10 Amazing Things to Do Solo in Berwick Upon Tweed

Berwick Upon Tweed first caught my eye as I swept past it on the London North East Railway. I was on a trip between Edinburgh and London with no time to stop. As a solo female expat who has made Edinburgh her home for years now, I knew I had to find out more about this tiny town. The dramatic rocky coast, picturesque lighthouse, and magnificent stone aqueduct over the river Tweed definitely piqued my interest. But is a day trip to Berwick Upon Tweed from Edinburgh worth it? What kind of things are there to do solo in Berwick Upon Tweed? And perhaps most importantly, I found out that Berwick Upon Tweed is also very close to Lindisfarne Castle, which is on a tidal island you can only visit at low tide! I had to see that! But how to get to Holy Island from Berwick Upon Tweed?

Let’s dive in…

Looking back at the town from the River Tweed.

I decided to check it out and I’m so glad I did. A Berwick Upon Tweed day trip is a cinch from Edinburgh, Newcastle, York, or any other city on the UK’s East Coast. It’s also ideal for car-free travelers. The town is easily accessible by train. There are loads of things to do solo in Berwick Upon Tweed, from bookshops to cozy cafes to slightly more adventurous things!

Once you’re there you can quickly get to the city center and even many surrounding attractions on footNow that you’ve reached the city center, this jewel box of a town puts the charm offensive into overdrive.

My Interactive Berwick Upon Tweed Map

I made you a little interactive map with all of the places listed in this guide. Click on the pins to learn more about each destination including directions, opening times, phone number, web address, contact info, reviews, and more. Enjoy!

Why You’ve Got to Go to Berwick Upon Tweed

Berwick Upon Tweed really has something for every type of traveler. Whether your cup of tea is spending an afternoon poking around in bookshops, checking out art galleries, or getting swept away to a magnificent castle on a tidal island.

Berwick Upon Tweed is packed with restaurants, from cute cafes to traditional pubs to upscale bistros. It’s also a mecca for history buffs. Berwick’s status as a fortified town between the contested border between Scotland and England made it a hotbed for centuries of conflict.

So what does a perfect day trip to Berwick Upon Tweed look like? Let me show you…

Getting to Berwick Upon Tweed

View from the train platform

Berwick Upon Tweed is a 52-minute train ride from Waverly Station in Edinburgh. The town also about 47 minutes from Newcastle, with around 67 trains a day.

how to get to holy island from Berwick upon tweed

If you’re interested in visiting Lindisfarne Castle , bus 477 which takes you to Holy Island from Berwick Upon Tweed train station up right in front of the park entrance. Be sure to check the tide/bus timetables if you’re interested in visiting. ( I’ll have more on how to make the most of your trip to Holy Island later!)

Where to Stay

I chose to do a day trip to Berwick Upon Tweed, but there’s enough to explore here that you could easily extend it into a long weekend. Berwick Upon Tweed has a variety of cozy hotels and guest houses at many different price points.

1. Start With a Stroll in Castle Vale & Coronation Parks

Coronation Park.

Once you’re off the train, you’re going to want to stretch those legs. Why not start by taking a stroll in Castle Vale and Coronation Parks, which are mere steps from the main station? These beautifully manicured parks feature a lily pond, a sculpture trail, and plenty of benches to sit on as you enjoy a dramatic view of the Royal Border Bridge. When I visited it was bursting into bloom with spring’s first daffodils and lilies.

If you fancy it, continue your stroll to the riverside walk along the Tweed? There you’ll be treated to views of both the town and the river. You can easily loop your way into the center of town from the river walk. The parks have plentiful signs to point you to where you want to go.

2. Walk The Berwick Upon Tweed Castle Ramparts

Can’t get enough of a panoramic view? Head on up to the Berwick Upon Tweed Castle and Ramparts. Once a vital fortification protecting Berwick Upon Tweed from invaders, it’s now an ideal place to take in a panoramic view of the city. A great way to kick off your day trip to Berwick Upon Tweed!

