Around Bellingham

Northumberland National Park and Kielder Forest, home to our rare native Red Squirrel have an exciting network of paths and cycle routes. Hadrian's Wall built in the 2nd century AD lies to the south of the park and in part runs parallel to the Pennine Way. Walk in the beautiful lonely Cheviot Hills on the border of England and Scotland or explore Cheviot's three main valley's: the Harthope valley, the Breamish valley and Coquetdale.

Leaplish Waterside Park in Kielder Forest has sailing, canoeing, windsurfing, motor boating and Kielder Water Cruises. The centre also has an indoor heated swimming pool, shop, restaurant as well as crazy golf and cycle hire. The Kielder Bird of Prey Centre is very popular with adults and children.

Holy Island is reached only across a causeway at low tide. Kind Oswald invited the Christian monks of Iona to establish a Priory on the Holy Island of Lindesfarne, which they did in 635 AD. The Priory became one of the most important seats of Christian learning in Western Europe. It's greatest bishop was St. Cuthbert. The Priory produced the magnificent 7th century Lindesfarne Gospels now housed in the British Museum.

Take a short boat trip to the Farne Islands, a renowned bird sanctuary hugging the beautiful Northumbrian coast at Seahouses.

Ancient Northumberland

This mysterious and largely unpopulated landscape has changed little since ancient times. Visit the 5,000 year old cup and ring markings, 4,000 year old stone circles, 3,500 year old burial cairns and 2,500 year old hill forts.

Find out about our Roman history from the 1st to 5th century by visiting Brigantium, Hadrian's Wall, Housesteads Roman Fort as well as the Roman Army Museum. A dramatic new reconstruction of a full size Roman temple at Vindolanda is not to be missed.

We are within easy reach of Bamburgh Castle and we are at the very heart of the Scottish and English border where for many years murderous and treacherous acts by feuding families took place. Their ancestors and names live on in Northumberland today but happily on better terms!