9 Wonderful Reasons to Visit Northumberland
WILDLIFE, HISTORY & ADVENTURES
“We really do have it all from hill ranges to miles of lovely quiet sandy beaches to castles and history, fantastic restaurants, coffee shops, and cafes!
What’s not to love!”
Northumberland was the perfect destination for us. A beautiful coastline, paradise-like waterfalls, and one incredible national park.
Northumberland is the least populated county in England, has more castles than any other county, and over a quarter of the county is made up of the Northumberland National Park. These three aspects definitely ticked our “outdoor adventure” boxes so we traveled up north to discover what Northumberland had to offer!
Our explorations in Northumberland felt like our little secret from the rest of the country. How have we never been here before? We had waterfalls for hours to ourselves, sandy beaches which made us feel like we were aboard, and secluded hikes in the tranquil landscapes.
So below are 9 wonderful reasons to visit the county of Northumberland.
Bamburgh Castle
1. Puffins on the Farne Islands
The Farne Islands are a small group of islands scattered a few miles off of the Northumberland Coast. Sir David Attenborough once said that the Farne Islands are his favourite place in the UK to see “magnificent nature”. These islands are inundated with wildlife including seals, guillemots, razorbills, and other species. But they’re most famous for the puffins.
These small seabirds, which waddle with a body that almost seems too big for their legs, can be found in large numbers on the islands. With their distinctive colours, and a bill full you fish, you can spot them going to and fro from the sea and their nests ashore.
You can take a boat trip from the village of Seahouses to the islands from March - October. Multiple boats run each day, varying in lengths and stops.
Read our article “A GUIDE TO THE FARNE ISLANDS, NORTHUMBERLAND | ENGLAND” for more information on these islands, when and how to visit and what wildlife you can see.
2. WONDERFUL WATERFALLS
The waterfalls on our trip to Northumberland really were our highlight of the trip. Every morning we got up early for sunrise, put on our hiking boots, and set off for a waterfall and a spot of wild swimming.
Our favourite waterfalls to visit:
Harthope Linn
Linhope Spout
Routin Linn
Hareshaw Linn
Read our article “WONDERFUL WATERFALLS TO VISIT IN NORTHUMBERLAND, ENGLAND” for more information on these waterfalls, including the coordinates, distance and duration.
3. Roman History at Hadrian's Walls
Hadrians Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the most famous frontier of the Roman Empire.
Offering spectacular views and various hikes, Hadrian’s wall spans 73 miles from coast to coast. Although spanning the width of the country, the wall is most intact and at its highest in Northumberland. With a pair of turrets and a "castle" or small fort every mile, the scenic wall weaves up and down the hills and above the crags. Here you can discover the remains of the forts, towers, and turrets that once kept watch over the wall.
Follow the wall which will lead you to the Sycamore Gap. This lone sycamore tree is nestled perfectly in the ‘nick’ of the U-shaped hill and is known as the most photographed tree in the country. There is something special about this tree and definitely worth a visit.
4. Holy Island
Holy Island is a four-square-mile tidal island that can only be accessed at low tide.
Drive over the sandy causeway and head for the 16th-century Lindisfarne Castle which can be seen sitting high up on volcanic rock. The castle is the main attraction on the island along with a small harbor, Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve, the village, and priory ruins.
You can do the circular 5.5-mile coastal walk around the island. The walk starts at the main car park as you drive onto the island, and then from there you head to the northern coast. Then you simply head clockwise along the shoreline. Along the way explore the dunes, the three beaches on the northern side of the Island, and the nature reserve. If you’re lucky you might even see some of the seals that live there!
Because of the causeway, the island can get very busy as the times to get across are limited. This coastal walk is great for escaping the busy tourist areas and you get to really experience the whole of the island for yourself.
Check the tide times to see when to visit and give yourself plenty of time to cross the causeway. Make sure you don’t get stuck on the island!
5. Hikes in the Northumberland National Park
The Northumberland National Park is the most northerly park in England. The park is the least populated and least visited in the UK and is filled with natural beauty, incredible waterfalls, and untouched landscapes.
The park runs along the Scottish border right down to the south of Hadrian’s Wall. The highest peak in Northumberland is The Cheviot at 815m which sits in an area called The Cheviots. This is a range of rolling hills, in the north of the park, known for its dramatic landscape. Check out the VisitNorthumberland official website to find out more information, various hiking routes, and what wildlife you can find along the way!
Our highlight from the national park was wild swimming in the hidden gem of Harthope Linn. There are various waterfalls to visit in the park and you can find more information here.