3. Take a Boat Tour on the River Tweed

The Royal Boarder Bridge

Perhaps the best way to soak in a view of the town is from the water. A Berwick boat tour will let you cruise past all of the town’s historic sites. You could also catch a glimpse of wildlife such as herons, seals, and dolphins!

For maximum vibes consider booking a sunset cruise.

Looking for a magical day trip in Scotland? Check out my post on Rosslyn Chapel!

4. Visit Berwick Upon Tweed Lighthouse

I know I’m a sucker for lighthouses… but people… just look at Berwick Lighthouse! Accessible along a stone pier, grab a coffee or an ice cream and take a stroll out there.

Nautical vibes activated! So freaking scenic!

5. Browse the Indie Bookstores

Slightly Foxed bookshop, an adorable thing to do solo in Berwick Upon Tweed

Whether you prefer new or second-hand, the bookstores in Berwick Upon Tweed do not disappoint. You could spend an entire day happily browsing this bibliophile’s paradise. The abundance of charming bookshops really made my day trip to Berwick Upon Tweed.

Need some inspiration?

Here’s my mini bookstore-crawl itinerary of Berwick Upon Tweed’s cutest indie bookshops:

The first bookshop you’ll hit on your way from the Berwick Upon Tweed train station to the town center is Berrydin Books. A used lover’s paradise, they have an extensive collection of Putnam Editions. I picked up a copy of one of my childhood faves, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

Check out my post on another fantastic Edinburgh day trip, Inchcolm Island!

Now head down West Street toward the river and pop into Interesting Books and Zines. This is without a doubt one of the most well-curated and designed book and zine shops I’ve ever been to. The sleek, minimalist aesthetic is as inspiring as the reading material.

Top off your mini tour by heading downhill and swinging a left onto Bridge Street and Check Out Berwick Upon Tweed’s most Instagram-Worthy bookstore, Slightly Foxed. This is a vintage book lover’s paradise, full of first edition and rare and hard-to-find classics as well as more standard second-hand paperback fare.

Curl up on a leather couch in their back room with its beautifully painted domed ceiling, or browse their collection of vintage movie posters. Getting lost in the back room of Slightly Foxed is a wonderful thing to do solo in Berwick Upon Tweed!

6. Visit One of Berwick Upon Tweed’s Restaurants or Cafes

By now you’ve likely worked up an appetite. Don’t worry, Berwick Upon Tweed’s restaurants have you covered. There’s a surprising variety of eateries here from cozy hole-in-the-wall diners to upscale bistros. Here’s a smattering of my faves:

The Corner House cafe has some of Berwick Upon Tweed’s best vegan and gluten-free options in a cute, eclectic environment. The Vegan and gluten-free cake I had was called, ‘Snow White’s Poison Apple,’ and it was truly to die for. This cafe is dog friendly too!

Northern Soul Kitchen is a hole-in-the-wall serving up comfort food with a mission to prevent food waste in Berwick.

Mule on Rouge is a cozy wee hideaway serving upscale comfort food and brunch, with lots of vegan and veggie options! You won’t lack for plant based food on your day trip to Berwick Upon Tweed.

Repas 7 has a chai latte to die for! But why stop there? Go ahead and sample the baked goods and savories and kick back in their colorful and cozy dining room.

Looking for elevated pub grub? The Riverside Cafe is your go-to.

7. Vintage Shopping & Galleries in Berwick

Berwick Upon Tweed has a plethora of art galleries and boutiques featuring unique handmade goods. They’ve also got some top-notch thrift stores. Vintage shopping was one of my favorite things to do solo in Berwick Upon Tweed!

Here are a few that caught my eye…

The Field House offers crafts, paintings, and textiles inspired by the beauty of Northumberland’s landscape.

