castles

Ross Back Sands beach is a hidden gem that stretches for three miles between Bamburgh Castle and Lindisfarne Castle near Newcastle

A stunning expanse of golden sand framed by green dunes creates the ideal thirty-minute stroll linking Bamburgh castle with Holy Island’s Lindisfarne Castle.

Located just forty minutes by car from Newcastle, Ross Back Sands beach boasts three miles of pristine dunes, flanked by two magnificent examples of medieval construction.

The closest car park sits just fifteen minutes on foot from the shoreline, and this small distance ensures the gorgeous spot remains relatively quiet and deserted throughout the year, according to the Beach Guide.

Positioned at the northern tip of the beach stands Lindisfarne Castle, a 16th-century fortress sitting majestically atop Holy Island. The structure received significant modifications under the guidance of renowned architect Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1901.

During low tide, visitors can access the castle by walking across the causeway. Vikings once raided this region as it served as a contested boundary between England and Scotland, reports Chronicle Live.

Lindisfarne ceased functioning as a priory in 1537 during Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries that followed his union with Anne Boleyn.

Situated south of the beach lies Bamburgh Castle, a Grade I listed structure. Historians believe it originated as a Celtic Brittonic stronghold called Din Guarie and potentially served as Bernicia’s capital from 420 to 547.

Control alternated between the Britons and Anglo-Saxons on three occasions before remaining under Anglo Saxon dominion from 590. Subsequently, the Normans constructed a fresh castle on this site before it reverted to Royal possession in 1095.

Following years of neglect, the fortress underwent restoration throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, with William Armstrong putting the finishing touches to these renovations during the Victorian period.

One TripAdvisor reviewer commented: “Beautiful beach, I have visited many times and never seen more than a handful of people on it. You can often spot seals, the end nearest Holy Island is best for seal watching.

“It’s amusing to see other reviews saying ‘it is worth the walk’, which makes it sound like a bit of a slog to get there – in reality it’s about a mile of very easy walking, although the last part through the dunes undulates a bit.

“So if you think a gentle 20 – 25 minute walk is a bit of an ‘effort’ perhaps try a different beach! One thing to bear in mind is to take note of where you come out onto the beach from the dunes as it is easy to miss when going back, usually there is a marker like a bit of wood – or even a rusty gas canister when I was last there!”.

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“Enjoy the beach, enjoy the peace and enjoy the very pleasant little walk to get there, it is part of the experience.”

I’VE found the Loch Ness monster. Big and green, she’s a lot fluffier than I was expecting, plus the marathon bib on her front surprised me a little.

OK, I obviously didn’t find Nessy but I gave it a go – running the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon’s shorter 10k race last autumn.

And I’m sure Nessie had stuck her head out of the loch at some point, mystified but impressed by the 11,000 runners taking part in the marathon as well as the 10k and other shorter races on a gorgeous Sunday morning.

The scenery in Scotland is stunning and that’s one of the main draws for this event.

We were lucky enough to be greeted by autumnal blue skies.

‘Nessie’s hungry’

And as I flew down the road with hundreds of other brightly coloured runners, the Scottish humour kept me going.

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“Faster! Nessie is hungry,” one sign read.

“Pain is temporary, Strava is for ever,” another declared.

The kilometres ticked by and soon I found myself hurtling down the home stretch, with masses of Scots cheering on the red-faced runners.

Crossing the finish line, I was handed a tote bag of goodies including a tin of Baxters soup – one of the perks of having the famous brand sponsor the event.

Plus, there was a medal, which is always a good reason to take part in a run while on holiday.

I stayed around and cheered as thousands of other runners made their way over the finish line.

A course record for the full marathon had been set in an impressive two hours and 15 minutes.

Inverness is just a 40-minute bus ride from Urquhart Castle, on the shore of Loch Ness

But I was not just there to watch hundreds of puffing men and women throw themselves across the finish line.

Inverness is just a 40-minute bus ride from Urquhart Castle, on the shore of Loch Ness and, after a shower, I headed off to explore.

The castle ruins hold hundreds of years of history and thanks to a tour guide, I learned how the castle’s medieval lords kept their foes at bay and how, in 562AD, St Columba saved a man from a “water beast” that rose from the depths, in what is widely considered to be the first recorded “sighting” of Nessie.

But legend aside, a young boy on the tour also turned to me and very seriously declared he had spotted Nessie earlier in the year.

Using his hands, he showed how it bobbed up and down in the water, leaving him with no doubt he was just metres from the mythical beast.

Also, if you’re not into running, there’s always cycling. Etape Loch Ness is Scotland’s largest closed-road cycle sportive.

Its riders tackle a 66-mile loop around Loch Ness, starting and finishing in Inverness.

But the 10km run was enough for me.

As I boarded the bus back to Inverness, medal around my neck and legs still buzzing, I knew I’d be back.

Maybe, this year, Nessie will make an appearance.