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Ladyburn Lake and Druridge Bay Beach Walk.

Introduction

This short walk combines a circuit around Ladyburn Lake, which is a nature reserve and the vast beach of Druridge Bay.

It is a pleasant stroll at any time of year, although the path on the north side of the lake can be a bit soggy in places after heavy rain.

There is parking along the coastal road or a large (pay & display) car park next to the visitor centre, with limited opening hours.

Toilets - in visitor centre, subject to opening hours.

Note - Beach may not be accessible at high tide.

Ladyburn Lake
Ladyburn Lake

Druridge Bay
Druridge Bay

Walk

1) We started this walk from the old coastal road behind the dunes at Druridge Bay.

Walk south to the end of the tarmac road and then turn right onto a footpath that passes through the woods.

The footpath emerges beside the main car park for Ladyburn Lake Visitor Centre (toilets).

Ladyburn Lake Visitor Centre.
Ladyburn Lake Visitor Centre.

Ladyburn Lake Footpath beside Visitor Centre.
Ladyburn Lake Footpath beside Visitor Centre.

 

Ladyburn Lake looking west.
Ladyburn Lake looking west.

Ladyburn Lake looking towards the outlet weir.
Ladyburn Lake looking towards the outlet weir.

 

2) Walk through the car park and along the path to left of the visitor centre.

Follow this path to the water's edge and turn left where it runs alongside the lake.

View north across Ladyburn Lake.
View north across Ladyburn Lake.

View west along Ladyburn Lake.
View west along Ladyburn Lake.

 

View along the south shore of Ladyburn Lake.

View along the south shore of Ladyburn Lake.

View along the south shore of Ladyburn Lake.

 

3) After a short while you will reach another car park and a jetty.

View back to the Visitor Centre.
View back to the Visitor Centre.

Swans approaching.
Swans approaching.

 

4) This is a favourite place for ducks, swans and geese, as people regularly feed them. There are likely to be hundreds. Watch out to for gulls joining in the feeding frenzy and move on swiftly if they are directly overhead!

Swans, ducks and geese. Swans, ducks and geese.
Swans, ducks and geese. Swans, ducks and geese.

Swans, ducks and geese waiting for a feed.

 

5) Continuing along the waterside the footpath soon reaches the stepping stones across the lake. Note - if you don't want to use these continue straight on to a footbridge. Otherwise turn right and down a ramp to a ford with the stones on the left.

Some of the stones can be a bit wobbly but are quite large and there is a great view along the lake from the stones.

Approaching the Stepping Stones.
Approaching the Stepping Stones.

Approaching the Stepping Stones.

 

View across the Stepping Stones.
View across the Stepping Stones.
View from the Stepping Stones.
View from the Stepping Stones.

 

6) On the other side follow the path to the right and through a gate. Continue now along the north shore of the lake towards some woods.

Path along the north side of the lake. Path along the north side of the lake.

Path along the north side of the lake.

 

View east along the lake.
View east along the lake.

Swan family on the north side of the lake.
Swan family on the north side of the lake.

 

7) You can follow a path through the woods but we prefer the lakeside path which takes you to a footbridge across the lakes outlet weir.

Footpath to the outlet weir and footbridge. Footpath to the outlet weir and footbridge.

Footpath to the outlet weir and footbridge.

 

8) Cross the footbridge and follow the path back to the visitor centre.

View across the footbridge.
View across the footbridge.

View from the footbridge.
View from the footbridge.

 

View back to the footbridge. View back to the footbridge.

View back to the footbridge.

 

9) There are a few paths back out to the road, we returned via the one we came along which is at the far end of the car park as you now approach it.

Once back out on the road, turn right after a few yards onto a footpath and steps down to the beach.

Steps down to the beach.
Steps down to the beach.

View to the beach.
View to the beach.

 

10) Turn left onto the beach and walk north for as far as you wish and either take one of the paths back up through the dunes to the road or simply return along the beach. You could of course go south and return via the dunes or beach as well.

View north along Druridge Bay.
View north along Druridge Bay.

View south along Druridge Bay.
View south along Druridge Bay.

   

Road behind the dunes.
Road behind the dunes.

 

Notes

Walking Gear:

- Good walking shoes or boots.

 

Maps - Ordnance Survey Landranger sheet no. 81 - Alnwick, Morpeth & surrounding area.

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