Best seaside Town of the Year 2022! Camping near Bamburgh
Kate Green5 min read
For the second year in a row, Bamburgh in Northumberland has been named Britains Best Seaside resort https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-61283408, which, given the hundreds of sandy shored gems across the UK is quite an accolade. What is all the fuss about I hear you Dorset-devout holidaymakers shout. Well, for those of you who haven't been to Bamburgh, I'll tell you. First off, Bamburgh beach with its beautiful sandy shores overlooked by the imposing Bamburgh Castle. The pristine beach is backed by vast, flower-strewn sand dunes, and the shallow waters are good for paddling, rock pooling, swimming and even surfing if the waves are right. The beach was also crowned Europe's 8th best Beach in the 2022 TripAdvisor Awards, with only one UK beach ranking higher than Bamburgh (Luskentyre on the Isle of Harris if you're asking), so you know you're in pretty good hands holidaying here. Across from the beach are the Inner Farne Islands, and you can hop on a boat over to this wildlife sanctuary to spot seals, puffins and over 100,000 seabirds that visit seasonally. And no trip to Bamburgh would be complete without a visit to Bamburgh Castle, once home to the Kings of Northumbria and still one of the counties most awe-inspiring buildings. With stunning views out to sea, visit this extraordinary (still inhabited) castle and go back over 2000 years of history, through its many rooms and halls, and the large collection of armour, furniture and artwork. There is also a museum - the Aviation Artefacts museum - with an exhibition of artefacts from the Second World War. There is plenty to do here in this lovely seaside town, and plenty of rather gorgeous campsites.
South Meadows Caravan Park
Nestled into the lovely Northumbrian countryside is this award-winning, eco friendly and first class holiday park, offering fabulous holidays for all in touring pitches, luxurious glamping pods and boutique log cabins. The touring pitches are very spacious and the excellent facilities are well kept with everything you could possibly need, including wide open spaces, a children's play park and woodland walks on site, meaning that the holiday is relaxing and stress free. Close to the delightful village of Belford with its wide range of shops, cafes and pubs, you are only a ten minute drive down to Bamburgh beach and all the surrounding attractions. Also worth a mention is South Meadows eco friendly stance; they are passionate about the environment and it shows in everything they do; the creation of an orchard, an extension to the woodland area and the planting of more trees and insect friendly plants to encourage bees and butterflies. Also conscious of minimising their carbon footprint, electricity here is from 100% renewable sources and they have invested in more efficient waste disposal and recycling facilities. So excellent green credentials all round. A great family friendly choice when visiting Northumberland.
picture credit: south meadows caravan park
link: https://www.southmeadows.co.uk/
Budle Bay Campsite
Budle Bay Campsite is a family-run and peaceful site, located just two miles from Bamburgh and in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Northumberland coastline. It is a picturesque spot with a river flowing alongside and plenty of different types of accommodation for tents, campervans, motorhomes and touring caravans. There are also cosy huts and bunkhouses available for those without their own camping gearing - or simply looking for a few more home comforts. Nights are stunning here; Budle Bay is a dark sky campsite, meaning very little light pollution and gorgeous stargazing opportunities...and maybe even a chance to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights! Just a few hundred metres from the site is Budle Bay mud flats, a beautiful bird sanctuary and part of the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve, very popular with birdwatchers. Also worth exploring here is the remote Ross Beach, stretching between Holy Island and Bundle Bay and has miles and miles of golden sand stretching as far as the eye can see. It's a gorgeous spot here and as a base for exploring the Northumbrian coastline you are very well situated.
picture credit: Budle Bay campsite
link: https://www.holidayfox.com/en/e/dest-OGdKZrQIMwXM/budle-bay-campsite
Bamburgh Under Canvas
What an absolute treat this place is. Adults only and with all the luxury touches you might find in a boutique hotel, Bamburgh Under Canvas is a glamping site offering seriously beautiful Lotus Belle Tents with proper beds, sumptuous bedding, fluffy towels, a log burning stove and smart furnishings. Each has a firepit and cooking facilities. There are very well kept toilet and shower facilities in the shape of two refurbished horse boxes, stocked with luxury eco-friendly toiletries for the guests. It's off grid here and very peaceful, with lots of space between the tents for privacy and far reaching views across the Cheviots and just a fifteen minute walk away to the lovely village of Bamburgh. Bamburgh Under Canvas is only open for a limited time from early June to the end of September so book early; for a luxurious outdoor stay in a beautiful location this one takes some beating.
picture credit: Bamburgh under Canvas
link: https://bamburghundercanvas.co.uk/
Budle Hall Camping
Ever stayed the night in a combine harvester? Well if not, now is the time to give it a whirl; book a night at Budle Hall Camping and try something rather different. Decked out to the nines, this combine harvester has retired from the long hours of the day shift and is now full time in the business of providing a good nights sleep. Put out to rest in a beautiful field behind Budle Hall with glorious sea views and just a short walk to the beach, the Combine Harvester is real a one off glamping stay in the most picturesque of settings. Also at Budle Hall, you can camp in your own tent (each with private shower and toilet) in their wild camping area; there are only two sought after pitches on this car-free site, so peace and quiet are pretty much guaranteed! In the main Hall, there is Bed &Breakfast accommodation and the owners also have holiday lodges dotted around the grounds, also with spectacular views over to Holy Island.
picture credit: budle hall camping
link: https://www.budlehall.com/camping
Budle Bay Bothies
A rather special glamping experience here in the form of a traditionally made shepherds hut for two, located on a working small holding in several acres of countryside in the Budle Bay area of Northumberland. It is the full five star treatment here with a kingsized bed, ensuite bathroom, kitchenette, lounge, woodburner and outside, a beautifully landscaped (and enclosed to keep the livestock off) garden, with dining table and chairs, a swing seat, bbq and firepit. It is luxury outdoor living, cosy and stylish, and surrounded by farmland in one of the most beautiful parts of the country, making for a very relaxing break to switch off and unwind. Close to home is the Northumberland Coastal Path and Cycle route, so if you are feeling active you are in a great location to explore the coastline too.
picture credit: Budle Bay Bothies
link: https://budlebaybothies.co.uk/home/
Shoreside Camping Huts, Alnmouth
About half an hour south of Bamburgh, so a bit further away (but fully worth a mention due to their beautiful design and gorgeous location) are four beachside glamping huts. Shoreside Camping huts are nestled into the hillside just outside the Northumbrian village of Alnmouth in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Alnmouth village itself is bustling and very pretty, with four pubs, five restaurants, a gift shop and an excellent art gallery....and the gallery owners are also the hosts for these cool cabins. Here is where it gets interesting. The cabins are not accessible by car, so you take a short walk from the gallery along the St Oswald's Way coastal path to reach them. With breathtaking views of the sea, these off grid and remote huts are the perfect way to switch off and take a bit of time out. The huts themselves are cosy and warm with simple and stylish furnishings, comfortable beds, a kitchen, woodburner and composting toilet. There are miles and miles of spectacular beaches around Almouth Bay as well as ruined castles to discover and fabulous coastal walks; Coquet Island - an RSPB reserve a mile out to sea - is teaming with puffins and seabirds in the summer months. Electric bikes can be hired on request and if you get the train here (Alnmouth is very well connected) then you can have a completely car free holiday. Take the bus to Bamburgh and enjoy a lovely coastal adventure, where you can hop on and off if you wish and explore the seaside gems along the way.
picture credit: Alnmouth huts
link: https://www.alnmouthhuts.com/
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