Alnmouth to Bamburgh to Berwick

25 miles to Bamburgh and then 35 miles to Berwick (100km over the two days)

We left Alnmouth with mixed feelings about the previous 12 hours entertainment, sorry we were going to miss out on another installment and yet somehow relieved as well. The two sections from Alnmouth to Berwick are really where the Coasts and Castles route we are on starts to earn its name. Dotted along the horizon as you ride are castles, towers and other ruins with something always in sight.

The first section follows the coast the whole way to this magnificent ruin at Dunstanburgh, pretty nice despite a little 3 mile bike pushing through the sand-dunes adventure caused by me. (It was on the map, really it was).



Then the trail continues again following along hard up against a rocky strewn coastline through farms and along the train line. The last part was pretty cool, we've seen heaps of trains here along the main line, mostly their high speed electric variety which are quite something up close.

Bamburgh is a tiny little seaside holiday town, but you know you're arriving for miles and miles as one of the best kept castles in England rises from the rocky outcrop on which it's built. We rolled in to town early and went to see the castle, including its collection of artifacts in the state-rooms etc, 15 and 16th century swords, amour and all that, as well as a pretty big collection of early rifles. Without meaning to it was really a museum about the end of steel weapons and the rise of gunpowder.



An early start the next morning as we raced the tide 21 miles to Holy Island and Lindasfarne. Bustling with more tourist than I think we've seen everywhere else put together, and to be honest, a bit underwhelming. The race is necessary though as the only access to the island is via a causeway which floods twice a day at high tide.





Lunch looking at the castle and then on to Berwick and the end of England. Another sensational section of track along the cliff tops with a view over the harbor into town takes us to the end of England. There was some competition from the locals to get into town though.





The locals on security detail, the view from our accom and the view of our accom.

31 days, 1000km, no flat tires and today we start to cross Scotland.