With its own imposing castle looking out to sea it has been named the UK’s best seaside for the second time in a row.
The picturesque village of Bamburgh in Northumberland was awarded the accolade from Which? for its scenery, beaches and seafront amongst many other features.
With a population of 400 residents, Bamburgh locals say they still get ‘goosebumps’ from the views on offer and even tolerate the rich second-homers who flock to the area.
The village is perhaps best known for the distinctive Bamburgh Castle which has sat looking over the village and the sea for more than 1,400 years and has homed a succession of kings.
The Cheviot Hillsare to one side and you can just about see Lindisfarne to one side of the castle in the distance and the Farne Islands, home to seabirds and puffins, on the other.
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Claire Watson-Armstrong, whose husband is the castle’s current owner described the view from the castle walls. She told the Telegraph: “I still get goosebumps when I go out onto them.”
With the castle drawing in tourists to the area and despite being so small it takes just 10 minutes to walk from one side to another, visitors can pick from three village pubs, a seafood restaurant, tearooms, shops and a museum.
Despite the village’s appeal Ruth Conneely, who runs a mobile tea-and-coffee van said she doesn’t feel the village has been spoiled: “It’s still a quaint village – that’s the attraction.”
Another local since 1985, Mr Brett, believes between 20 and 50 per cent of houses in the village are holiday homes or rentals. He said: “The village hasn’t changed much in size, but there are far fewer locals than when we bought.”
He added he was thankful the percentage wasn’t as high as the nearby tourist hotspot of Beadnell, where he thought it could be as high as 80 per cent.
Keen to not complain, Mr Brett added: “It’s a pretty village, a lovely spot with lots of nice people.”
A retired couple expressed their love for walking on the beaches with the fresh air and open spaces. Robert and Julie Wilde from Chesterfield told the Telegraph: “We like Norfolk, too, but there’s history here. Wherever you are, you see its spectacular castle.”
The wide windswept beach is less a sunbathers’ paradise and more with those enjoying an active lifestyle, such as dog walkers, surfer, kite surfers and horse riders.