While exploring the national park we used the app AllTrials (which we’ve previously spoken about using here) to find hiking trails and waterfalls. You can find routes from locals with reviews and a guided map. So we’d definitely recommend using this app for your trip!
6. Dark Skies
Northumberland is known for having some of the darkest skies in the whole of the country. They’re fortunate to have very low levels of light pollution meaning they have the most ‘pristine dark skies’ in England!
Excitingly, the Northumberland National Park and most of Kielder Water and Forest became the country’s first “International Dark Sky Park” back in 2013, and the skies have been astonishing visitors ever since.
When visiting Northumberland we’d highly recommend a visit to the Kielder Observatory which is located in the largest “gold-tier” dark sky part in Europe. They hold daily events for adults and kids all year round. During the winter with the darkest skies, you can witness deep sky objects like galaxies and nebulae and in the summertime, you can see star clusters, shooting stars and the surface of the moon and sun.
For more info about Kielder head to our article “WONDERFUL OUTDOOR THINGS TO DO IN KIELDER”
7. Alnwick
Alnwick is a town just a few miles from the coastline, boasting an impressive castle and gardens and once voted as the “Best Place to Live in Britain”.
The Alnwick Gardens are a must-visit, with over 12 acres of stunning gardens filled with beautiful blooms and a magnificent “Grand Cascade” water feature in the middle. You could easily spend hours here admiring the tranquil settings of the Rose Garden, the Ornamental Garden, and The Cherry Blossom Orchard.
Take a guided tour around the famous Poison Garden which contains toxic, intoxicating, and narcotic plants. Get lost in the bamboo maze, and then finish off the day at the largest wooden treehouse in the world which functions as a restaurant!
Next door to the Alnwick Gardens is the Alnwick Castle, known to be one of the most iconic in Britain and has been featured in many well-known movies. With over 950 years of history to uncover, the castle’s origins date back to the Norman period and it’s the second-largest inhabited castle in the UK.
Alnwick town itself is definitely worth a visit and it’s also a great base to stay with other areas of interest nearby. The historic market town is the perfect place to wander through the cobbled streets, flick through the pages in the Barter Books Bookshop, indulge in a meal at The Dirty Bottles, and learn about the town’s history at one of the many galleries and museums. There are also music, beer, and food festivals yearly along with farmers’ markets and sports events which are held locally.
8. Beautiful Beaches
With white sand and glorious blue skies, having a well-needed break from all of the hiking and exploring is a must.
If you want the beach and a day out then we’d suggest Bamburgh Beach. Bamburgh is a small coastal village and is a 5-minute drive to the next coastal town called Seahouses. Chill out at the beach, explore Bamburgh Castle and watch the local cricket club play below. Then head to Seahouses for a classic fish ‘n’ chips while you watch the boats come in and out at the harbor from the puffin tours.
If you want to experience the whole of the coastline then you can walk the Northumberland Coastal Path. This route is 62 miles (100km) and can take 3 to 7 days to complete, depending on stops for other sightseeing. The route starts from the village of Cresswell in the South and ends on the border of Berwick-upon-Tweed in the north. Along the way, you’ll see quaint fishing villages, grande Castles, a National Nature Reserve, sandy beaches, and cliff-top paths!
9. Fantastic Fortresses
Northumberland is scattered with remnants of history wherever you go. Not surprisingly then does Northumberland have more castles than any other county in the country. Along with Alnwick Castle and Lindisfarne Castle which we’ve mentioned above, below are a few other castles to visit.
Sitting above the windswept dunes, overlooking the blue sea, is Bamburgh Castle. An iconic image for the county and in an unusual setting. This castle sits 150 feet above the sea and is the biggest sandcastle of them all. The small village is without a doubt dominated by the castle that towers over the other buildings nearby.
Another castle with a coastal setting is Dunstanburgh Castle. Sitting between the villages of Craster and Embleton, these crumbling ruins stand on a remote headland. You can combine a visit to the castle with an idyllic coastal walk starting from the village of Craster. The 1.3-mile walk takes you along the rugged coast and crosses over to farmland till you reach the ruins.
About 20 minutes away from Dunstanburgh Castle, you’ll find the well-preserved ruins of the medieval Warkworth Castle. Sitting above the hilltops above the River Coquet, the nearly intact circuit of towered walls is a must-visit.
You’ll come across all 3 of these castles along the Northumberland Coastal Path which we mentioned above earlier.
Bamburgh Castle over looking the Sunday cricket club
Have you visited Northumberland before? If you have any recommendations you’d like to share then please do! Let us know in the comments below.
