Alnmouth village was established in 1150 and got its name because it sits in the mouth of the river Aln. It once housed an important port that exported grain, as well as coal, eggs, pickled salmon, and wool amongst other commodities.

On Christmas Day 1806, a violent storm breached a sandbank by the river which changed its course allowing it to take a more direct route to the sea. Although this didn’t directly contribute to the port’s decline, in the years afterwards the rise in the importance of rail for transporting goods and the capsize of a timber ship in the harbour in 1896, meant that by the end of the 19th century, port traffic had fallen off completely.

At the same time, with rising prosperity Alnmouth became popular as an area for holiday homes, and it transformed into a thriving Victorian seaside resort with a holiday camp, tea room, beach huts, swimming baths, and a golf course.

Today, the beach is much quieter although the coastal golf course remains and is widely regarded as one of the finest golf courses in the north east of England overlooking both Foxton and Alnmouth Bay out to the North Sea.

As part of Northumberland’s Area of Outstanding Beauty, the area is an ideal location for some scenic walks. There is a public footpath that runs along the top of the dunes or at low tide you can walk along the beach to Warkworth. Cycling and horse-riding are also popular along the Northumberland Coast Path.