Bamburgh Dunes are a region of coastal sand dunes with an area of over 40 hectares situated around the village of Bamburgh in Northumberland, England. The dunes, which stand in the shadow of the impressive Bamburgh Castle, have been a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) since 1995 and are part of the North Northumberland Dunes Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The dunes have a rich diversity of flora and fauna and in places provide good examples of “climbing dunes” found where sand has been blown onto high ground adjacent to the beach.
Bamburgh Dunes vary from open sandy beaches, through low ridges dominated by marram grass, to more stable grass-covered dunes. These occur as a series of irregular parallel sand ridges and hummocks separated by hollows, which are seasonally wet. Some of the plant species include the pyramidal orchid, Centaurium, sea sandwort and petalwort (which is on the List of endangered species in the British Isles). The dunes are also rich in rare insect life. Over 500 species have been identified, with 15 rare species that include a plant hopper (Dicranotropis divergens), a grass-mining fly (Opomyza punctata), and a shore fly (Psilopa marginella). Birds attracted to the dunes include grasshopper warbler, sedge warbler, European stonechat, meadow pipit and reed bunting. In winter, short-eared owl and water rail are also found.
Over the years more vigorous invasive plant species and scrub have encroached, making the dune system too stabilised and threatening the uniqueness of Bamburgh Dunes, as most rare plant species appreciate the unstable and shifting structure of sand dunes. In an effort to counteract this, Bamburgh Castle Estate, English Nature, DEFRA, Northumberland County Council and Bamburgh Parish Council have come up with a plan of management which has resulted in cattle being allowed to graze the dunes since 2000 to break up the dominant grass cover. A fence has been erected to contain the cattle within the dunes. Access by people is encouraged within the fenced area with stiles and gates sited on the main paths.
Bamburgh Dunes seen from the beach.
An ancient Anglo-Saxon 7th century burial ground was unearthed in the dunes to the southeast of Bamburgh Castle during an archaeological dig in 1998 by the Bamburgh Research Project. The burial ground, called the Bowl Hole, had been known to exist since 1816 when violent storms removed large amounts of dune sand and uncovered the site for a period. The BBC television programme “Meet the Ancestors” became involved during the dig and screened a programme about the finds in February 2001.
rural beach award in 2005. The BamburghDunes, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, stand behind the beach. Bamburgh is popular with holidaymakers and...
BamburghDunes are a region of coastal sand dunes with an area of over 40 hectares situated around the village of Bamburgh in Northumberland, England....
Bamburgh Castle, on the northeast coast of England, by the village of Bamburgh in Northumberland, is a Grade I listed building. The site was originally...
seas. Dunes occur in different shapes and sizes, but most kinds of dunes are longer on the stoss (upflow) side, where the sand is pushed up the dune, and...
Change" BamburghDunes, Northumberland TBA 5 February 2001 (2001-02-05) Richards investigates six Anglo-Saxon graves in the sand dunes near Bamburgh Castle...
Walltown Alnmouth Saltmarsh and Dunes Arcot Hall Grasslands and Ponds Aules Hill Meadows Bamburgh Coast and Hills BamburghDunes Barelees Pond Barrow Burn Meadows...
Coquet estuary in the Northeast of England. Features include: Alnmouth, Bamburgh, Beadnell, Budle Bay, Cocklawburn Beach, Craster, Dunstanburgh Castle,...
(1.6 km) wide bay on the North Sea in Northumberland, England, between Bamburgh to the southeast and Lindisfarne to the northwest. The bay is roughly square...
the coast, establishing an urbis regia (meaning "royal settlement") at Bamburgh across the bay from Lindisfarne. The conquest was not straightforward,...
incorporates Lindisfarne Castle and Priory. Other historic sites include Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh and Warkworth Castles. North Northumberland Coastal Plain...
castles than any other county in England, including those at Alnwick, Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh, Newcastle and Warkworth. Nearly 2000-year-old Roman boxing...
The Worm of Linton, of 12th-century Scottish legend. The Laidley Worm of Bamburgh. The Mongolian Death Worm, a cryptozoological creature reported to exist...
Lineage House of Bebbanburgh ealdorman and high-reeve of Bebbanburgh (now Bamburgh) Howard family, Dukes of Norfolk (picture) and Dukes of Norfolk (clickable)...
France 14 April 2011 (2011-04-14) 238 43 "Castle of the Saxon Kings" Bamburgh, Northumberland 24 April 2011 (2011-04-24) 239 44 "Looking Underground"...
King Constantine of Scotland, King Hywel Dda of Deheubarth, Ealdred I of Bamburgh, and King Owen I of Strathclyde (or Morgan ap Owain of Gwent) accepted...
Park and contains an important habitat for the endangered red squirrel. Bamburgh Castle Raby Castle Auckland Castle Holy Island and Lindisfarne Castle Alnwick...
Akazome Emon, Japanese waka poet (approximate date) Eadwulf IV, ruler of Bamburgh Edmund of Durham (or Eadmund), English bishop Gangeyadeva, Indian ruler...
Scremerston area had effectively become part of England in 927 when Ealdred I of Bamburgh accepted Æthelstan as King of the English, but the local rule of Islandshire...
(cinematographer) The BFG United States The BFG by Roald Dahl London, England Bamburgh Castle, Blenheim Palace, Skye in Scotland and London, United Kingdom Ruby...
Description Annie Gibson United Kingdom The schooner was driven ashore at Bamburgh, Northumberland. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from the Clyde...
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