walked on Hadrian's Wall. Relax and enjoy local fish dishes whilst watching the waves ebb and flow.

Weather conditions

The weather in Northumberland may be characterised as dry, cool and sunny. Weather extremes which are sometimes experienced by other parts of the UK (such as droughts, floods, hurricanes, heat waves or extreme cold) are all exceptionally rare, however it can be windy especially along the coast !

Why I went there?

Loads and loads of opportunities for any kind of photography and that’s not all. Have a look on the picture above, sunrise at its best and not only for summer months but also for winter (see picture below).

And there is always another photographer somewhere there near you.

And lets not forget the beauty of the holy island with its majestic Lindisfarne castle.

What time of year is best to go?

As long as the weather stays dry, any time of year will do, depending on what you are after. For instance, if you are after bird colonies, the best time to go is between April and the end of June. Here are some pictures from the Farne islands that can be accessed by boat from Seahouses, a place just 10 minutes south of Bamburgh castle.

Where to stay?

There are numerous B&B and hotels all over the place.

Here is a link that will help you find the accommodation that suits your needs.
http://www.visitnorthumberland.com/site/where-to-stay

Also, here is a useful link for the Farne islands.
http://www.farne-islands.com/

Equipment you will need.

And first of all a sturdy tripod, if you are heading for a sunrise as the light is low at this time of day. Then all your filters, wide angle lens but also long tele and zoom lens as there is a lot of wildlife on the Farne islands.

What time of day is best?

Early in the morning but also before sunset as the tall grass is bathed by the last rays of the sun, giving the place a different look.
 

Would I go again?

Yes, already planning for my next trip to the Farne islands next May but also for a visit to Dunstanburgh castle. I`ve seen pictures of the area and its amongst my near future visits.

*****

The PTR Team wishes to thank Dimitri for this wonderful glimpse at one of the most beautiful places in England.  We hope our visitors will also take the time to visit Dimitri's fantastic photography website:  Inspiring Photography.