Bamburgh

Just south of the famous monastic 'Holy Island' of Lindisfarne, beneath the imposing 1000-year-old Bamburgh Castle, this long sandy beach is a surfer's favourite as it offers good waves throughout the tide, is open to N swell, and prevailing south-westerlies blow offshore. But catch it sideshore and you'll soon see the appeal too. Freestyle kiters ride the lagoon at 'Budle Bay' around high tide. It's shallow in places and the currents can get strong, especially on an ebb tide. However, as a migratory route for many bird species, it's seasonally closed to over-wintering kitesurfers!