The Big Hike 2026 - St Oswald's Way

Support St Oswald’s Hospice by hiking the Northumberland Coast this September and help celebrate 40 years of care.

Sunday 27th September 2026

Join a 14-mile (22.5 km) guided fundraising hike, in partnership with Challenge Northumberland

Take on the scenic hike along the Northumberland Coast from Bamburgh to Craster on Sunday 27th September 2026. This section of the St Oswald’s Way offers the chance to challenge yourself, enjoy iconic landmarks, and support the families we care for.

Registration for The Big Hike is now open. It costs just £40 to sign up with a suggested fundraising target of £150 per individual participant.

There are discounts for family and group bookings. Four people walking together can sign up for £120 (saving £40).

Secure your place

St Oswald’s Way is a long-distance walking route, exploring some of the finest landscapes and fascinating history of Northumberland. The route links some of the places associated with St Oswald, the King of Northumbria in the early 7th Century, and the inspiration behind the name of our hospice.

The Big Hike begins at Bamburgh which was the site of King Oswald’s royal seat. It is now dominated by one of Northumberland’s most familiar landmarks, the magnificent Bamburgh Castle.From here, you will head towards the popular seaside village of Seahouses.

The route then follows the coast southwards past Beadnell and Beadnell Bay to Low Newton-by-the-Sea and Embleton Bay. After this, St Oswald’s Way passes the romantic ruins of another famous Northumbrian castle, Dunstanburgh, before arriving at the fishing village of Craster, the finish point of The Big Hike.

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Your registration includes:

  • Entry to the challenge event
  • Transport from finish line back to your car (you must make your own way to the starting point and back home after the hike)
  • Finishers medal, certificate and a St Oswald’s Hospice t-shirt
  • Experienced guides to accompany you and bring the history of the route to life
Secure your place
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What you need to know:

  • The Big Hike takes place on Sunday 27th September 2026
  • The meeting point is Bamburgh Pavillion, Castle Green. Bamburgh NE69 7DF. You will be required to make your own way to the meeting point, where parking is available.
  • You will meet at 8am, with a health and safety briefing taking place for all hikers at 8.45am. The hike will begin at 9am.
  • We expect this challenge to be completed between 3.30-5pm. Transport will be provided back to Bamburgh Pavillion to collect your car.
  • Hikers should be aged 10+. Those under 18 must walk with an accompanying adult
  • Well behaved dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead at all times. The path is well-marked, making it easy to navigate, and is graded as a moderate level of difficulty. This walk is perfect for those looking to explore the natural beauty of Northumberland while enjoying the coastal scenery. We recommend you have a reasonable level of fitness to take part.
  • Your aim is to complete the challenge in under 8 hours, which includes comfort and refreshment breaks
Secure your place

Your fundraising target

This challenge has a fundraising target of £150 per individual hiker. Your £40 registration fee covers all of our event costs, but we ask that you aim to fundraise £150 which will go directly towards care for the adults and children who rely on our services and general running costs.

 

5 hours

5 hours

of nursing care for an adult staying on our Adult Inpatient Unit

10 bereavement support sessions

10 bereavement support sessions

for a child struggling with the loss of a loved one

20 days' of nutrious meals

20 days' of nutrious meals

nutritious and home cooked food for a patient staying with us

Your fundraising page

Once you sign up to join the team, an Enthuse fundraising page will be automatically generated for you and you can share your personal link with friends, family and colleagues. We will also send out further details in due course, such as meeting times and location, a fundraising pack, your t-shirt and other key details.

If you have any questions we’ve not answered on this page, please contact our team at SupporterCare@stoswaldsuk.org or call 0191 246 9123.

Get in touch