HPB Lucker Hall: Alnmouth & Lovers' Walk

The walk takes you on a clear path, high above the seashore, before crossing Foxton golf course and heading inland to descend to the banks of the meandering River Aln. The riverside path leads to the neighbouring village of Lesbury where there are additional refreshment facilities. From there you return across country to the entrance to Alnmouth. The final section takes you past the “harbour area”. Before going back to the car park, there is a chance to walk up the main street and view or visit some of the local amenities. 


1. With the sea on your left, walk to the south end of the car park and follow the footpath for “Shops, Cafes, Toilets”. You arrive at a road (Marine Drive) where you turn right. The road leads past the clubhouse of Alnmouth Village Golf Club (1869), the Dandelion Café and a variety of properties. When the road bears left at a junction, cross over to find a path just to the left of the Beach Car Park sign.

2. Climb up the steep, narrow path.The Franciscan Friary lies behind the fence on the left. The path levels off. There are strategically positioned benches from which you are rewarded with splendid views of the coastline. There is another short climb. You pass the Beacon, erected in 1988, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the defeat of the Spanish Armada. After a further 150m, you should see the stone-built battery of 1861, on top of which a defensive pilbox was added in 1940.

The Village Golf Course is on the right and soon it is joined by a second course on your left. This is Alnmouth Golf Club, generally known as Foxton. Foxton Hall, the clubhouse, should briefly be visible ahead on the left. At one point, you walk alongside the edge of the fairway of the Village Course - so respect play and watch out for flying golf balls! As the path turns sharply right, you need to bear left at a waymark, “Coast Path”. The path climbs a short way and you follow the fence on your left. At a junction of paths, bear left to follow the waymark, “St Oswald’s Way”.

A further waymark rather surprisingly leads you directly in front of the 18th green! So again beware of flying golf balls and respect any play in action. Once past the green, bear right to follow a waymark to an access road. To the right is the clubhouse in Foxton Hall where visitors are welcome to enjoy refreshments. (On the wall outside the entrance to the clubhouse, there is an interesting information panel about the history of the golf club).

3. However, to continue the walk, turn left and follow the access road for about 800m to a T-junction. Cross over the road, with due care, to a stile next to gate. A fingerpost indicates, “Lesbury ¾”.

4. Go over the stile. The meandering River Aln is visible below. Local custom and practice tends to suggest continuing directly downhill to the riverside. However, the right of way indicates a diagonal approach and this is what is now described. Look out, over to the right, a short way down the hill, for a stile in the fence line. To get to this stile, proceed downhill for about 75m. Turn right and make your way, on an indistinct path, through the clumps of thistles to the stile. At the time of writing, the stile was broken. However, an adjacent gate provides a way through. 

Walk straight ahead on the clear path to another stile which is somewhat impassable! This time, however,  a gap in the fence facilitates access to the path ahead which at times may be slightly overgrown. This path makes its way down towards the field corner. Go through the kissing gate and proceed to the river.                                                                              


The path climbs away from the river for a short section. It then follows the river as it bears to the left. Eventually you cross a small footbridge and go through a picnic area. You arrive at a fingerpost, “Hipsburn 1¼” at a more major footbridge over the River Aln.

5. Turn left to cross the bridge. (Unless you wish to detour into the pleasant hamlet of Lesbury. Here, by turning left along the roadpast St Marys church, you will find The Coach Inn bar/restaurant).
Just after crossing the bridge, turn left at the fingerpost, “Alnmouth Road ½ mile”. Go through the kissing gate and walk ahead to meet a fence. Bear right and, with the fence on your left, follow the path to go through a waymarked gate. The path leads through a second gate. The path eventually bears right and then immediately left. You walk down the side of a football field with a croquet and cricket field beyond the hedge on your left.        

6. A few metres before the end of the hedge, turn left through a gate. Walk ahead through another gate to an information panel, “Restoring Alnmouth’s Wetlands”. Continue on the surfaced path parallel to the road into Alnmouth. Immediately after crossing the bridge (Duchess Bridge), cross to the other side of the road. Turn right and follow the sign, “Lovers Walk, Coast Path”, through the white gate and down the steps to the riverside. 

7. The walk follows the river and winds round past the old harbour area. You pass a children’s play area to meet a road. Turn right to follow the sign, “Coast Path”, and continue ahead. You pass the Boat Club and then a small black hut, the Ferryman’s Hut, now said to be the smallest museum in the country! If the door is locked you can at least peep through the windows! As the road (Riverside Road) rises, on your right in the estuary, you will see a cross on Church Hill. You reach a small garden with benches (Doctor Joy’s Garden). An information panel provides details of 18th-century Alnmouth.

8. You can now bear right down Marine Drive if you wish to return to the car park. However, to see more of Alnmouth, its shops, cafes and hotels/pubs, continue straight ahead along Northumberland Street. The Church of St John the Baptist lies towards the end of the street. It is usually open and contains stained glass windows by the noted Northumbrian artist, Leonard Evetts.    

However, to complete the walk, you need to walk back from the church for about 150m and go down Chapel Lane, next to The Aln Gift Shop. You pass some interesting dwellings as well as the Methodist Chapel. Turn right at the road and make you way back to the car park and the end of the walk.                              
Click here for details on The Holiday Property Bond's fabulous Northumberland development HPB Lucker Hall