The Northumberland Coast and the Cheviot Valleys

The Borders and Northumberland: Recommended Drives

The Northumberland Coast and the Cheviot Valleys

Tourist Attractions:

Alnwick Castle, Alnwick Abbey, Kelso Abbey, Floors Castle, Jim Clark Room, Eyemouth Museum, Holy Island, Bamburgh Castle, Seahouses Marine Life Centre

Start & Finish: Alnwick

Approximate Distance: 120Miles

Route Overview:

This route is, primarily, a chance to take in the incredible history along the rugged Border coastline. It also offers some of the best driving in the region. The first half of the trip stays inland, and starting out from Alnwick, it’s a fast A-road run until Akeld. Here, a left turn takes the route into the valleys of the North Cheviots. The twenty-five miles or so through these valleys to Kelso provide some of the best tight and twisty tarmac in the area. It’s interesting to note that the best sections on this stretch come after the border crossing from England to Scotland. They must have laid the tarmac right up to the line of the border on the road. After the drive from Kelso to Duns, the A6112 offers perhaps the best driving in the Borders, with long sweeping corners and a couple of wide hairpins as it descends into the valley of Whiteadder Water. The A1107 then provides a charge along the cliff tops towards Eyemouth, providing some spectacular coastal views. After Eyemouth, a run down the A1 passes Holy Island, before a left onto the B4312 takes the route back onto more interesting roads towards Bamburgh Castle. From Bamburgh, fast B roads take the route back to the starting point at Alnwick. Remember, of course, to stop in Seahouses, home of some the best Fish and Chips in the UK.

Route Directions:

Alnwick					Follow	signposts to	B6346 Eglingham, New Bewick
A697	and after	10	miles on the	B6346	Turn right	Signpost	A697 Coldstream
Akeld	and after	10	miles on the	A697	Turn Left	Signpost	B6351 Yetholm, Kilham
	after	5.5	miles on the	B6351	Turn Right	Signpost	Milfield (end of small village - easy to miss)
	after	0.5	miles on the	B6351	Turn Left	Signpost
	after	2.3	miles on the	B6352	Turn Left	Signpost	B6352 Yetholm
Town Yetholm	and after	4.5	miles on the	B6352	Turn Right	Signpost	B6352 Kelso
Kelso	and after	10	miles on the	B6352	Follow	signposts to	A6089 Edinburgh
Kelso	and after	1.2	miles on the	A6089	Turn Right	Signpost	A6364 Stichill
A6105	and after	7	miles on the	A6364	Turn Right	Signpost	A6105 Greenlaw
Greenlaw	and after	0.5	miles on the	A6105	Turn Right	Signpost	A6105 Duns
Greenlaw	and after	0.5	miles on the	A6105	Turn Left	Signpost	A6105 Duns
Duns	and after	7.6	miles on the	A6105	Turn Left	Signpost	A6112 Grantshouse
Grantshouse	after	8	miles on the	A6112	Turn Left	Signpost	A1 Edinburgh
	after	3	miles on the	A1	Turn Right	Signpost	A1107 Coldingham
Coldingham	and after	8.4	miles on the	A1107	Continue	following signposts to	Eyemouth
Eyemouth	and after	3.4	miles on the	A1107	Continue	following signposts to	The A1
A1	and after	1.6	miles on the	A1107	Turn Left	Signpost	A1 Berwick-Upon-Tweed
	after	23	miles on the	A1	Turn Left	Signpost	B1342 Bamburgh
Bamburgh	and after	4	miles on the	B1342	Continue	following signposts to	B1340 Seahouses
Seahouses	and after	2.5	miles on the	B1340	Continue	following signposts to	B1340 Alnwick
	after	3.5	miles on the	B1340	Turn Left	Signpost	B1340 Alnwick
Alnwick	after	6	miles on the	B1340

List of Recomended Drives:
The Northumberland Coast and the Cheviot Valleys
The Tweed, the Moorfoot Hills, and the Lammermuir Hills
The Tweed and the Cheviots
The Kelso Monster (and the Monster’s tail)
The East Roman and Kielder Loop
The West Roman and Kielder Water Loop
The Extended Roman and Kielder Loop
Index of all roads tested
Complete Road Index
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