Ross Back Sands

Northumberland

Big sandy beach backed by dunes. Near Lindisfarne / Holy Island, between Edinburgh and Newcastle

Ross Back Sands

• • On geograph

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One of the most northerly east coast beaches in England, Ross Back Sands are located near Bamburgh and a little to the south of Holy Island, with views toward the Farne Islands just offshore. Parts of the beach are used by naturists.

Getting There

Satnav: NE20 7EN, OS Map Ref: NU 148377

Going north on the A1, turn right on to the minor road to Ross just beyond the village of Belford (note: 1/2 mile beyond the B1341 turning for Bamburgh) The village is about two and a half miles from the A1.

Travelling south on the A1 from Berwick, turn left just beyond the village of Buckton on to a minor road to Elwick, beyond which a left turn leads to Ross. Parking is possible in Ross or along the lane which runs out toward the coast.

From this lane a path leads across fields to dunes and the beach. The total distance from Ross to the sea is about one mile.

Once on the beach, nudity is acceptable either to the north or south of the path - up to a mile in each direction. "Textiles tend to turn right (south), naturists to left (north)". Keep a note of where the path leaves the beach, to find your way back.

Description

A long sandy beach with dunes behind and said to be "surprisingly deserted even at weekends" . Clean golden sand and unpolluted, but chilly, sea - "a delectable spot" for naturists. Lack of access at either north or south ends of the beach gives admirable seclusion and few, if any, passers-by.

"The lane from the village leads ultimately to a farm but passes between two rows of bungalows and cottages; a sign politely asks visitors not to park in this residential area and, although parking is not forbidden (?), it would be churlish not to comply, as well as counter-productive. Parking is therefore restricted to the verge in the lane from the village to this residential area but there was plenty of room. I would estimate the walk from the village to the beach to be nearer two miles than one, and that from the parking area to the beach at a little under a mile but I haven't checked this on the relevant OS map

There were a few people on the beach, no more than a dozen or so and mostly within a hundred yards of the path. However ... there was one bathing suited gentlemen who seemed keen on exploring further afield.... The dunes to the south of the beach were quite flat and offered little shelter from the wind, though they were very grassy, with some form of animal droppings much in evidence. The dunes to the north were much more substantial and appeared to offer effective shelter from the elements but, since rain impended, we were unable to explore. As we left a surprising number of bird watchers appeared from the dunes with an impressive array of cameras and binoculars. Clearly a popular spot with ornithologists."

Facilities Are you kidding?

Water Quality Not monitored officially, but said to be qualitatively excellent.

Nearby Beaches

To the north: Cheswick Black Rocks. To the south: Druridge Bay, near Amble.