Northumberland – Dark Skies & Nature

Based in a picturesque village, your hotel is an excellent location from which to explore the National Park with Hadrian’s Wall and Kielder Water both within a half-hour drive.

Your hotel in Northumberland

The hotel is a traditional inn with beautiful gardens and superb locally sourced cuisine. Your hosts will extend you a very warm welcome and will be delighted to show you the extensive kitchen garden, a source of much produce for the restaurant. Your stay includes a Dark Sky Experience, exploring distant stars and galaxies, in the hotel’s on-site observatory.

Your holiday includes a full-day guided walk with a local historian who will bring the fascinating history of Hadrian’s Wall to life. Forming the North West Roman Frontier for 300 years, Hadrian’s Wall stretches 80 Roman miles (73 modern miles) from the Solway Firth to the North Sea. Completed in AD128 to defend the Roman Empire against the Picts, the Wall consists of a continuous line of defence with vallum ditch, mile castles, turrets, forts, temples and civilian settlements from the cities of Carlisle in the west to Newcastle in the east. It sits majestically on top of the Whin Sill, an ancient layer of igneous rock, and provides countless opportunities for stunning walks amid the spectacular Northumbrian landscape. Along with its length, visitors can choose to visit the Roman settlements of which there are many or simply enjoy the views and imagine what life must have been like for the Roman foot soldiers standing guard in the bleak mid-winter! The main visitor attractions on the Wall are the Roman Army Museum, Vindolanda where live excavations take place and Housesteads Fort.

An area of superlatives! Kielder boasts the biggest man-made lake in Northern Europe, which provides water for the whole of the North East population, the largest working forest in England and is in the heart of one of the largest Dark Sky Parks in the world. A day at Kielder can be as active or inactive as you like. Thanks to an award-winning programme, Kielder Water & Forest Park has become the largest open air space in the UK to experience art and architecture: explore one of the many trails that wind through this open-air gallery. The Kielder Observatory buildings can be visited during the day for spectacular views across the forest and lake. Dark Sky events run all year round and the inspirational astronomers will take you on a journey beyond the stars, creating wonder for both absolute beginners and visiting astrophysicists alike. If it’s tranquillity that you seek then it’s very easy to find: with 600 square kilometres of forest and 27 miles of shoreline on offer, there is always a secluded spot with your name on it. Sit back, relax and enjoy the abundant fauna and flora including roe deer, otters, shrews, seven species of bat, badgers, many woodland birds, birds of prey and even wild goats! Kielder is home to 60% of native red squirrels in England and has a growing osprey population.

Today, make the drive to your next base on the Northumberland Coast. It’s around 90 minutes’ drive today, so you have plenty of dawdling time, perhaps to explore some of the villages that dot the coast, such as Alnmouth and Craster, or to take in bustling Alnwick with its classic castle and verdant gardens. Depending on the tide times, you could have time to visit the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. This tidal islet is not only a site of special Christian significance but also a stunningly beautiful place to explore with abundant bird life, pristine dunes and charming village community. The drive across the causeway is exhilarating if the tide has only just turned as the sea may still cover the road. The 16th-century castle sits on a rocky outcrop overlooking the harbour with its upturned boat sheds and gives a marvellous view across the sea to Bamburgh Castle and the Farne Islands a few miles to the south. The dramatic ruins of the 11th-century Benedictine Priory lie at the edge of the village. This is where the world-famous Lindisfarne Gospels were created, probably England’s most valuable and treasured books. An interactive facsimile is on display in the museum.

Your accommodation in Seahouses

Perched above the harbour on Seahouses’ Main Street, your next base is a classic coastal inn. Rich in history, with a bar whose every square-inch is festooned with maritime memorabilia and scrubbed wooden floors reclaimed from a ship’s deck. You’ll find the warmest of north-east welcomes from local staff, many of whom have known this place their whole lives. Immerse yourself in the nautical heritage as you enjoy hearty fayre amidst the glow of a crackling open fire, and repair to cosy and comfortable rooms after a long day on the coast.

No trip to Northumberland is complete without a visit to Bamburgh Castle, one of the most magnificent sites in the whole of England. It is frequently the star of major TV and film dramas, most recently welcoming Michael Fassbender as Macbeth. Standing proud on the edge of the Whin Sill (the very same volcanic rock that Hadrian’s Wall sits upon) Bamburgh Castle dominates the skyline for miles around. The small village beneath it is quintessentially English with a cricket pitch just below the castle walls and a path through the dunes to one of Northumberland’s finest beaches. Find mile upon mile of fine white sand and usually only a few dog walkers for company.

Seahouses is the departure point for your boat to the Farne Islands, one of the UK’s most spectacular wildlife habitats. The Farnes consist of 30 islands and are home to many species including puffin, eider, razorbill, guillemot, shag, kittiwake and fulmar plus a large colony of grey seals. You may even be lucky enough to spot minke whales, dolphins and porpoises that frequent the area.

Head inland today to sample life in the Cheviot Hills. It’s a stunning area simply to drive around and enjoy the view but there is so much to see and do. Here you may wish to visit the horned white cattle, rarer than the giant panda and said to be the only survivors of the wild herds which once roamed Britain’s forests. You may also choose to visit Chillingham Castle, reputed to be one of England’s most haunted. A few miles further north lies the family-owned estate of Ford & Etal which has some remarkable hidden corners. History enthusiasts may wish to visit the Flodden Battlefield. It’s hard to imagine the bloodiest battle in Britain’s history took place in this peaceful field 500 years ago; the detailed visitor information boards will help you picture the terrible scene. This remote part of Northumberland was a prehistoric stronghold with a high concentration of standing stones and hill forts: look out for Bronze age cup and ring markings on stones and boulders.

Time to say goodbye to the beauty of Northumberland as you embark on your onward journey home.