St Oswald's Way (156km, 97 miles) begins in Heavenfield and traverses parts of Northumberland National Park and visits Hadrian’s Wall, the Simonside Hills and the beautiful Coquet Valley, before continuing up the coast to Lindisfarne (Holy Island).

The Northumberland Coast Path (100km, 62 miles) takes in the whole of the Northumberland Coast AONB with its breathtaking coastal scenery and birdlife. Both trails converge on Holy Island, with the Coast Path continuing up to Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Each trail can be walked in a week. The guide includes practical advice on when to go and what to take, and information on the region, its weather, wildlife, history and heritage. Detailed route descriptions and clear, step-by-step instructions are accompanied by 1:50K OS mapping. Public transport options and accommodation listings are also given.

Described as the cradle of Christianity in England, Northumberland's history is long and varied and the trails reflect this with visits to some magnificent architecture – rambling castles, Norman churches, medieval abbeys – as well as sites of enormous archaeological and geological interest, quiet villages and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

From rugged hills to coastal dunes this is one of Britain's most beautiful landscapes for walking and backpacking far away from it all.

St Oswald’s Way

Stage 1 Heavenfield to Kirkwhelpington

Stage 2 Kirkwhelpington to Rothbury

Stage 3 Rothbury to Warkworth

Stage 4 Warkworth to Craster

Stage 5 Craster to Bamburgh

Stage 6 Bamburgh to West Mains

Stage 7 West Mains to Holy Island

Northumberland Coast Path

Stage 1 Cresswell to Warkworth

Stage 6 Holy Island to Berwick-upon-Tweed

(For Stages 2–5 of the Northumberland Coast Path follow St Oswald’s Way Stages 4–7)