Thursday 17 June: Nippy naked North Sea swim

I hear the start of the dawn chorus at 3:30 am; a lone blackbird kicks it all off and then it’s soon a cacophony of bird song. Leisurely pack up as we are in no hurry to leave Walkmill. We head to Boulmer, park in its free car park and head north along St Oswald’s Way. The sun comes out. We see a beached minkie whale (found that out from Google) on the rocks. The ruined Dunstanburgh castle in the distance. After a couple of hours of coastal and beach walking we arrive at Craster, and the Jolly Fisherman. They even have a table for two outside. I have the fisherman’s platter: prawns, crab, herring, kipper patė, smoked and steamed salmon, washed down with a pint of Northumberland ale, C has half a lobster with a large glass of Picpoul.

We retrace our steps southwards and decide on a swim when we get to Sugar sands. No need for swimming costumes! Bracing. Back to Boulmer, where a fisherman is pulling lobster pots along the beach by tractor and then it’s a short drive to our campsite at Dunstan Hill. The site is very busy and seems pretty much full. It’s sunny and hot so chilled rosė and crisps outside before tuna pasta cooked in the van for supper.