Bamburgh, once capital of the kingdom of Bernicia, is a pleasant little seaside resort (pop. 600).
It has a sandy beach and sand dunes that are popular with tourists. Bamburgh Castle overlooks the beach, the original portion was completed in 547 and it was completely restored by the Armstrong family.
St Aidan's Church has a very fine crypt and a beautiful 13th century choir. The popular 19th century heroine, Grace Darling (1815-42), who rowed out with her father, the lighthouse keeper, to save the crew of the shipwrecked "Forfarshire", is buried in the churchyard.