If handmade gifts and home goods are more your thing, stop by Serendipity Artisans. This artist cooperative is a great place to find a trinket to bring home to somebody special.

Are you a second-hand treasure hunter like me? Why not go play at the Little Vintage Shop? This adorable antique shop on Berwick’s Bridge Street is chock full of vintage furniture, typewriters, bicycles, and other curiosities to make your own. In my opinion, vintage shopping is truly one of the best things. todo solo in Berwick Upon Tweed.

8. Chat Up a Berwick Upon Tweed Local

The locals in Berwick Upon Tweed are incredibly friendly and welcoming. It’s true, people in Berwick really ooze that Northern warmth and hospitality that people in this part of the UK are known for. No cold and distant London vibes here, mate. I genuinely felt welcome here which is a huge plus for any solo traveler in my book. Chatting with locals genuinely made my day trip to Berwick Upon Tweed extra-special.

9. Visit the Berwick Museum & Art Gallery

The Berwick Museum really has it all, from exhibits dating back to the middle ages to innovative contemporary art exhibitions. And did I mention cannons!? Then why not check it out while you visit the Berwick Barracks? They’re in the same area. It’s a great idea to start your day trip to Berwick Upon Tweed here!

Looking to fall in love with Scotland? Check out my post on 10 Ideas for an Amazing road trip to Scotland’s Isle of Skye!

10. Explore Holy Island

Lindisfarne Castle

The experience you’ve all been waiting for!

Lindisfarne Castle is a stunning 16th-century castle located off the coast of Berwick on Holy Island.

And get this… you can only get there at low tide!

Yep, when the tide comes up the road is fully covered by the sea, leaving the castle and the village of Lindisfarne totally cut off from the mainland.

The castle itself has extensive and well-manicured gardens and grounds. But it doesn’t stop there, Holy Island is also home to Lindisfarne Priory, a medieval ruin boasting ornate stonework.

how to get to Holy Island from Berwick upon Tweed

Holy Island was well worth the bus ride from Berwick Upon Tweed

There’s no question you have to visit Holy Island… but how to get to Holy Island from Berwick Upon Tweed?

Well, some get to Holy Island from Berwick Upon Tweed the same way pilgrims have for centuries, by walking across the tidal flats when the tide is out. Others drive. I personally took the public bus #477, which conveniently leaves from right in front of the train station.

It takes about 30 minutes one way to get there. The bus timetable is timed with the tides to make sure you check the tide and crossing times before you go.

I ended up only having about ten minutes on the Island because I didn’t plan ahead and I ended up hopping on the last bus of the day.

Believe it or not, I still got a lot out of my visit…

Was Holy Island Worth The Trip?

As it turns out, this was just another opportunity to embrace the unexpected. No, I didn’t get the full Lindisfarne Castle experience. The good news is, I did get to chat with the world’s friendliest bus driver, and capture some gorgeous snaps of the castle. Although I’m sad. I didn’t get to spend more time there, Holy Island was truly a do not miss on my day trip to Berwick Upon Tweed.

Protip: Make sure you leave enough time to explore the village of Lindisfarne too! It has several cafes and small shops, even a post office. There’s a thriving independent community of people who live out there, perfectly content to be cut off from the mainland at high tide.

Don’t want to rely on the whims of the tides? Our friends at Viator have you covered with a full day tour of Holy Island, Alnwick Castle and the Kingdom of Northumbira.

Adventures await! Here’s my roundup of 12 Easy Car Free Day Trips From Edinburgh!

I hope you enjoyed, my perfectly imperfect solo day trip to Berwick Upon Tweed! I’m glad I took the time to get off the train and explore, and I will definitely go back for a longer visit someday.

Which hidden gems are you just dying to explore?

ask me anything

Got questions about solo day trips from Edinburgh? Ask me anything on Instagram @alyssaowrites

I’m building a network of fearless solo women abroad in their 30s & 40s. Follow me on Instagram!

love it? pin it!