Explore a golden sandy beach with dramatic castle ruins and abundant wildlife, perfect for families seeking unspoiled coastal beauty.

Embleton Bay is a long stretch of golden sand backed by low dunes and overlooked by the impressive ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle. Located within the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this unspoiled beach was voted the best beach in the UK by BBC Countryfile Magazine readers in 2017. The bay offers a blissfully remote atmosphere with minimal signs of human habitation, making it an ideal destination for families seeking a peaceful coastal retreat. Visitors can enjoy a variety of seaside activities including kite surfing, wind surfing, and rock pooling among the dunes and shoreline. The beach is backed by Newton Links, home to diverse flora such as bloody cranesbill, eye bright, and wild thyme, while nearby cliffs serve as breeding sites for seabirds including fulmars, kittiwakes, eider ducks, and shags. The sandy beach is ideal for family fun, with plenty of space for rounders, football, cricket, and traditional beach games. At the northern end of Embleton Bay lies the charming village of Low Newton, accessible via a small country lane and offering a genuine sense of isolation. The village features a historic 18th-century pub (The Ship Inn), small shops, and holiday cottages. Dogs are welcome on the beach, making it perfect for families with pets. Note that there is no lifeguard service, so swimmers should exercise caution and avoid rough conditions.

Venue Details

What this place offers

Toilets

Public transport nearby

Accessible toilets

Free WiFi

Baby changing facilities

Food available

On-site parking

🐕Dog-friendly

Parking nearby

Pushchair friendly

☕ Food & Drink

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Andy Pagram

2 months ago

Lovely wide dog friendly sandy beach with shallow water and rock pools at low tide ideal for children to play and paddle. Take drinks and nibbles with you though as no facilities available, just peace and quiet!

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Warren Wild

3 months ago

Beautiful beach & fantastic views of Dunstanburgh castle. Had a fantastic walk along the beach & coastal path towards the castle, our dogs loved it. Coastal path a bit rocky & uneven at times if you are a little unsteady. We'll worth the visit A++

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Simon Lakin

4 months ago

Beautiful dog friendly beach.

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Caroline Myles

a year ago

The most beautiful beach in the UK in my opinion. We spent many hours here with the dogs every day we were on holiday. Extremely clean, everyone does their part picking up after their dogs and not leaving any rubbish behind. It's a nice change! The ocean is crystal clear here.

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Paweł Jurkiewicz

a year ago

Lovely quiet beach, lots of parking spaces. Waves are particularly strong in this area, hence we've spotted few surfers. Dogs had a great time and so did we. Good starting point to have a walk to Dunstanburgh Castle.

Reviews last updated: 29 September 2026