Cresswell Tourist Information

Cresswell is a small Northumberland village, popular with walkers and bird watchers. It is situated on the North Sea coast, about four miles north of the small town of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, on the wide sweep of Druridge Bay.

Little is recorded of Cresswell's past other than that the devil once paid it a visit. According to local legend, in 1752 Cresswell had a tailor who was the best in the country. The devil tried to tempt him to fall into the sin of pride. The story goes that the tailor was suspicious and contacted the local vicar and the devil vanished in a ball of fire!

The area is rife with legends, tales of witchcraft and mysterious happenings and visitors may enjoy listening to some of the local stories of the supernatural which abound in the area. As a hotspot for witchcraft, a total of 23 witches were recorded as being executed in the area!

Present Day Cresswell

Cresswell is a small and well spread community of just over 200 residents scattered along the coastal road. The area has some spectacular scenery, scenic clifftop paths and a golden sandy beach. A 64-mile coastal path begins at Cresswell and runs along the Northumberland coast to Berwick-upon-Tweed making it a pleasant place for serious walkers.

The outstanding natural beauty of the area draws many visitors who appreciate the rugged coastline and landscapes. It has several stunning beaches and many historic villages, ancient castles and churches in the area. The Scottish border is a short drive from Cresswell, providing further pleasant walks and scenic drives. Hadrian's Wall can still be seen in places, marking the border 2000 years later.

Cresswell has a pond and bird hide for visitors to watch the many species of local birds. The National Trust owned Druridge Bay Country Park runs from Cresswell to Northumberland National Park are a nature lover's paradise.

Families enjoy spending leisurely days on Cresswell's sandy beach.

The historic county town of Morpeth is a short drive from Cresswell and has a Wednesday market for sourcing local produce and other bargains. It has some good shops for local supplies and has a Bagpipe Museum and the Northumbrian Arts and Crafts Gallery.

Nearby Carlisle Park offers tennis, bowls and river boats along with the lovely Turner Garden, named after William Turner the botanist who created the first reliable list of English plants and animals.

Kielder Water is ideal for watersports with its vast expanse of open water and both the Linden Hall Golf Club and the Newbiggin-by-the-Sea Golf Club offer great scenery for golfers along the fairways.

Harry Potter fans may want to take a trip to nearby Alnwick Castle, a.k.a. Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which also has some lovely gardens.