Getting there
Hexham is on the Tyne Valley railway line, about 35 minutes by train from Newcastle, and the town centre is a short walk uphill from the station. Bamburgh is on the coast and has no railway station, so most visitors drive or come by bus.
When to walk
Northumberland's villages are busiest on sunny weekends and in the school holidays. Weekday mornings are the calmest time to walk, and the long summer evenings are lovely on the coast.
Coffee and food
Both Hexham and Bamburgh have independent cafés, tearooms and pubs close to where the tours begin, so it's easy to plan a break around your walk.
Getting around
Older parts of town can have hills, steps and uneven ground. Each tour page says whether its route is step-free.
Why go self-guided
There's no timetable to keep. Combine a walk with a castle visit, the beach or a long lunch, and go at your own pace.