Northernmost Point of England

Last month I walked north along the coastal path from Berwick-upon-Tweed up as far as the Scottish Border. On Google Maps it is marked as the Northernmost Point of England.

It would be an easy mistake to think that the northernmost point of England is the same location as the southernmost point of Scotland but that honour goes to Mull of Galloway in Drummore about 130 miles to the south-west as the crow flies.

Fishermans Haven Beach, Berwick-upon-Tweed

The clifftop walk from Berwick to the border is a distance of around 3.5 miles each way. My route started near Fishermans Haven Beach and skirted a golf course on the fringes of town.

The underwater pipe is probably a sewage outlet. I hope it has been treated first.

The Northumberland coastline is quite spectacular here with dramatic cliffs, isolated coves and clear seas.

Seagulls and other seabirds take advantage of the rugged coastline to nest among inaccessible ledges and crevices.

There are a lot of holiday parks perched on the clifftops in this area. This one is at Marshall Meadows Bay.

The border is marked with a welcoming sign. Let’s hope this does not become a hard border if Scotland ever achieves independence.

The sign on the other side informs us that ‘the English / Scottish border dates back to 1237 at this point when it was established under the Treaty of York. There were many subsequent disputes but in 1482 Berwick was taken by England and the Border fixed at this point. In July 1503 Margaret Tudor, the daughter of King Henry VII of England, met the representatives of King James IV of Scotland in Lamberton, thus leading to the eventual succession of James VI to the English throne. Tradition has it that she landed on the shore at a place called Meg’s Dub.’

Meg’s Dub and Lamberton are a short distance from here.

The main London to Edinburgh railway line runs close to the coast at this point and passengers might catch a fleeting glimpse of this sign from their train windows. Funny how the field changes colour from green to brown at the border.

Nearby

Berwick Upon Tweed
Hallidon Hill

Find more Northumberland attractions here.

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