Bamburgh Castle rises dramatically from a rocky outcrop above one of England's finest beaches, a fortress that has guarded the Northumberland coast for over 1,400 years. The castle's magnificent position is matched by its historical importance as the ancient capital of Northumbria. Three miles of pristine sand stretch along the coast, backed by dunes with views to the Farne Islands where Grace Darling performed her famous lighthouse rescue in 1838. The village museum tells her story, while the tiny St Aidan's Church marks the spot where the saint died in 651 AD.