Northumbria Cottage Holidays
Northumberland and the North East holiday information and tourist attractions
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The beautiful unspoiled countryside of rural Northumberland is complemented by the magnificent Northumbrian Coast. Inland are the Cheviot Hills, whilst on the coast are lovely beaches and offshore islands such as Holy Island and the Farne Islands. Between the two are places such as Chatton, Lowick and Alnwick, with easy access to both coast and country. Coastal and hill walks are available throughout the area, as are plenty of other activities such as both river and sea fishing and horse riding. Watersports are also available on the coast and windsurfing is particularly popular.
Hadrian’s Wall originally ran for 73 miles across the country, dividing the Romans from the Barbarians, more or less following the border between England and Scotland. The wall took six years to complete and was finally completed in AD 123. It is constructed mainly of stone, but some parts were completed with turf blocks. It linked a series of forts along the border. One of these forts is Chesters, the best preserved roman cavalry fort in Britain today.
Allendale is a small market town in the south of the county. It is the geographical centre of Great Britain and was formerly a lead mining centre. It has an interesting local pagan custom on New Year’s Eve. This is the “Baal Festival”, when local men in costume and known as “Guisers” march through the town in procession carrying blazing barrels of tar above their heads. The barrels are eventually thrown on a huge bonfire around which they dance.
The lovely village of Bamburgh was once the seat of the kings of Northumbria. It is dominated by its splendid castle. Bamburgh Castle is in an excellent state of preservation and contains two interesting museums, one on the history of aviation. Although there was believed to have been a castle here in the 6th Century, the fortified pile we see today grew from the castle erected following the Norman Conquest. The Norman church, which stands by the village green, is worth a visit, as is the local museum which displays mementos of Grace Darling, the lighthouse heroine. It is a good base from which to explore the northern part of Northumberland and this part of the coast. It is possibly to take boat trips to the Farne Islands from near by.
There are lots of small villages and towns in rural Northumberland, many with amenities for the tourist. Beadnell village has its own outdoor sports centre and the beaches and sand dunes are close by. Dunstanburgh Castle is on the doorstep, its dramatic ruins dominating the coastline. These remains of one of the largest fortifications in the north of England are now managed by English Heritage. The old village of Edlingham climbs from the banks of the river to the moors above. It has an interesting Saxon church and the ruins of a fortified manor house, known as Edlingham Castle. The castle was constructed in the 13th Century and was originally enclosed by a moat.
Rothbury lies on the banks of the River Coquet in the Northumberland National Park. This is an ideal centre for hill and forest walkers and river fishermen. The area is also popular with cyclists. Warkworth is also on the Coquet, but nearer to the coast. It is a pretty village, just a short walk from the beach, with its own castle. Although the original castle was built here in the 12th Century, most of what remains today dates from the 14th and 15th Centuries.
The Farne Islands are rocky habitats for seals and seabirds, including puffins, kittiwakes and guillemots. Tourists are advised to wear hats to avoid dive-bombing terns! The 7th Century Chapel of St Cuthbert is also to be found here. The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is not far away. This was the name given to the island, reached by a causeway at low tide, by the early Anglo-Saxon settlers. When Aidan and his companions arrived in the area from Ireland, the first monastery was constructed in the 7th Century. The ruins today are of a second monastery built after the Norman Conquest. This was eventually dissolved by Henry VIII. There is a lovely parish church on the island and various other religious centres for the local inhabitants and visitors to the island, which is still a centre of pilgrimage.
Around five miles north of Holy Island, on the mainland, lies the historic border town of Berwick Upon Tweed. This is the most northerly town in England and it is situated at the mouth of the River Tweed. Berwick has changed hands thirteen times during its history, passing between England and Scotland; its history inextricably tied to the struggle for the border. Today the town lies nominally in England but has much more of the feeling of a Scottish town. Even the local football team plays in the Scottish league.
Berwick was originally a walled town and fragments of the original walls survive today as does a Norman castle. The present walls were rebuilt in Elizabethan times. It is an extremely picturesque town with many fine buildings. The town hall, with its spire, was built in the mid 18th century and the main parish church was built in the time of Cromwell. Berwick today offers many shops, cafés, restaurants and museums – all the amenities demanded by the tourist. The town is in an ideal location for those wishing to explore the north of the county or to make an occasional forage into neighbouring Scotland.
NORTHUMBRIA ATTRACTIONS |
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Clean, affordable holiday cottages for rent. Self-catering accomodation in the Northumbrian countryside |
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