The coastal village of Bamburgh is an "unspoilt hamlet dwarfed by the romantic profile of an intimidating castle" and Lindisfarne is a magical, two-mile square island.

BBC: Travel guide boost to Culture bid

Up in the north-east, the one-day (21km) leg-stretch from Bamburgh to Craster along Northumberland's undeveloped coastline links two castles (grand Bamburgh and artfully ruined Dunstanburgh), some of the country's wildest beaches and excellent smoked kippers.

BBC: Walking Great Britain��s great coast