Alnamb one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 66.67% of reviewers

We walked this route from Amble to Alnwick in August on a bright sunny day after a very wet July and heavy rain the previous day.
The route is easy to navigate and provides an efficiently direct walk, without any steep climbs or particularly muddy sections.
Other than when passing through the towns of Amble, Warkworth and Alnwick there is only one section of road walking (from Warkworth to the turn onto the footpath at Mill Cottage) but this road is quiet and there is a footpath, along one side or the other of the road, for the entire distance.
There are great views out to the coast and Alnmouth from the path between Buston Barns and High Buston. Most of the farming is arable and, other than some sheep when approaching High Buston, we saw no livestock. The approach to Alnwick along the ‘heritage’ railway line provides very easy walking for the final couple of miles.
There are only two stiles on the route and both are problematic. The first is at Mill Cottage (NU 238 068). The stile here is damaged and impossible to climb over. It is clear that people have been passing over the wire fence next to the stile and this is also damaged but it is possible to stride over. Immediately after the stile there is a large, and difficult to penetrate, overgrowth of vegetation to shoulder height. The path beyond here, across a recently harvested oil seed rape field, is non-existent and we had to resort to walking round the field rather than across.
The second stile is where the path reaches the road at High Buston (NU 231 087). There are wooden slats preventing sheep escaping over the old gap in the wall but it is difficult to climb over and the only hand hold is the Public Footpath sign.
The major problem with the route is the small wood behind Spy Law (NU 221 106). The conditions here were so bad we almost gave up the walk. There are several (12 or more) mature trees that have fallen blocking the path the need to be climbed over and there is a massive overgrowth of brambles and nettles to head height making progress very difficult, unpleasant and potentially dangerous. If Barbour made a hazmat suit this would be the perfect place to wear it!
Beyond the wood the walk is easy and pleasant all the way to Alnwick.
I have reported the problems with the stiles and at Spy Law to the Northumberland Footpaths Officer.

Generally a good route, some very boddy parts across crop fields in places so good boots essential and a few slight detours that needed to be backtracked on.

Not perfect but worth the minor routing errors and muddy conditions for the fantastic views.

I walked this route from Amble to Alnwick today 23 March 2022 and will echo the review and comments made by LeighVenus. They made the difference in choosing to follow the route. Thankyou Leigh

It is a very pleasant route on a spring morning. Not too strenuous and except for one or two soft spots and the serious windfall at Spylaw ( I’m a not very agile 60+) the whole route is relatively easily navigated. The ground is drying quickly and is already beginning to bake hard in some places, making it easier to cross fields where required.

The Alnwick Cycleway running along the Aln Valley Railway was very quiet today but I expect it will attract many once the railway is fully operational.

I shall pore the maps again as I think it should be possible to find an detour or two which would mean the whole route could be (cross-country) wheelchair accessible.

The sheep weren’t in evidence today and I didn’t encounter any other livestock today. I feel that this route will be suitable for dog-walkers as long as the dog will walk on the lead in a few short stretches.

I walked this route once again in both directions, and have a few updates.

This time, I wanted to try the bridleway I'd found on my last walk, which runs to the west of the main route at High Buston.

Although the catch on the gate is fiddly, rusty, and hard to open, this is a doable alternative for anyone having trouble getting over the narrow stile on the main route.

After spending some time getting the rusty catch open with my back to the field, I turned round to close the gate and was met by some very quiet and curious sheep who are probably used to going through when someone opens it: a clue that this gate may be opened more often than it seems.

Treefall on the route through the little wood at Spy Law is still uncleared. The stone step to the path now has an old gatepost across it. Trust the direction of the yellow arrow, follow the wall, go through the rusty gate, and you’re back on the route.

I walked this route again in both directions, and have a few updates.

There is extensive treefall on part of the route between the disused quarry and Spy Law/Bilton farm (see the image with the orange circle).

Most of the trees require clambering over and it could be a good while before they’re cleared. This bit is passable if you’re nimble, but be mindful.

The works along the Aln Valley Railway on the Cawledge Burn viaduct appear to be done, and the section of the route that was closed for a couple of months in Autumn 2021 is back open again.

If you're taking a dog with you, there are two points with stiles which your companion may be unable to get over.

The High Buston one has a bridleway to the west linking back to the road and route, while the Spy Law one has a heavily rusted and unused gate nearby that could be used for access if you’re stuck (see the images with blue arrows).

I took two stars off my original rating for the treefall. I'd still walk it, however, I wouldn't recommend it to everyone.

This Slow Ways route is a direct, easy to navigate, and enjoyable walk that takes in the village of Warkworth and some stunning views across the Northumberland coast and countryside.

The route is relatively straightforward. There are several gaps, gates and styles to pass, and two of the stiles are narrowed significantly due to encroaching hedges on either side. A small section near the middle of the route was quite boggy for a metre or two.

Once you leave Alnwick, there are no facilities of any kind until you reach the village of Warkworth, as the route goes alongside an old railway track and then across several fields before rejoining the road just outside the village.

Alnwick is a good-sized town; Warkworth and Amble are both small villages. Alnwick has many shops, restaurants, cafes, bars and places to visit, while Warkworth and Amble have a smaller selection while offering plenty of views and history to enjoy.

Mobile and GPS signal was good across the entire route (using Vodafone/Lebara Mobile).

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