North East England / Northumberland

Alnmouth Beach

Beach Type

Sandy

Activities

Fishing

Dog Friendly

Dogs allowed all year round

Alnmouth Beach sits at the mouth of the River Aln, backed on its south side by the Alnmouth Saltmarsh and Dunes — a 108-hectare Site of Special Scientific Interest and the largest saltflat on the North East coast. Alnmouth village's pastel-painted Georgian terraces frame the beach from a low headland behind, and at low tide the sand and the exposed estuary flats merge into one wide expanse. The beach in front of the village rarely feels crowded, and the stretch south of the river mouth, reached from the village side rather than by crossing the water, is quieter again. The saltmarsh and dunes draw redshank, curlew, oystercatcher and the occasional kingfisher along the tideline, and Alnmouth's own nine-hole golf course, one of England's oldest, sits immediately behind the beach and car park.

Who visits

You'll mostly find dog walkers here, drawn by one of the few stretches on this coast with no seasonal restriction at all, plus a scattering of beginner and intermediate surfers outside the summer months — away from the mouth of the River Aln itself, where the current turns dangerous on a dropping tide.

Worth knowing

The one car park serving Alnmouth Beach sits on the far side of the golf links from the sand, and it isn't free: the Burgage Holders of Alnmouth Common, the local not-for-profit that runs it, charge £3.50 for the day in season, contactless preferred — with no other realistic parking close to the beach itself.

Location

Address

Unnamed Rd UK, Alnmouth, Alnwick , NE66 2RZ

View on map

Parking

Alnmouth Beach Car Park

Alnmouth, Alnwick NE66 3NJ

Nearby places to eat and drink

Scott's of Alnmouth

Deli and café on Northumberland Street, built around grab-and-go breakfast and lunch to take straight to the beach.

The Whittling House

Restaurant-with-rooms serving seasonal British cooking, built around local seafood, a five-minute walk from the beach.

Practical Information

Safety

Swimming at Alnmouth generally isn't recommended, and it's genuinely dangerous around the mouth of the River Aln on a dropping tide: signs are posted locally warning against paddling, let alone crossing, near the river mouth.

Access

The route from the car park to the sand crosses the golf links on flat, level ground — no steps, dunes or cliffs — though it's a longer walk than a beach with parking directly on the sand.

Best time to visit

Low tide, when the sand and the estuary flats open out into one wide expanse and wading birds are easiest to spot along the tideline. Outside summer, the car park is free and the beach is quieter.

Nearby beaches

Bamburgh Castle Beach

Backed by Bamburgh Castle with views to the Farne Islands, on a coast Which? has named the UK's best seaside destination four years running.

Seahouses Beach

The working harbour town neighbouring Bamburgh, where real boat trips still set out for the Farne Islands.

FAQs about Alnmouth Beach

The beach sits right at the mouth of the River Aln, with the Alnmouth Saltmarsh and Dunes — a 108-hectare SSSI — running along its south bank, the largest saltflat anywhere on the North East coast.

Not generally recommended, and genuinely dangerous near the mouth of the River Aln on a dropping tide — local signs warn against even paddling there. Alnmouth Beach has no lifeguard patrol at any time of year.

Yes, all year, with no seasonal ban. Northumberland County Council's Dog Control PSPO only restricts beaches at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and Blyth — Alnmouth doesn't appear in it.

The only car park directly serving the beach sits across the golf links from the village, run privately by the Burgage Holders of Alnmouth Common. It's £3.50 a day in season and free outside summer.