Accessible outdoor activities for the elderly in Morpeth, Northumberland

As we get older, things we took for granted when we were younger, like a walk along a favourite beach, can sometimes get harder to manage. If the smell of sea air and the sand between your toes fills you with joy, with a bit of planning, accessing our glorious coastlines and beaches can still be achievable, even for those not as mobile as they used to be.

Accessible walks: Druridge Bay

Northumberland is blessed with over 60 miles of glorious coastline providing stunning beaches for all to enjoy. One of the most beautiful beaches in the Morpeth area is Druridge Bay with its miles of sand sweeping around the coast as far as the eye can see. On a weekend there may be a fair number of dog walkers and the odd horse rider and sand surfer to contend with, but there's still plenty of space to go around.

And once you navigate your way down onto the beach, there’s plenty of flat sand making it an accessible place to enjoy the coast. Just make sure you check out the tide times online before you go, and aim for low tide if you can so that you can make the most of the vast beach.

Getting to Druridge Bay

I recently did a reconnaissance visit with one of my clients to help her work out if trips like it were possible and something she’d like to do more often. I'd been helping her move over to a new care provider who could better meet her needs for daily support. The changeover had gone well, and we were discussing the possibility of adding a weekly companionship visit.

From a practical viewpoint, the aim of the visit to Druridge Bay was to see how she enjoyed a trip out, to help her decide what she wanted, and to work out the best timings. We also did it just because it was a perfect sunny day, the tide was going to be out, and it was a place she loved and hadn't visited for years. Helping clients get back to doing things they love is a big part of why I do what I do.

The drive from Morpeth was around 20 minutes and took us along some pleasant country roads. We bypassed the turn-off for the Country Park and drove along to the beach road which provided us with stunning views. We managed to park within a few metres of a viewpoint that had a couple of benches. After a short walk from the car which my client did with her walking stick and my arm for support, we had a sit-down to admire the view.

Parking at Druridge Bay

To get to the beach road, if coming from the South on the A1068 go past the signposted right turn for Druridge Bay Country Park and take the next right turn which is un-signposted. Continue to the T-junction and then turn right to head up towards the viewpoint, or left for more parking spots overlooking the beach. If you turn right you can park near the paths which head off to the Visitor Centre.

If you park at the Visitor Centre there are several accessible parking bays and an accessible toilet inside the centre. Press the green button on the car park ticket machine for a free 1-hour ticket to display in your car. If you want longer then pay and display by coin, card or the pay-by-phone app.

Accessing the beach

Despite the sunshine, it was still a bit chilly to sit for long so after a couple of minutes admiring the view, we headed carefully down the steps to the beach. We safely navigated the wooden/sandy steps which my client did with the aid of my arm and her walking stick and then the handrail which was provided for part of the way. After a careful few steps across the drier more uneven sand at the bottom, we were onto firmer level sand which stretched right out to the waves.

We ended up walking right up to the edge of the sea, pausing regularly to enjoy the sunshine and the fresh breeze. Then we headed back to the car before we got too cold.

We had planned to eat our sandwiches on the bench, but it was much too cold so we retreated to the car. I drove along to the other end of the beach road where we found a parking spot looking out over the coastline. We fully absorbed the beautiful view whilst consuming our sandwiches and a flask of tea before we took a leisurely drive back to Morpeth.

We were out for around two and a half hours in total, and my client was thrilled to have had such a lovely trip. I heard from everyone she talked to how much she enjoyed it. It gave her the confidence to do more and now she's enjoying weekly trips out - to the coast, to local market towns and sometimes just for a drive.

Accessible beaches in Northumberland

If steps are a problem, there are two inclined paths down to the beach at Druridge Bay. One is to the right of the steps we used and is a sandy path which is used by horses [update winter 23/24 - storms have churned up the beach end of this path making it hard to navigate safely]. There is also a concreted slope for boat launches at the other end of the beach road but it is quite steep. At all access points there tends to be a short stretch of dry and therefore bumpy sand which is more difficult to navigate, especially for wheelchairs.

I've not tried a normal wheelchair on the sand and I think the drier uneven sand could be a problem although I have seen someone in an electric wheelchair travelling along the firm sand. Beach Access North East provide free beach wheelchair loans at Bamburgh, Beadnell, Blyth and Newbiggin beaches.

And Wiser services

I help people live well at home, as independently as possible, by providing a high quality and flexible service for families.  I tailor my support to suit each individual - working with clients who don't need (or don't want) carers, and also clients who already have a care package in place.

If you're looking for flexible support at home for independent living, visit my main website pages to find out more about my services and to book a free initial consultation.

You can also find another blog post with 5 accessible walks in and around Morpeth, or head over to my blog section to read about some of the ways I’ve helped clients with things like keeping cool on a warm night, arranging for cleaners, organising medical appointments, and solving the problem of missing keys.