The Road to Bamburgh – Where the Journey Is as Remarkable as the Destination
Great British Rally Drives
Some destinations announce themselves long before you arrive.
Approach Bamburgh along the Northumberland coast and, eventually, an unmistakable silhouette begins to dominate the landscape. Rising high above the village and looking out across the North Sea stands Bamburgh Castle.
It’s an extraordinary sight.
But this is one occasion when reaching the destination is only half the experience.
The roads of the Northumberland coast offer something increasingly difficult to find: mile after mile of beautiful British countryside, historic villages, dramatic coastline and places that make you want to stop the car simply to take in the view.
This is exactly what a Great British Rally drive should be.
The Road North
There are many ways to reach Bamburgh, but approaching through the Northumberland countryside and following the coast allows the journey to gradually unfold.
Rather than treating Bamburgh as somewhere to reach as quickly as possible, make the drive part of the day.
One particularly enjoyable approach is to explore the coast northwards, taking in places such as Warkworth, Alnmouth, Craster and Seahouses before finally arriving at Bamburgh.
This isn’t a route for chasing a stopwatch.
It’s a road for opening the windows, enjoying the scenery and occasionally turning off simply because you’ve spotted somewhere interesting.
The landscape changes constantly.
Rolling countryside gives way to glimpses of the North Sea. Small villages appear between stretches of open road, while castles and historic buildings provide reminders that people have travelled through this landscape for centuries.
Then, eventually, Bamburgh Castle appears ahead.
And suddenly the drive has a destination worthy of the journey.
A Castle with More Than a Thousand Years of History
Bamburgh’s story stretches back far beyond the castle we recognise today.
The site was an important royal stronghold of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria and has occupied a strategically important position overlooking the coastline for well over a thousand years.
The fortress changed repeatedly through the centuries as kingdoms, rulers and technologies changed around it.
Much of the castle seen today reflects later rebuilding and restoration, but its position remains as commanding as ever.
Standing high above the surrounding landscape, it is easy to understand why generations considered Bamburgh such an important place.
And from a driver’s perspective, very few British destinations provide quite such a dramatic final approach.
Don’t Rush Past the Journey
One of the principles behind Great British Rally is simple:
Sometimes the best way to discover Britain is to avoid treating the journey as wasted time.
There is plenty worth exploring before reaching Bamburgh.
Warkworth
Dominated by its own medieval castle, Warkworth makes an excellent early stop and immediately establishes the historical character of the journey.
Alnmouth
A beautiful coastal village where the River Aln reaches the sea. It’s worth leaving the main road and exploring rather than simply passing nearby.
Craster
A small fishing village famous for its harbour, coastal scenery and smoked kippers.
From here, walkers can also follow the spectacular coastal path towards the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle.
Seahouses
A livelier coastal stop and the departure point for boat trips towards the Farne Islands.
And then comes…
Bamburgh
The village sits beneath its enormous castle with the Northumberland coastline stretching away in either direction.
Park the car.
Get out.
Explore.
A Great British drive should occasionally involve leaving the driver’s seat.
What Car Do You Need?
Here’s perhaps the best part.
Whatever you’ve got.
It would undoubtedly be wonderful to make the journey in an E-Type, an Aston Martin, an MGB or a modern sports car.
But you don’t need one.
A Mazda MX-5 would be enormous fun.
So would a Mini.
Or a hot hatch.
Or an old family saloon you’ve owned for twenty years.
And if the car waiting on your driveway is simply the vehicle that takes you to work every morning, take that.
Great British Rally isn’t about owning the most expensive car.
It’s about enjoying cars, roads, places and the freedom that comes from discovering somewhere new.
The memories aren’t created by the badge on the bonnet.
They’re created by the journey.
Make a Day of It
Don’t attempt to tick every destination off a list.
Choose a few places and actually experience them.
Leave reasonably early, take the slower coastal roads where practical and allow time for unexpected stops.
See an interesting viewpoint?
Stop.
Find a little café?
Try it.
Spot a road you’ve never travelled before?
Perhaps find out where it goes.
And when you finally reach Bamburgh, give yourself enough time to explore the village, castle and beach rather than immediately turning the car around for home.
If you’re travelling from farther afield, Northumberland also lends itself beautifully to a weekend rather than a single day’s drive.
Respect the Places We Visit
Some of Britain’s greatest driving roads pass directly through small communities.
They’re people’s homes, not racetracks.
Drive appropriately for the conditions, respect speed limits, give cyclists and walkers plenty of room and use proper parking areas when stopping.
Northumberland’s wildlife and landscape are also part of what makes this journey so special.
Leave nothing behind except tyre tracks on the road and take nothing away except photographs and memories.
The Spirit of the Open Road
There is something wonderfully old-fashioned about choosing a destination because the journey there looks interesting.
Modern navigation encourages us to find the quickest route.
Great British Rally would occasionally like to suggest the opposite.
Take the interesting route.
Travel through the village.
Follow the coastline.
Stop at the viewpoint.
Discover somewhere you hadn’t planned to visit.
Because when Bamburgh Castle finally appears above the Northumberland landscape, you may discover that the best part of the day wasn’t the destination at all.
It was everything that happened on the road towards it.
Have You Driven the Northumberland Coast?
Have you visited Bamburgh, or is there somewhere along the Northumberland coast that we’ve missed?
Perhaps you have your own favourite British drive where the destination is every bit as special as the road leading to it.
Tell the Great British Rally community about it.
Your recommendation might become one of our future Great British Rally Drives.
Great British Rally
The Spirit of the Open Road